NC H586

Prohibits the North Carolina Commission from requiring owners of oil or gas rights to involuntarily integrate their interests into a drilling unit; owners may only integrate by voluntary agreement.

Requires written consent from surface owners before any oil or gas operations or surface disturbances occur on their land when they do not own the underlying subsurface oil or gas resources.

Allows developers to proceed without surface owner consent only if the surface owner's refusal would make access to subsurface resources technically or economically infeasible, with the burden of proof on the developer or operator.

Requires oil and gas operators to minimize intrusion and damage to the surface through alternative locations or methods that are technologically sound, economically practicable, and reasonably available.

Creates a cause of action for surface owners to seek compensatory damages and equitable relief if operators fail to minimize intrusion upon their land.