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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>59912</law_id><section_number>45.2-1616</section_number><catch_line> Statewide spacing of wells</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><referred_to_by><reference>45.2-1620</reference><reference>45.2-1632</reference></referred_to_by><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="1" identifier="45.2">Mines, Minerals, and Energy</unit><unit label="subtitle" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="IV">Gas and Oil</unit><unit label="chapter" level="3" order_by="1" identifier="16">Virginia Gas and Oil Act</unit><unit label="article" level="4" order_by="1" identifier="2">Gas and Oil Conservation</unit></structure><text>
						<section id="A"><p><span class="prefix-number">A.</span> Unless prior approval has been received from the <span class="dictionary">Board</span> or a provision of the field or <span class="dictionary">pool</span> rules so allows: <a id="paragraph-219429" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/45.2-1616/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A1" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">1.</span> No <span class="dictionary">well</span> drilled in search of <span class="dictionary">oil</span> shall be located closer than 1,250 feet to any <span class="dictionary">well</span> completed in the same <span class="dictionary">pool</span>; however, this spacing requirement is subject to &#xA7; <a class="law" title=" Distance limitations of certain wells" href="/45.2-1612/">45.2-1612</a>; <a id="paragraph-219430" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/45.2-1616/#A1"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A2" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">2.</span> No well drilled in search of <span class="dictionary">gas</span> shall be located closer than 2,500 feet to any other well completed in the same <span class="dictionary">pool</span> or closer than 2,500 feet to any <span class="dictionary">storage well</span> within the boundary of a <span class="dictionary">gas</span> storage field certificated by the State Corporation Commission prior to January 1, 1997, if the well to be drilled is to be completed within the same horizon as the certificated <span class="dictionary">gas</span> storage field; and <a id="paragraph-219431" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/45.2-1616/#A2"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A3" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">3.</span> No well shall be drilled closer to the boundary of the acreage supporting the well, whether such acreage is a single leasehold or other tract or a contractual or statutory <span class="dictionary">drilling unit</span>, than one-half of the applicable minimum well spacing distance prescribed in this section. <a id="paragraph-219432" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/45.2-1616/#A3"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> Unless prior approval has been received from the <span class="dictionary">Board</span> or a provision of the field or <span class="dictionary">pool</span> rules so allows: <a id="paragraph-219433" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/45.2-1616/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B1" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">1.</span> No well drilled in search of <span class="dictionary">coalbed methane gas</span> shall be located closer than 1,000 feet to any other <span class="dictionary"><span class="dictionary">coalbed methane gas</span> well</span>, or in the case of a <span class="dictionary"><span class="dictionary">coalbed methane gas</span> well</span> located in the <span class="dictionary">gob</span>, closer than 500 feet to any other <span class="dictionary"><span class="dictionary">coalbed methane gas</span> well</span> located in the <span class="dictionary">gob</span>. <a id="paragraph-219434" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/45.2-1616/#B1"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B2" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">2.</span> No <span class="dictionary"><span class="dictionary">coalbed methane gas</span> well</span> shall be drilled closer than 500 feet, or in the case of a well located in the <span class="dictionary">gob</span>, closer than 250 feet, from the boundary of the acreage supporting the well, whether such acreage is a single leasehold or other tract or a contractual or statutory <span class="dictionary">drilling unit</span>. <a id="paragraph-219435" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/45.2-1616/#B2"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B3" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">3.</span> The spacing limitations set forth in this subsection are subject to the provisions of &#xA7;&#xA7; <a class="law" title=" Objections by coal owner" href="/45.2-1611/">45.2-1611</a> and <a class="law" title=" Distance limitations of certain wells" href="/45.2-1612/">45.2-1612</a>. <a id="paragraph-219436" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/45.2-1616/#B3"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>1990, c. 92, &#xA7; 45.1-361.17; 1996, c. 854; 1997, c. 759; 2021, Sp. Sess. I, c. 387.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
