{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/45.2-1617.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/45.2-1617.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/45.2-1617.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/45.2-1617.html"}],"law_id":60521,"edition_id":1,"section_id":60521,"structure_id":13431,"section_number":"45.2-1617","catch_line":" Voluntary pooling of interests in drilling units; validity of unit agreements","history":"1982, c. 347, \u00a7 45.1-302; 1987, c. 452; 1989, c. 529; 1990, c. 92, \u00a7 45.1-361.18; 2021, Sp. Sess. I, c. 387.","full_text":"A\n\nIf two or more separately owned tracts are embraced within a drilling unit, or if there are separately owned interests in all or a part of any such drilling unit, the gas or oil owners owning such interests may pool their interests for the development and operation of the drilling unit by voluntary agreement. Such agreement may be based on the exercise of pooling rights or rights to establish drilling units that are granted in any gas or oil lease.B\n\nNo voluntary pooling agreement between or among gas or oil owners shall be held to violate the statutory or common law of the Commonwealth that prohibits monopolies or acts, arrangements, contracts, combinations, or conspiracies in restraint of trade or commerce.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":221284,"text":"If two or more separately owned tracts are embraced within a drilling unit, or if there are separately owned interests in all or a part of any such drilling unit, the gas or oil owners owning such interests may pool their interests for the development and operation of the drilling unit by voluntary agreement. Such agreement may be based on the exercise of pooling rights or rights to establish drilling units that are granted in any gas or oil lease.","type":"section","prefixes":["A"],"prefix":"A","entire_prefix":"A","prefix_anchor":"A","level":1,"next_prefix":"B"},"1":{"id":221285,"text":"No voluntary pooling agreement between or among gas or oil owners shall be held to violate the statutory or common law of the Commonwealth that prohibits monopolies or acts, arrangements, contracts, combinations, or conspiracies in restraint of trade or commerce.","type":"section","prefixes":["B"],"prefix":"B","entire_prefix":"B","prefix_anchor":"B","level":1,"prior_prefix":"A"}},"ancestry":[{"id":13431,"edition_id":1,"name":"Gas and Oil Conservation","identifier":"2","label":"article","depth":4,"order_by":1,"parent_id":13430,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:44:53","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:44:53","permalink":{"id":224731,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":13431,"identifier":"2","token":"45.2\/IV\/16\/2","url":"\/45.2\/IV\/16\/2\/","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":76144,"structure_id":13431,"section_number":"45.2-1613","catch_line":" Meetings of the Board; notice; general powers and duties","url":"\/45.2-1613\/","token":"45.2\/IV\/16\/2\/45.2-1613","metadata":false},{"id":76594,"structure_id":13431,"section_number":"45.2-1614","catch_line":" Additional duties and responsibilities of the Board","url":"\/45.2-1614\/","token":"45.2\/IV\/16\/2\/45.2-1614","metadata":false},{"id":83675,"structure_id":13431,"section_number":"45.2-1615","catch_line":" Applicability and construction","url":"\/45.2-1615\/","token":"45.2\/IV\/16\/2\/45.2-1615","metadata":false},{"id":59912,"structure_id":13431,"section_number":"45.2-1616","catch_line":" Statewide spacing of wells","url":"\/45.2-1616\/","token":"45.2\/IV\/16\/2\/45.2-1616","metadata":false},{"id":60521,"structure_id":13431,"section_number":"45.2-1617","catch_line":" Voluntary pooling of interests in drilling units; validity of unit agreements","url":"\/45.2-1617\/","token":"45.2\/IV\/16\/2\/45.2-1617","metadata":false},{"id":66948,"structure_id":13431,"section_number":"45.2-1618","catch_line":" Notice of hearing; standing; form of hearing","url":"\/45.2-1618\/","token":"45.2\/IV\/16\/2\/45.2-1618","metadata":false},{"id":77291,"structure_id":13431,"section_number":"45.2-1619","catch_line":" Field rules and drilling units for wells; hearings and orders","url":"\/45.2-1619\/","token":"45.2\/IV\/16\/2\/45.2-1619","metadata":false},{"id":81791,"structure_id":13431,"section_number":"45.2-1620","catch_line":" Pooling of interests in drilling units","url":"\/45.2-1620\/","token":"45.2\/IV\/16\/2\/45.2-1620","metadata":false},{"id":80520,"structure_id":13431,"section_number":"45.2-1621","catch_line":" Coalbed methane gas; ownership","url":"\/45.2-1621\/","token":"45.2\/IV\/16\/2\/45.2-1621","metadata":false},{"id":64077,"structure_id":13431,"section_number":"45.2-1622","catch_line":" Pooling of interests for coalbed methane gas wells; conflicting claims to ownership","url":"\/45.2-1622\/","token":"45.2\/IV\/16\/2\/45.2-1622","metadata":false},{"id":72088,"structure_id":13431,"section_number":"45.2-1623","catch_line":" Conflicting