Volume 44 - Issue 45 - November 6, 2025

State of Kansas

Kansas Corporation Commission

Article 3.—Production and Conservation of Oil and Gas

82-3-144. Abandoned well plugging reimbursement. (a) Reimbursement process. Each person seeking reimbursement under K.S.A. 2024 Supp. 55-180(f), and amendments thereto, shall do the following in the prescribed order to obtain reimbursement:

(1) Submit a complete plugging reimbursement application;

(2) obtain plugging reimbursement approval from the director;

(3) plug the well or wells in accordance with all applicable laws; and

(4) submit a complete post-plugging certification of completion.

(b) Plugging reimbursement application. Each plugging reimbursement application shall be submitted on a form prescribed by the commission and shall include:

(1) The name and contact information of the applicant;

(2) the name and contact information of the surface owner, as defined in K.S.A. 2024 Supp. 55-169a(b), and amendments thereto;

(3) the location of the well or wells, and any known well names or American petroleum institute numbers;

(4) the estimated reimbursement for each well and the total plugging estimate; and

(5) any other information required by the conservation division.

(c) Director plugging reimbursement approval. The following nonexclusive factors may be considered by the director as part of a decision to grant or deny plugging reimbursement approval:

(1) Whether funds are available to the commission;

(2) whether the well or wells are eligible for reimbursement under K.S.A. 2024 Supp. 55-180(f)(1), and amendments thereto; and

(3) whether the estimated total plugging reimbursement amount is reasonable.

(d) Well plugging requirements. To obtain reimbursement, each well shall be plugged according to all statutory and regulatory requirements, and all written directives of the director and staff, except no person shall be required to submit any form as required by K.A.R. 82-3-113 or K.A.R. 82-3-117.

(e) Post-plugging certification of completion. Each post-plugging certification of completion shall be submitted on a form prescribed by the commission and shall include:

(1) The name and contact information of the applicant;

(2) the name and contact information of the surface owner;

(3) the location of the well or wells, and any known well names or American petroleum institute numbers;

(4) all plugging invoices for each well included in the plugging reimbursement application that was plugged, including copies of all cement tickets or cement receipts;

(5) the reimbursement requested for each well and the total requested reimbursement; and

(6) any other information required by the conservation division.

(f) Plugging reimbursement. If the director has granted a plugging reimbursement application for the well or wells, the following exclusive factors shall be considered by the director as part of a decision to grant or deny post-plugging reimbursement:

(1) Compliance with all well-plugging requirements and directives; and

(2) successful finalization and submission of the post-plugging certification of completion, including all invoices.

(g) If any well is plugged within six months after a plugging reimbursement application is approved by the director, reimbursement for the actual amount spent, not to exceed the amount requested in the initial plugging reimbursement application, shall be granted once the criteria set forth in subsection (f) are met. The director may grant reimbursement of an amount greater than the amount requested in the initial plugging reimbursement application, but only upon a showing by the applicant of unforeseen circumstances during the plugging process that directly caused an excess in plugging costs.

(h) Application for exception. Upon written, timely request to the conservation division, the director may provide an exception to any of the requirements of this regulation. (Authorized by K.S.A. 2024 Supp. 55-152 and 55-180; implementing K.S.A. 2024 Supp. 55-180 and 55-192; effective Nov. 21, 2025.)

Celeste Chaney-Tucker
Executive Director
Kansas Corporation Commission

Doc. No. 053629