{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/45.2-1602.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/45.2-1602.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/45.2-1602.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/45.2-1602.html"}],"law_id":65225,"edition_id":1,"section_id":65225,"structure_id":15627,"section_number":"45.2-1602","catch_line":" Construction; purposes","history":"1982, c. 347, \u00a7 45.1-290; 1990, c. 92, \u00a7 45.1-361.3; 2021, Sp. Sess. I, c. 387.","full_text":"The provisions of this chapter shall be liberally construed so as to effectuate the following purposes:\n\n1\n\nTo foster, encourage, and promote the safe and efficient exploration for and development, production, utilization, and conservation of the Commonwealth’s gas and oil resources;2\n\nTo provide a method of gas and oil conservation for maximizing exploration, development, production, and utilization of gas and oil resources;3\n\nTo recognize and protect the rights of any person owning an interest in gas or oil resources contained within a pool;4\n\nTo ensure the safe recovery of coal and other minerals;5\n\nTo maximize the production and recovery of coal without substantially affecting the right of a gas or oil owner proposing to drill a gas or oil well to explore for and produce gas or oil;6\n\nTo protect the citizens and the environment of the Commonwealth from the public safety and environmental risks associated with the development and production of gas or oil; and7\n\nTo recognize that the use of the surface for gas or oil development shall be only the use that is reasonably necessary to obtain the gas or oil.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":237250,"text":"The provisions of this chapter shall be liberally construed so as to effectuate the following purposes:","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":1,"next_prefix":"1"},"1":{"id":237251,"text":"To foster, encourage, and promote the safe and efficient exploration for and development, production, utilization, and conservation of the Commonwealth’s gas and oil resources;","type":"section","prefixes":["1"],"prefix":"1","entire_prefix":"1","prefix_anchor":"1","level":1,"prior_prefix":"","next_prefix":"2"},"2":{"id":237252,"text":"To provide a method of gas and oil conservation for maximizing exploration, development, production, and utilization of gas and oil resources;","type":"section","prefixes":["2"],"prefix":"2","entire_prefix":"2","prefix_anchor":"2","level":1,"prior_prefix":"1","next_prefix":"3"},"3":{"id":237253,"text":"To recognize and protect the rights of any person owning an interest in gas or oil resources contained within a pool;","type":"section","prefixes":["3"],"prefix":"3","entire_prefix":"3","prefix_anchor":"3","level":1,"prior_prefix":"2","next_prefix":"4"},"4":{"id":237254,"text":"To ensure the safe recovery of coal and other minerals;","type":"section","prefixes":["4"],"prefix":"4","entire_prefix":"4","prefix_anchor":"4","level":1,"prior_prefix":"3","next_prefix":"5"},"5":{"id":237255,"text":"To maximize the production and recovery of coal without substantially affecting the right of a gas or oil owner proposing to drill a gas or oil well to explore for and produce gas or oil;","type":"section","prefixes":["5"],"prefix":"5","entire_prefix":"5","prefix_anchor":"5","level":1,"prior_prefix":"4","next_prefix":"6"},"6":{"id":237256,"text":"To protect the citizens and the environment of the Commonwealth from the public safety and environmental risks associated with the development and production of gas or oil; and","type":"section","prefixes":["6"],"prefix":"6","entire_prefix":"6","prefix_anchor":"6","level":1,"prior_prefix":"5","next_prefix":"7"},"7":{"id":237257,"text":"To recognize that the use of the surface for gas or oil development shall be only the use that is reasonably necessary to obtain the gas or oil.","type":"section","prefixes":["7"],"prefix":"7","entire_prefix":"7","prefix_anchor":"7","level":1,"prior_prefix":"6"}},"ancestry":[{"id":15627,"edition_id":1,"name":"General Provisions","identifier":"1","label":"article","depth":4,"order_by":1,"parent_id":13430,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:57:04","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:57:04","permalink":{"id":224677,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":15627,"identifier":"1","token":"45.2\/IV\/16\/1","url":"\/45.2\/IV\/16\/1\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":13430,"edition_id":1,"name":"Virginia