West Virginia Code 22-6A-16 – Compensation of surface owners for drilling operations
(a) The provisions of article seven of this chapter do not apply to horizontal wells governed by this article. In lieu thereof, the provisions of article six-b of this chapter shall provide for the compensation of surface owners for damage caused by drilling horizontal wells.
Terms Used In West Virginia Code 22-6A-16
- Damages: Money paid by defendants to successful plaintiffs in civil cases to compensate the plaintiffs for their injuries.
- Horizontal well: means any well site, other than a coalbed methane well, drilled using a horizontal drilling method, and which disturbs three acres or more of surface, excluding pipelines, gathering lines and roads, or utilizes more than two hundred ten thousand gallons of water in any thirty day period. See West Virginia Code 22-6A-4
- in writing: includes any representation of words, letters, or figures, whether by printing, engraving, writing, or otherwise. See West Virginia Code 2-2-10
(b) At least ten days prior to filing a permit application, an operator shall, by certified mail return receipt requested or hand delivery, give the surface owner notice of its intent to enter upon the surface owner's land for the purpose of drilling a horizontal well: Provided, That notice given pursuant to subsection (a), section ten of this article satisfies the requirements of this subsection as of the date the notice was provided to the surface owner: Provided, however, That the notice requirements of this subsection may be waived in writing by the surface owner. The notice, if required, shall include the name, address, telephone number, and if available, facsimile number and electronic mail address of the operator and the operator's authorized representative.
(c) No later than the date for filing the permit application, an operator shall, by certified mail return receipt requested or hand delivery, give the surface owner whose land will be used for the drilling of a horizontal well notice of the planned operation. The notice required by this subsection shall include:
(1) A copy of this code section;
(2) The information required to be provided by subsection (b), section ten of this article to a surface owner whose land will be used in conjunction with the drilling of a horizontal well; and
(3) A proposed surface use and compensation agreement containing an offer of compensation for damages to the surface affected by oil and gas operations to the extent the damages are compensable under article six-b of this chapter.
(d) The notices required by this section shall be given to the surface owner at the address listed in the records of the sheriff at the time of notice.