{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/45.2-1612.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/45.2-1612.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/45.2-1612.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/45.2-1612.html"}],"law_id":73152,"edition_id":1,"section_id":73152,"structure_id":15627,"section_number":"45.2-1612","catch_line":" Distance limitations of certain wells","history":"1982, c. 347, \u00a7 45.1-319; 1990, c. 92, \u00a7 45.1-361.12; 2021, Sp. Sess. I, c. 387.","full_text":"A\n\nIf the well operator and the objecting coal owners who are present or represented at a hearing to consider the objections to the proposed drilling unit or location are unable to agree upon a drilling unit or location for a new well within 2,500 linear feet of the location of an existing well or a well for which a permit application is on file, then the permit or drilling unit shall be refused.B\n\nThe distance limitation established by this section shall not apply if (i) the proposed well will be drilled through an existing or planned pillar of coal required for protection of a preexisting well drilled to any depth and (ii) the proposed well will neither require enlargement of the pillar nor otherwise have an adverse effect on existing or planned coal mining operations.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":263390,"text":"If the well operator and the objecting coal owners who are present or represented at a hearing to consider the objections to the proposed drilling unit or location are unable to agree upon a drilling unit or location for a new well within 2,500 linear feet of the location of an existing well or a well for which a permit application is on file, then the permit or drilling unit shall be refused.","type":"section","prefixes":["A"],"prefix":"A","entire_prefix":"A","prefix_anchor":"A","level":1,"next_prefix":"B"},"1":{"id":263391,"text":"The distance limitation established by this section shall not apply if (i) the proposed well will be drilled through an existing or planned pillar of coal required for protection of a preexisting well drilled to any depth and (ii) the proposed well will neither require enlargement of the pillar nor otherwise have an adverse effect on existing or planned coal mining operations.","type":"section","prefixes":["B"],"prefix":"B","entire_prefix":"B","prefix_anchor":"B","level":1,"prior_prefix":"A"}},"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":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},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/45.2-1612\/","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":[{"id":62118,"section_number":"45.2-1609","catch_line":" Appeals; venue; standing","order_by":null,"url":"\/45.2-1609\/"},{"id":59912,"section_number":"45.2-1616","catch_line":" Statewide spacing of wells","order_by":null,"url":"\/45.2-1616\/"},{"id":56696,"section_number":"45.2-1625","catch_line":" Appeals of the Director's decisions; notices; hearings and orders","order_by":null,"url":"\/45.2-1625\/"}],"refers_to":false,"permalink":{"id":224727,"object_type":"law","relational_id":73152,"identifier":"45.2-1612","token":"45.2\/IV\/16\/1\/45.2-1612","url":"\/45.2-1612\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/45.2-1612\/","token":"45.2\/IV\/16\/1\/45.2-1612","dublin_core":{"Title":" Distance limitations of certain wells","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 45.2-1612","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

A.<\/span> If the well<\/span> operator and the objecting coal owners<\/span> who are present or represented at a hearing<\/span> to consider the objections to the proposed drilling unit<\/span> or location are unable to agree upon a drilling unit<\/span> or location for a new well<\/span> within 2,500 linear feet of the location of an existing well<\/span> or a well<\/span> for which a permit application is on file, then the permit or drilling unit<\/span> shall be refused. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

B.<\/span> The distance limitation established by this section shall not apply if (i) the proposed well<\/span> will be drilled through an existing or planned pillar of coal required for protection of a preexisting well<\/span> drilled to any depth and (ii) the proposed well<\/span> will neither require enlargement of the pillar nor otherwise have an adverse effect on existing or planned coal mining operations. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\n DISTANCE LIMITATIONS OF CERTAIN WELLS (\u00a7 45.2-1612)\n\nA. If the well operator and the objecting coal owners who are present or\nrepresented at a hearing to consider the objections to the proposed drilling\nunit or location are unable to agree upon a drilling unit or location for a new\nwell within 2,500 linear feet of the location of an existing well or a well for\nwhich a permit application is on file, then the permit or drilling unit shall be\nrefused.\n\nB. The distance limitation established by this section shall not apply if (i)\nthe proposed well will be drilled through an existing or planned pillar of coal\nrequired for protection of a preexisting well drilled to any depth and (ii) the\nproposed well will neither require enlargement of the pillar nor otherwise have\nan adverse effect on existing or planned coal mining operations.\n\nHISTORY: 1982, c. 347, \u00a7 45.1-319; 1990, c. 92, \u00a7 45.1-361.12; 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}}