<?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>
<regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".11" citation="COMAR 26.19.01.11" title_num="26" subtitle_num="19" chapter_num="01" heading="Oil and Gas Correlative Rights.">
  <paragraph num="A.">
    <text>Unless the drilling and operating permit provides for controlled directional drilling or estimated natural deviation, a well may not vary more than 3 degrees from the vertical.</text>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="B.">
    <text>If a permittee needs to deviate more than 3 degrees from the vertical, the permittee shall notify the Department. Deviations larger than 3 degrees from vertical may be permitted by the Department in order to straighten the hole, sidetrack impenetrables, or to correct other mechanical difficulties, if correlative rights are not in dispute.</text>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="C.">
    <text>The Department may require the deviation to be less than 3 degrees to protect correlative rights.</text>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="D.">
    <text>The Department shall have the right to require the permittee to run a complete angular deviation and directional survey by a company knowledgeable about downhole surveys in directionally drilled wells at the permittee's sole cost and risk.</text>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="E.">
    <text>If an angular deviation and directional survey verifies violations of the approved well location or spacing requirements, the Department may require the well to be redrilled or plugged and abandoned.</text>
  </paragraph>
</regulation>