Virginia Code 45.2-1614: Additional duties and responsibilities of the Board
A. In executing its duties under this chapter, the Board shall:
Terms Used In Virginia Code 45.2-1614
- Board: means the Virginia Gas and Oil Board. See Virginia Code 45.2-1600
- Coalbed methane gas: means occluded natural gas produced from coalbeds and rock strata associated with it. See Virginia Code 45.2-1600
- Oil: means natural crude oil or petroleum and other hydrocarbons, regardless of gravity, that are produced at the well in liquid form by ordinary production methods and are not the result of condensation of gas after it leaves the underground reservoir. See Virginia Code 45.2-1600
- Pool: means an underground accumulation of gas or oil in a single and separate natural reservoir. See Virginia Code 45.2-1600
- Process: includes subpoenas, the summons and complaint in a civil action, and process in statutory actions. See Virginia Code 1-237
- Well: means any shaft or hole sunk, drilled, bored, or dug into the earth or into underground strata for the extraction, injection, or placement of any gaseous or liquid substance or any shaft or hole sunk or used in conjunction with such extraction, injection, or placement. See Virginia Code 45.2-1600
1. Foster, encourage, and promote the safe and efficient exploration for and development, production, and conservation of gas and oil resources located in the Commonwealth;
2. Administer a method of gas and oil conservation for the purpose of maximizing exploration, development, production, and utilization of gas and oil resources;
3. Administer procedures for the recognition and protection of the rights of gas or oil owners with interests in gas or oil resources contained within a pool;
4. Promote the maximum production and recovery of coal without substantially affecting the right of a gas owner proposing a gas well to explore for and produce gas; and
5. Hear and decide appeals of the Director’s decisions and orders issued under Article 3 (§ 45.2-1629 et seq.).
B. Without limiting its general authority, the Board has the specific authority to issue regulations or orders pursuant to the provisions of the Administrative Process Act (§ 2.2-4000 et seq.) in order to:
1. Prevent waste through the design, spacing, or unitization of wells, pools, or fields.
2. Protect correlative rights.
3. Enter spacing and pooling orders.
4. Establish drilling units.
5. Establish maximum allowable production rates for the prevention of waste and the protection of correlative rights.
6. Provide for the maximum recovery of coal.
7. Classify pools and wells as gas, oil, gas and oil, or coalbed methane gas.
8. Collect data, make investigations and inspections, examine property, leases, papers, books, and records, and require or provide for the keeping of records and the making of reports.
9. Set application fees.
10. Govern practices and procedures before the Board.
11. Require additional data from parties to any hearing.
12. Take actions reasonably necessary to carry out the provisions of this chapter.
1982, c. 347, § 45.1-296; 1987, c. 452; 1990, c. 92, § 45.1-361.15; 2021, Sp. Sess. I, c. 387.