43 CFR § 3284.6 - May BLM authorize a working interest owner to drill a well on lands committed to the unit?

---
identifier: "/us/cfr/t43/s3284.6"
source: "ecfr"
legal_status: "authoritative_unofficial"
title: "43 CFR § 3284.6 - May BLM authorize a working interest owner to drill a well on lands committed to the unit?"
title_number: 43
title_name: "Public Lands: Interior"
section_number: "3284.6"
section_name: "May BLM authorize a working interest owner to drill a well on lands committed to the unit?"
chapter_name: "BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT, DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR"
subchapter_number: "C"
subchapter_name: "MINERALS MANAGEMENT (3000)"
part_number: "3280"
part_name: "GEOTHERMAL RESOURCES UNIT AGREEMENTS"
positive_law: false
currency: "2026-04-05"
last_updated: "2026-04-05"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
authority: "30 U.S.C. 1001-1028 and 43 U.S.C. 1701"
regulatory_source: "72 FR 24432, May 2, 2007, unless otherwise noted."
cfr_part: "3280"
---


# 3284.6 May BLM authorize a working interest owner to drill a well on lands committed to the unit?

(a) BLM may authorize a working interest owner to drill a well on the interest owner's lease only if it is located outside of an established participating area. However, BLM will only do so upon determining that:

(1) The unit operator is not diligently pursuing unit development; and

(2) Drilling the well is in the public interest.

(b) If BLM determines that a working interest has completed a well that will produce or utilize geothermal resources in commercial quantities, the unit operator must:

(1) Apply to revise the participating area to include the well; and

(2) Operate the well.