claims of ownership; arbitration","url":"\/45.2-1623\/","token":"45.2\/IV\/16\/2\/45.2-1623","metadata":false},{"id":54396,"structure_id":13431,"section_number":"45.2-1624","catch_line":" Release of funds held in escrow or suspense because of conflicting claims to coalbed methane gas","url":"\/45.2-1624\/","token":"45.2\/IV\/16\/2\/45.2-1624","metadata":false},{"id":56696,"structure_id":13431,"section_number":"45.2-1625","catch_line":" Appeals of the Director's decisions; notices; hearings and orders","url":"\/45.2-1625\/","token":"45.2\/IV\/16\/2\/45.2-1625","metadata":false},{"id":85821,"structure_id":13431,"section_number":"45.2-1626","catch_line":" Enforcement","url":"\/45.2-1626\/","token":"45.2\/IV\/16\/2\/45.2-1626","metadata":false},{"id":54593,"structure_id":13431,"section_number":"45.2-1627","catch_line":" Standing when Director or Board fails to act","url":"\/45.2-1627\/","token":"45.2\/IV\/16\/2\/45.2-1627","metadata":false},{"id":56231,"structure_id":13431,"section_number":"45.2-1628","catch_line":" Recording of orders","url":"\/45.2-1628\/","token":"45.2\/IV\/16\/2\/45.2-1628","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":59912,"structure_id":13431,"section_number":"45.2-1616","catch_line":" Statewide spacing of wells","url":"\/45.2-1616\/","token":"45.2\/IV\/16\/2\/45.2-1616","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":66948,"structure_id":13431,"section_number":"45.2-1618","catch_line":" Notice of hearing; standing; form of hearing","url":"\/45.2-1618\/","token":"45.2\/IV\/16\/2\/45.2-1618","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/45.2-1617\/","history_text":"<p>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 3 times. 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. Those modifications are as follows: in 1987, chapter 452; in 1989, chapter 529; in 1990, chapter 92.<\/p>","references":false,"refers_to":false,"permalink":{"id":224749,"object_type":"law","relational_id":60521,"identifier":"45.2-1617","token":"45.2\/IV\/16\/2\/45.2-1617","url":"\/45.2-1617\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/45.2-1617\/","token":"45.2\/IV\/16\/2\/45.2-1617","dublin_core":{"Title":" Voluntary pooling of interests in drilling units; validity of unit agreements","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 45.2-1617","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section id=\"A\"><p><span class=\"prefix-number\">A.<\/span> If two or more separately owned tracts are embraced within a <span class=\"dictionary\">drilling unit<\/span>, or if there are separately owned interests in all or a part of any such <span class=\"dictionary\">drilling unit<\/span>, the <span class=\"dictionary\">gas or oil owners<\/span> owning such interests may <span class=\"dictionary\">pool<\/span> their interests for the development and operation of the <span class=\"dictionary\">drilling unit<\/span> by voluntary agreement. Such agreement may be based on the exercise of pooling rights or rights to establish <span class=\"dictionary\">drilling units<\/span> that are granted in any gas or oil lease. <a id=\"paragraph-221284\" class=\"section-permalink\" href=\"https:\/\/vacode.org\/45.2-1617\/#A\"><i class=\"fa fa-link\"><\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section id=\"B\"><p><span class=\"prefix-number\">B.<\/span> No voluntary pooling agreement between or among <span class=\"dictionary\">gas or oil owners<\/span> shall be held to violate the statutory or <span class=\"dictionary\">common law<\/span> of the Commonwealth that prohibits monopolies or acts, arrangements, <span class=\"dictionary\">contracts<\/span>, combinations, or conspiracies in restraint of trade or commerce. <a id=\"paragraph-221285\" class=\"section-permalink\" href=\"https:\/\/vacode.org\/45.2-1617\/#B\"><i class=\"fa fa-link\"><\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":"                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\n VOLUNTARY POOLING OF INTERESTS IN DRILLING UNITS; VALIDITY OF UNIT AGREEMENTS\n(\u00a7 45.2-1617)\n\nA. If two or more separately owned tracts are embraced within a drilling unit,\nor if there are separately owned interests in all or a part of any such drilling\nunit, the gas or oil owners owning such interests may pool their interests for\nthe development and operation of the drilling unit by voluntary agreement. Such\nagreement may be based on the exercise of pooling rights or rights to establish\ndrilling units that are granted in any gas or oil lease.\n\nB. No voluntary pooling agreement between or among gas or oil owners shall be\nheld to violate the statutory or common law of the Commonwealth that prohibits\nmonopolies or acts, arrangements, contracts, combinations, or conspiracies in\nrestraint of trade or commerce.\n\nHISTORY: 1982, c. 347, \u00a7 45.1-302; 1987, c. 452; 1989, c. 529; 1990, c. 92, \u00a7\n45.1-361.18; 2021, Sp. Sess. I, 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}}