27-509. Certificate of compliance

A. An owner or operator of an oil or gas well shall, before connecting with an oil or gas pipe line, secure from the commissioner a certificate showing compliance with the conservation laws of the state and the conservation rules, regulations and orders of the commissioner. No operator of a pipe line shall connect with a well until the owner or operator furnishes a certificate of compliance.

B. The commissioner may cancel a certificate of compliance issued under this section when it appears, after due notice and hearing, that the owner or operator of a well has violated or is violating an oil or gas conservation law of the state, or a rule, regulation or order of the commissioner promulgated thereunder. Upon notice from the commissioner to the operator of a pipe line connected to any such oil or gas well that the certificate of compliance has been cancelled, the operator of the pipe line shall disconnect from the well, and it shall be unlawful for the operator of the pipe line to transport oil or gas therefrom until a new certificate of compliance has been issued by the commissioner. The owner or operator of a well shall not produce oil or gas therefrom unless a certificate of compliance is in effect covering the well.

C. This section shall not be construed to prevent a temporary connection of not more than ten days' duration with a well in order to take care of production and prevent waste until opportunity has been given the owner or operator of the well to secure a certificate of compliance. If the certificate of compliance is not secured within the ten-day period, the well shall be shut in until such time as a certificate of compliance is secured.