Oklahoma Message Board

The operator usually names the wells unless the local oil and gas commission directs otherwise.

 

I once had a client whose attorney worked all the leasing and that attorney added a lease clause requiring all future wells had to include his name.

Thank you.  I think I have cracked the code, with the operative idea being that the last number in the name is the number of the section that the well in draining.  For example Smith 8-10H3 begins with the sequential number of the well (8th well in section 10--10 is the section in which the drilling rig is located); H for horizontal; and 3 is the section that the well is draining.  So in this example the rig is on the section 10 to drill into adjoining section 3.  If the well name simply says Smith 8-10H, then the rig and well are both in the same section.  The way to confirm this is on the OCC site: Consumer; Oil & Gas; Database; Case Processing Web Application; type the Case # in (from your copy of the producer's application to the OCC); and check the exhibits.  One exhibit should be a map showing the sections in question and neighboring sections; existing wells; and the proposed route of the new horizontal well.  A map is worth a thousand words, you know.  Incidentally, I think you must use only Internet Explorer to get into the Case Processing site, and have downloaded the appropriate Java software.  The OCC software people have been telephonically very nice to me.