Gas and Oil Act","identifier":"16","label":"chapter","depth":3,"order_by":1,"parent_id":13429,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:44:53","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:44:53","permalink":{"id":224675,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":13430,"identifier":"16","token":"45.2\/IV\/16","url":"\/45.2\/IV\/16\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":13429,"edition_id":1,"name":"Gas and Oil","identifier":"IV","label":"subtitle","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12713,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:44:53","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:44:53","permalink":{"id":224673,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":13429,"identifier":"IV","token":"45.2\/IV","url":"\/45.2\/IV\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12713,"edition_id":1,"name":"Mines, Minerals, and Energy","identifier":"45.2","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":1,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:49","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:49","permalink":{"id":222539,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12713,"identifier":"45.2","token":"45.2","url":"\/45.2\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":71660,"structure_id":15627,"section_number":"45.2-1600","catch_line":" Definitions","url":"\/45.2-1600\/","token":"45.2\/IV\/16\/1\/45.2-1600","metadata":false},{"id":59679,"structure_id":15627,"section_number":"45.2-1601","catch_line":" Regulation of coal surface mining not affected by chapter","url":"\/45.2-1601\/","token":"45.2\/IV\/16\/1\/45.2-1601","metadata":false},{"id":65225,"structure_id":15627,"section_number":"45.2-1602","catch_line":" Construction; purposes","url":"\/45.2-1602\/","token":"45.2\/IV\/16\/1\/45.2-1602","metadata":false},{"id":75396,"structure_id":15627,"section_number":"45.2-1603","catch_line":" Virginia Gas and Oil Board; membership; compensation","url":"\/45.2-1603\/","token":"45.2\/IV\/16\/1\/45.2-1603","metadata":false},{"id":84693,"structure_id":15627,"section_number":"45.2-1604","catch_line":" Duties and responsibilities of the Director; Virginia Gas and Oil Inspector","url":"\/45.2-1604\/","token":"45.2\/IV\/16\/1\/45.2-1604","metadata":false},{"id":62897,"structure_id":15627,"section_number":"45.2-1605","catch_line":" Exclusivity of regulation and enforcement","url":"\/45.2-1605\/","token":"45.2\/IV\/16\/1\/45.2-1605","metadata":false},{"id":74768,"structure_id":15627,"section_number":"45.2-1606","catch_line":" Confidentiality","url":"\/45.2-1606\/","token":"45.2\/IV\/16\/1\/45.2-1606","metadata":false},{"id":86119,"structure_id":15627,"section_number":"45.2-1607","catch_line":" Expenditure of funds","url":"\/45.2-1607\/","token":"45.2\/IV\/16\/1\/45.2-1607","metadata":false},{"id":63148,"structure_id":15627,"section_number":"45.2-1608","catch_line":" Violations; penalties","url":"\/45.2-1608\/","token":"45.2\/IV\/16\/1\/45.2-1608","metadata":false},{"id":62118,"structure_id":15627,"section_number":"45.2-1609","catch_line":" Appeals; venue; standing","url":"\/45.2-1609\/","token":"45.2\/IV\/16\/1\/45.2-1609","metadata":false},{"id":84272,"structure_id":15627,"section_number":"45.2-1610","catch_line":" Copy of lease to lessor","url":"\/45.2-1610\/","token":"45.2\/IV\/16\/1\/45.2-1610","metadata":false},{"id":87450,"structure_id":15627,"section_number":"45.2-1611","catch_line":" Objections by coal owner","url":"\/45.2-1611\/","token":"45.2\/IV\/16\/1\/45.2-1611","metadata":false},{"id":73152,"structure_id":15627,"section_number":"45.2-1612","catch_line":" Distance limitations of certain wells","url":"\/45.2-1612\/","token":"45.2\/IV\/16\/1\/45.2-1612","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":59679,"structure_id":15627,"section_number":"45.2-1601","catch_line":" Regulation of coal surface mining not affected by chapter","url":"\/45.2-1601\/","token":"45.2\/IV\/16\/1\/45.2-1601","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":75396,"structure_id":15627,"section_number":"45.2-1603","catch_line":" Virginia Gas and Oil Board; membership; compensation","url":"\/45.2-1603\/","token":"45.2\/IV\/16\/1\/45.2-1603","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/45.2-1602\/","history_text":"

