Oil & Gas Conservation Commission
The State Board of Land Commissioners acts as the Oil and Gas Conservation Commission and regulates the exploration, drilling and production of oil and gas resources on private, state, and federal land. The Idaho Department of Lands (IDL) is the administrative arm of the Oil and Gas Conservation Commission. The Commission is based out of the IDL Director's Office in Boise.
Wellhead activities are monitored to ensure that environmental damage does not occur during drilling and operation states. The efficient recovery of oil and gas, protection of correlative rights, and protection of fresh water supplies are the duties of the Commission as described in Idaho law. Drill permits are issued by the Director after a review by the Idaho Department of Water Resources. Other activities associated with oil and gas development include spacing orders, directional drilling, secondary recovery, and unit operations. These other activities may require a public hearing as part of the review process.
Other issues pertaining to oil and gas development fall within the jurisdiction of other agencies or levels of government. View a summary of agency jurisdictions here.
Past Oil and Gas Exploration Wells in Idaho
Information on past oil and gas exploration wells in Idaho has been transferred to the Idaho Geological Survey in Moscow, Idaho and can be accessed by visiting the Idaho Geological Survey web site.
For information about historic exploration wells, e-mail igs@uidaho.edu.
