A. No order of the division providing for unit operations shall become effective unless and until the plan for unit operations prescribed by the division has been approved in writing by those persons who, under the division's order, will be required initially to pay at least seventy-five percent of the costs of the unit operations, and also by the owners of at least seventy-five percent of the production or proceeds thereof that will be credited to interests which are free of cost such as royalties, overriding royalties and production payments, and the division has made a finding either in the order providing for unit operations or in a supplemental order that the plan for unit operations has been so approved. Notwithstanding any other provisions of this section, if seventy-five percent or more of the unit area is owned, as to working interest, by one working interest owner, such working interest owner must be joined by at least one other working interest owner in ratifying and approving the plan of unit operations, unless such working interest owner is the owner of one hundred percent of the working interest in said unit area; provided, however, if a single owner is one who, under the division's order will be required initially to pay at least twenty-five percent, but not more than fifty percent, of the costs of unit operation, such owner must be joined by at least one other owner of the same type interest in disapproving, or failure to approve, the plan of unit operations to defeat the plan.

B. If one owner is the owner of at least twenty-five percent, but not more than fifty percent, of the production or proceeds thereof that will be credited to interests which are free of costs, such owner must be joined by at least one other owner of the same type interest in disapproving, or failure to approve, the plan of unit operations to defeat the plan.

C. If the persons owning the required percentage of interest in the unit area do not approve the plan for unit operations within a period of six months from the date on which the order providing for unit operations is made, such order shall cease to be of further force and effect and shall be revoked by the division, unless the division shall extend the time for ratification for good cause shown.

D. When the persons owning the required percentage of interest in the unit area have approved the plan for unit operations, the interests of all persons in the unit are unitized whether or not such persons have approved the plan of unitization in writing.

History: 1953 Comp., § 65-14-8, enacted by Laws 1975, ch. 293, § 8; 1977, ch. 255, § 114.