Office of Conservation

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Permit to Drill Applications

The Permit to Drill is the initial application submitted by a company to drill a well in the State of Louisiana. Drilling is governed by the rules and regulations of Title 43 and especially Statewide Order 29-B (see Rules page for current links to Title 43 and 29-B).

All Permit to Drill Applications should be filed in duplicate with the District Office the well is located. Once the District is finished with their review, the Permit to Drill Application is submitted to Baton Rouge for final approval. The Permit to Drill Application consists of the following:

The Application (MD-10-R-1)

• A completed MD-10-R-1 signed by a company official. Follow this link to the Forms page, then Engineering Division for download.
• The date the form is completed.
• The parish and code number of the well's surface location.
• The field name and code number.
• The company name, address and code number.
• Operator codes are assigned and maintained via the OR1 application. Register the entity with the Louisiana Secretary of State, then visit www.sonris.com > Online OR1 Submission.
• A unique well name and number.
• Well names are based on the mineral owner at the take point for straight and directional wells. For horizontal wells, the well name is based on the mineral owner equivalent to the location of the surface of the well. If this is an additional well to an existing lease, the well numbering must be consecutive.
• The well's location description (as depicted on the plat- see below).
• Indicate whether drilling for oil, gas, or other.
• The proposed total depth of the well and true vertical depth, if applicable.
• The proposed zone of completion.
• Applicable Conservation Orders, if any. Follow this link, then Regulatory > Field Order Index-Black Books.
• The address to where the permit is to be sent. If same, put "same."
• The typed name and phone number of a contact person should additional information be necessary.
• The signature of a company representative, normally the contact person.

The Operator

• All operators are subject to the bonding rules. Follow this link for more information regarding Financial Security.

The Well Plat

• Must be prepared by a Louisiana Land Surveyor:
• With seal, signature, scale and dated less than a year old.
• The preferred scale is 1 in. = 1000 ft.
• The location of the well must be referenced to:
• A governmental section line or
• An established and accepted monument.
• The well location's proximity to the lease line.
• If the proposed well is to be drilled to 10,000 feet or more, the plat must bear one of the following statements:
• 1. "No commercial or residential structures not owned by the applicant, his lessor, or other predecessor in interest are located within a 500 foot radius of the well site."
• 2. "The only structure(s) not owned by the applicant, his lessor, or other predecessor in interest within a 500 foot radius of this well site are as shown."
• Each structure shown on the plat must be identified by the name of the owner(s).
• Written consent to drill the well within 500 feet of any structure not owned by the applicant, his lessor or other predecessor in interest must be submitted from the owner(s) of said structure before a permit to drill will be issued.
• In the event written consent is not obtainable from the owner(s) of said structure, then the applicant may request a public hearing in accordance with the provisions of LSA-R.S. 30:6 and LAC 43:XIX.3901 et seq. for the purpose of presenting geological, engineering, or other evidence to justify the issuance of a permit to drill.
• Wells targeting the Haynesville Shale must reference whether Order No. U-HS is applicable or not on the plat.
• Horizontal wells targeting the Austin Chalk formation must state "Compliant with Order No. 29-S" on the plat if drilled on a lease basis. See other criteria in "Miscellaneous Required Items" below.


The Fee

• The applicable fee (determined by depth) can be found on the Office of Conservation's Rules Page. Follow this link, then scroll down to "Statewide Order No. 29-R-FY" for current fee schedule.

Miscellaneous Required Items

• Form AFLN-1- as of May 1, 2013, the Pre-Entry Notice Affidavit is required for all applications for a Permit to Drill for Minerals.
• This Affidavit verifies that the surface owner has been notified of the intent to drill at least 30 days prior to any work having begun or that a contractual relationship exists between the operator and the surface owner. An online version of the affidavit is available via this link.
• The form was modified in January 2024 to align with the venting and flaring rule amendment promulgated January 20, 2024. Applicants must select an option related to natural gas management.
• Coastal Use Permit- if the location is in the Coastal Zone Management Area (CZM) a Coastal Use Permit is required.
• Coastal Use Permits must be in the name of the Permit to Drill applicant and
• Must be less than two years old.
• Austin Chalk- horizontal wells targeting the Austin Chalk formation must be drilled in accordance with Order No. 29-S if there are no established spacing rules for the Austin Chalk formation in the Field.
• See Order 29-S here.
• Straighthole lease wells in nonunitized area- no special permitting conditions.
• Horizontal lease wells in nonunitized area- plat must state that the well complies with Order No. 29-S.
• Unit wells- applicant must have sworn testimony at public hearing that they own or control the majority working interest in the drilling unit.
• If majority working interest owner/controller not identified at hearing, Affidavit of Majority Working Interest is required with permit to drill application.