55-102. Control and management of oil and gas wells; unlawful acts, penalties; flaring, venting or use of gas permitted, when. (a) Except as provided in subsection (b), it shall be unlawful for any person, firm or corporation having possession or control of any natural gas well, oil well or coalbed natural gas well, whether as a contractor, owner, lessee, agent or manager, to use or permit the use of gas by direct well pressure for pumping of oil or for blowing oil out of wells, or for operating any machinery by direct well pressure of gas, or to allow or permit the flow of gas or oil from any such well to escape into the open air without being confined within such well or proper pipes or other safe receptacle for a longer period than two days after gas or oil shall have been struck in such well, except that a reasonable time, not exceeding five days, shall be allowed such contractor, owner, lessee, agent or manager, in addition to such two days, in which to place in the well the casing, tubing, packers and other appliances necessary to properly operate the same and obtain the products therefrom or, in case such contractor, owner, lessee, agent or manager shall not desire to operate such well, to securely enclose the same, so as to prevent the escape of oil or gas therefrom, and thereafter all such gas or oil shall be safely and securely confined in such well, pipes, or other proper receptacle. The provisions of this section shall not be construed to apply to the escape of gas or oil during continuous drilling. Any person violating any of the provisions of this section shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and shall be fined in the sum not less than $50 nor more than $200, or by imprisonment in the county jail for not less than 30 days nor more than six months, and each day that the violation continues shall constitute a separate offense.

(b) Natural gas produced from natural gas wells or in connection with the production of oil, or coalbed natural gas produced from coal seams or associated shale, may be flared, vented or used in any manner if such use, flaring or venting is authorized by order or rules and regulations of the state corporation commission.

History: L. 1901, ch. 224, § 1; R.S. 1923, 55-102; L. 1983, ch. 183, § 1; L. 2002, ch. 206, § 1; June 13.