Dissolution of pooling order — Interests covered by terminated lease — Modification or termination of pooling order — Extension of dissolution of pooling order.
RCW 78.52.257
in effect(1) An order pooling a development unit shall automatically dissolve: (a) One year after its effective date if there has been no production of commercial quantities or drilling operations on lands within the unit; (b) Six months after completion of a dry hole on the unit; or (c) Six months after cessation of production of commercial quantities from the unit, unless, prior to the expiration of such six-month period, the operator shall, in good faith, commence drilling or reworking operations in an effort to restore production. (2) Upon the termination of a lease pooled by order of the department under authority granted in this chapter, interests covered by the lease are considered pooled as unleased mineral interests. (3) Any party to a pooling order is entitled, after due notice to all parties, to a hearing to modify or terminate a previously entered pooling order upon presenting new evidence showing that the previous determination of reservoir conclusions are substantially incorrect. (4) The department, after notice and hearing, may grant additional time, for good cause shown, before a pooling order is automatically dissolved as provided in subsection (1) of this section. In no case may such an extension be longer than six months.
(1) An order pooling a development unit shall automatically dissolve:
(a) One year after its effective date if there has been no production of commercial quantities or drilling operations on lands within the unit;
(b) Six months after completion of a dry hole on the unit; or
(c) Six months after cessation of production of commercial quantities from the unit, unless, prior to the expiration of such six-month period, the operator shall, in good faith, commence drilling or reworking operations in an effort to restore production.
(2) Upon the termination of a lease pooled by order of the department under authority granted in this chapter, interests covered by the lease are considered pooled as unleased mineral interests.
(3) Any party to a pooling order is entitled, after due notice to all parties, to a hearing to modify or terminate a previously entered pooling order upon presenting new evidence showing that the previous determination of reservoir conclusions are substantially incorrect.
(4) The department, after notice and hearing, may grant additional time, for good cause shown, before a pooling order is automatically dissolved as provided in subsection (1) of this section. In no case may such an extension be longer than six months.
Source: WA Statutes (Official Site)URL: https://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=78.52&full=trueFetched: 6/29/2026