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15 U.S. Code § 3301. Definitions
For purposes of this chapter—(1) Natural gas
The term “natural gas” means either natural gas unmixed, or any mixture of natural and artificial gas.
(2) Well
The term “well” means any well for the discovery or production of natural gas, crude oil, or both.
(3) New wellThe term “new well” means any well—
(A)
the surface drilling of which began on or after February 19, 1977; or
(B)
the depth of which was increased, by means of drilling on or after February 19, 1977, to a completion location which is located at least 1,000 feet below the depth of the deepest completion location of such well attained before February 19, 1977.
(4) Old well
The term “old well” means any well other than a new well.
(5) Marker well
(A) General rule
The term “marker well” means any well from which natural gas was produced in commercial quantities at any time after January 1, 1970, and before April 20, 1977.
(B) New wells
The term “marker well” does not include any new well under paragraph (3)(A) but includes any new well under paragraph (3)(B) if such well qualifies as a marker well under subparagraph (A) of this paragraph.
(6) ReservoirThe term “reservoir” means any producible natural accumulation of natural gas, crude oil, or both, confined—
(A)
by impermeable rock or water barriers and characterized by a single natural pressure system; or
(B)
by lithologic or structural barriers which prevent pressure communication.
(7) Completion location
(A) General rule
The term “completion location” means any subsurface location from which natural gas is being or has been produced in commercial quantities.
(B) Marker well
The term “completion location”, when used with reference to any marker well, means any subsurface location from which natural gas was produced from such well in commercial quantities after January 1, 1970, and before April 20, 1977.
(8) Proration unitThe term “proration unit” means—
(A)
any portion of a reservoir, as designated by the State or Federal agency having regulatory jurisdiction with respect to production from such reservoir, which will be effectively and efficiently drained by a single well;
(B)
any drilling unit, production unit, or comparable arrangement, designated or recognized by the State or Federal agency having jurisdiction with respect to production from the reservoir, to describe that portion of such reservoir which will be effectively and efficiently drained by a single well; or
(C)
if such portion of a reservoir, unit, or comparable arrangement is not specifically provided for by State law or by any action of any State or Federal agency having regulatory jurisdiction with respect to production from such reservoir, any voluntary unit agreement or other comparable arrangement applied, under local custom or practice within the locale in which such reservoir is situated, for the purpose of describing the portion of a reservoir which may be effectively and efficiently drained by a single well.