ND HB1272

Amends North Dakota Century Code section 38-08-04 to expand the Industrial Commission's authority over oil and gas well operations, including ownership identification, well log filing, drilling and plugging standards, bonding requirements, production measurement, and record-keeping.

Allows operators to elect alternative forms of security (collateral bond, self-bond, cash, or other commission-approved alternatives) in place of traditional bonds for underground gathering pipelines transferring oil or produced water.

Requires surface owners to receive notice and hearing before the commission can review a well's enhanced oil recovery potential status, with initial review available after 12 years and subsequent reviews every 2 years thereafter.

Establishes similar notice and hearing requirements for reviewing temporarily abandoned well status after 7 years, with subsequent reviews available every 2 years.

Changes the conditions for wells in abandoned-well status from three to four options: return to production, temporary abandonment approval, enhanced oil recovery potential status approval, or plugging and reclamation within six months.