Sec. 556.2. Gas wells

(a) The operating practice requirements of subdivisions (b) through (d) of this section shall be applicable only to gas wells.

(b) No gas from any gas well, except such as is produced in a clean up period not to exceed 48 hours after any completion or stimulation operation, plus that used for the controlled testing of the well's potential in a period not to exceed 24 hours, plus that used in any operational requirements, shall be permitted to escape into the air. Extensions of these time periods shall be granted administratively by the department upon application therefor by the owner or operator and the demonstration of sufficient good cause.

(c) All gas wells capable of production shall be equipped with wellhead controls adequate to properly contain and control the flow thereof.

(d) The department may require the periodic testing of any gas well in such a manner as the department may prescribe in order to establish the producing capacity and characteristics of the well. The owner or operator of any offsetting lease or unit will be permitted to have a representative present to witness any such test.

(e) All gas when produced or sold shall be measured with an adequate and suitable meter of sufficient capacity or measured in such other manner as may be approved by the department. The gas may be metered or measured from a lease or unitized property as a whole or on an individual well basis at the option of the operator. The meter charts and relevant records shall be kept in a permanent file for a period of at least three years and be made available to the department upon written request therefor.