Public Resources Code section 3724

The owner or operator of any well, before commencing the original drilling of a well or the redrilling of an abandoned well, shall file with the supervisor or the district deputy a written notice of intention to commence drilling, accompanied by the prescribed fee. Drilling shall not commence until approval is given by the supervisor or the district deputy. If the supervisor or the district deputy fails to give the owner or operator written response to the notice within 10 working days, such failure shall be considered as an approval of the notice and the notice shall, for the purposes and intents of this chapter, be deemed a written report of the supervisor. The notice shall contain the following:

(a)

The location and elevation of the floor of the proposed derrick.

(b)

The number or other designation by which the well shall be known. Such number or designation shall be subject to the approval of the supervisor.

(c)

The owner’s or operator’s estimate of the depths between which production will be attempted.

(d)

Such other pertinent data as the supervisor may require.
After the completion of any well, the provisions of this section, other than the requirement of the payment of the fee, shall also apply, as far as may be, to the deepening or redrilling of the well, or any operation involving the plugging of the well, or any operations permanently altering in any manner the casing of the well. The number or designation by which any well heretofore drilled has been known, and the number or designation specified for any well in a notice filed as required by this section, shall not be changed without first obtaining a written consent of the supervisor.
As set forth by regulation, the appropriate fee to be filed for the drilling of a new well or the redrilling of an abandoned well, shall be twenty-five dollars ($25), two hundred dollars ($200), five hundred dollars ($500), or one thousand dollars ($1,000).
The fee shall be paid as provided in Section 3724.6.

Source: Section 3724, https://leginfo.­legislature.­ca.­gov/faces/codes_displaySection.­xhtml?lawCode=PRC§ionNum=3724.­ (accessed Apr. 24, 2025).

Last Updated

Apr. 24, 2025

§ 3724’s source at ca​.gov