Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 73.djvu/329

 73 S T A T. ]

PUBLIC LAW 8 6 - 1 4 3 - A U G. 7, 1969

'"AN INTERSTATE COMPACT TO CONSERVE OIL AND GAS " 'ARTICLE I

" 'This agreement may become effective within any compacting state at any time as prescribed by that state, and shall become effective within those states ratifying it whenever any three of the States of Texas, Oklahoma, California, Kansas, and New Mexico have ratified and Congress has given its consent. Any oil-producing state may become a party hereto as hereinafter provided. " 'ARTICLE

II

" 'The purpose of this compact is to conserve oil and gas by the prevention of physical waste thereof from any cause. " 'ARTICLE

III

" 'Each state bound hereby agrees that within a reasonable time it will enact laws, or if the laws have been enacted, then it agrees to continue the same in force, to accomplish within reasonable limits the prevention of: " ' (a) The operation of any oil well with an inefficient gas-oil ratio. " ' (b) The drowning with water of any stratum capable of producing oil or gas, or both oil and gas, in paying quantities. " '(c) The avoidable escape into the open air or the wasteful burning of gas from a natural gas well. " ' f d) The creation of unnecessary fire hazards. ' " (e) The drilling, equipping, locating, spacing, or operating of a well or wells so as to bring about physical waste of oil or gas or loss in the ultimate recovery thereof. ' " (f) The inefficient, excessive, or improper use of the reservoir energy in producing any well. " 'The enumeration of the foregoing subjects shall not limit the scope of the authority of any state. " 'ARTICLE

IV

" 'Each state bound hereby agrees that it will, within a reasonable time, enact statutes, or if such statutes have been enacted then that it will continue the same in force, providing in effect that oil produced in violation of its valid oil and/or gas conservation statutes or any valid rule, order or regulation promulgated thereunder, shall be denied access to commerce; and providing for stringent penalties for the waste of either oil or gas. " 'ARTICLE V

" ' I t is not the purpose of this compact to authorize the states joining herein to limit the production of oil or gas for the purpose of stabilizing or fixing the price thereof, or create or perpetuate monopoly, or to promote regimentation, but is limited to the purpose of conserving oil and gas and preventing the avoidable waste thereof within reasonable limitations.

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