Okla. Stat. tit. 52, § 52-318.4
This is the official text of Okla. Stat. tit. 52, § 52-318.4, part of Oklahoma’s Stat. tit. 52, — part of the compiled statutory law of Oklahoma, published by the state as "Stat. tit. 52,." Browse the sections below, each linked to its official government source.
Not legal advice. This page reproduces the official text of a government statute for reference only. Laws change, and how a statute applies depends on your specific facts. For advice about your situation, consult a licensed attorney in your state.
Undertakings which may be posted as damage deposit
Official statutory text
A. Every operator doing business in this state shall file a
corporate surety bond, letter of credit from a banking institution,
cash, or a certificate of deposit with the Secretary of State in the
sum of Twenty-five Thousand Dollars ($25,000.00) conditioned upon
compliance with Sections 318.2 through 318.9 of this title for
payment of any location damages due which the operator cannot
otherwise pay. The Secretary of State shall hold such corporate
surety bond, letter of credit from a banking institution, cash or
certificate of deposit for the benefit of the surface owners of this
state and shall ensure that such security is in a form readily
payable to a surface owner awarded damages in an action brought
pursuant to this act. Each corporate surety bond, letter of credit,
cash, or certificate of deposit filed with the Secretary of State
shall be accompanied by a filing fee of Ten Dollars ($10.00).
B. The bonding company or banking institution shall file, for
such fee as is provided for by law, a certificate that said bond or
letter of credit is in effect or has been canceled, or that a claim
has been made against it in the office of the court clerk in each
county in which the operator is drilling or planning to drill. Said
bond or letter of credit must remain in full force and effect as
long as the operator continues drilling operations in this state.
Each such filing shall be accompanied by a filing fee of Ten Dollars
($10.00).
C. Upon deposit of the bond, letter of credit, cash, or
certificate of deposit, the operator shall be permitted entry upon
the property and shall be permitted to commence drilling of a well
in accordance with the terms and conditions of any lease or other
existing contractual or lawful right.
D. If the damages agreed to by the parties or awarded by the
court are greater than the bond, letter of credit, cash, or
certificate of deposit posted, the operator shall pay the damages
immediately or post an additional bond, letter of credit, cash, or
certificate of deposit sufficient to cover the damages. Said
Oklahoma Statutes - Title 52. Oil and Gas Page 168
increase in bond, letter of credit, cash, or certificate of deposit
shall comply with the requirements of this section.
corporate surety bond, letter of credit from a banking institution,
cash, or a certificate of deposit with the Secretary of State in the
sum of Twenty-five Thousand Dollars ($25,000.00) conditioned upon
compliance with Sections 318.2 through 318.9 of this title for
payment of any location damages due which the operator cannot
otherwise pay. The Secretary of State shall hold such corporate
surety bond, letter of credit from a banking institution, cash or
certificate of deposit for the benefit of the surface owners of this
state and shall ensure that such security is in a form readily
payable to a surface owner awarded damages in an action brought
pursuant to this act. Each corporate surety bond, letter of credit,
cash, or certificate of deposit filed with the Secretary of State
shall be accompanied by a filing fee of Ten Dollars ($10.00).
B. The bonding company or banking institution shall file, for
such fee as is provided for by law, a certificate that said bond or
letter of credit is in effect or has been canceled, or that a claim
has been made against it in the office of the court clerk in each
county in which the operator is drilling or planning to drill. Said
bond or letter of credit must remain in full force and effect as
long as the operator continues drilling operations in this state.
Each such filing shall be accompanied by a filing fee of Ten Dollars
($10.00).
C. Upon deposit of the bond, letter of credit, cash, or
certificate of deposit, the operator shall be permitted entry upon
the property and shall be permitted to commence drilling of a well
in accordance with the terms and conditions of any lease or other
existing contractual or lawful right.
D. If the damages agreed to by the parties or awarded by the
court are greater than the bond, letter of credit, cash, or
certificate of deposit posted, the operator shall pay the damages
immediately or post an additional bond, letter of credit, cash, or
certificate of deposit sufficient to cover the damages. Said
Oklahoma Statutes - Title 52. Oil and Gas Page 168
increase in bond, letter of credit, cash, or certificate of deposit
shall comply with the requirements of this section.
Status: in_force · Read it on the official government site
Need a lawyer in Oklahoma?
Find a Oklahoma lawyer
About this page: Statute text is reproduced from official government publishers via the
Open US Law dataset
(Vaquill AI, snapshot v2026.08, CC BY 4.0). Primary legislative text like this is public domain under the government-edicts doctrine
(Georgia v. Public.Resource.Org, 2020). We link every section back to its official source so you can verify it independently.