This law was first created in 1982. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapter 347 of that year\u2019s edition of \u201cActs of Assembly,\u201d the annual state publication listing all changes made to the Code of Virginia in that year. Unfortunately, the 1982 \u201cActs\u201d aren\u2019t available online. It has been modified 1 time. Those modifications are cataloged by \u201cThe Acts of Assembly,\u201d a state publication, by year and chapter. Those modifications that can be read on the General Assembly\u2019s website will be linked accordingly. That modification is as follows: in 1990, chapter 92.<\/p>","references":false,"refers_to":false,"permalink":{"id":224687,"object_type":"law","relational_id":65225,"identifier":"45.2-1602","token":"45.2\/IV\/16\/1\/45.2-1602","url":"\/45.2-1602\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/45.2-1602\/","token":"45.2\/IV\/16\/1\/45.2-1602","dublin_core":{"Title":" Construction; purposes","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 45.2-1602","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

The provisions of this chapter shall be liberally construed so as to effectuate the following purposes:<\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

1.<\/span> To foster, encourage, and promote the safe and efficient exploration for and development, production, utilization, and conservation of the Commonwealth’s gas<\/span> and oil<\/span> resources; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

2.<\/span> To provide a method of gas<\/span> and oil<\/span> conservation for maximizing exploration, development, production, and utilization of gas<\/span> and oil<\/span> resources; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

3.<\/span> To recognize and protect the rights of any person owning an interest in gas<\/span> or oil<\/span> resources contained within a pool<\/span>; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

4.<\/span> To ensure the safe recovery of coal and other minerals<\/span>; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

5.<\/span> To maximize the production and recovery of coal without substantially affecting the right of a gas or oil owner<\/span> proposing to drill a gas or oil well<\/span> to explore for and produce gas or oil; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

6.<\/span> To protect the citizens and the environment of the Commonwealth from the public safety and environmental risks associated with the development and production of gas or oil; and <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

7.<\/span> To recognize that the use of the surface for gas or oil development shall be only the use that is reasonably necessary to obtain the gas or oil. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\n CONSTRUCTION; PURPOSES (\u00a7 45.2-1602)\n\nThe provisions of this chapter shall be liberally construed so as to effectuate\nthe following purposes:\n\n1. To foster, encourage, and promote the safe and efficient exploration for and\ndevelopment, production, utilization, and conservation of the\nCommonwealth’s gas and oil resources;\n\n2. To provide a method of gas and oil conservation for maximizing exploration,\ndevelopment, production, and utilization of gas and oil resources;\n\n3. To recognize and protect the rights of any person owning an interest in gas\nor oil resources contained within a pool;\n\n4. To ensure the safe recovery of coal and other minerals;\n\n5. To maximize the production and recovery of coal without substantially\naffecting the right of a gas or oil owner proposing to drill a gas or oil well\nto explore for and produce gas or oil;\n\n6. To protect the citizens and the environment of the Commonwealth from the\npublic safety and environmental risks associated with the development and\nproduction of gas or oil; and\n\n7. To recognize that the use of the surface for gas or oil development shall be\nonly the use that is reasonably necessary to obtain the gas or oil.\n\nHISTORY: 1982, c. 347, \u00a7 45.1-290; 1990, c. 92, \u00a7 45.1-361.3; 2021, Sp. Sess.\nI, c. 387.","edition":{"id":1,"name":"2025","slug":"2025","date_created":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","date_modified":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","current":1,"order_by":1,"last_import":null}}