Help for Wells Data Search

This help section covers items in the Wells search drop–down menu plus the 44 columns in the table of search results. If JavaScript is enabled on your computer, many of the search criteria also have their own drop–down list to save typing in words. If JavaScript is not enabled, then you can view acceptable search terms by clicking on highlighted headings on this help page.

The list below is organized alphabetically:

API Well Number or API# – These are both abbreviations for a 14–digit American Petroleum Institute number where the first 5 digits indicate the state and county, the next 5 digits indicate the specific well (see hole number below), the next 2 digits are for sidetrack wells off the main well bore, and the last 2 digits are a completion code.

Casing and Cementing – After you do a Wells search, check the 4th column of results. If you see the word “View”, click for detailed casing and cementing records. These records show how the well was drilled and completed. The majority of records in our database are historic in nature, so results for many wells lack these details.

Confidential Expiration Date – Use the Date Search tips below to search on the date confidentiality will expire for wells with six–month or two–year protection (see next entry).

Confidential Period Type – You can search on the confidential status of wells: “No” = not confidential; “Yes” = confidential for six months; “Extended” = confidential up to two years; “Released” = the well no longer has confidential status.

Confidential Wells – If a well is currently confidential, information in the following columns of search results will be replaced with the word “Confidential”: Well Status, Well Type, Producing Formation and Field columns.

County – This is the name of the county the well is in. If no drop–down menu appears, click the link at the beginning of this entry for a list of county names.

Date – There are a number of date search options available in this system. In the search blank type the following separated by slashes: (/) 1– or 2–digit month; 1– or 2– digit day; and 2– or 4–digit year.

Field – This is the area encompassing a group of oil and/or gas wells with a common producing source. Field names are officially registered with DEC.

Formation Tops – After you do a Wells search, check the 3rd column of results. If the word “View” is there, click to see formation tops. This information is submitted by the well driller or operator. Due to variable geologic names used across the industry, this information should be used with caution. Since the majority of records in our database are historic in nature, many wells lack these details. Click on the link in the Producing Formations entry for a list of formations and geologic ages.

Hole Number – This is a shorter 5–digit version of the API number described above. It lacks the preceding state and county codes and detailed codes at end. The hole number matches the 6th to 10th digits in a full API number. However, the database may drop all zeros at the beginning. Therefore, to search on 5–digit hole number “00036” just type “36” in the blank.

Integration – When a well owner does not control all oil and gas rights in a spacing unit, DEC must hold compulsory integration hearings and issue an order. If no drop–down menu appears, click on the link at the beginning of this entry for a key. Tip – Use the “like” search option with “no”, “order”, or “pending” to find wells where no integration order required, integration order issued, or integration order pending.

Last Modified Date – This is the date DEC staff last modified this well entry. It can be used to determine additions and modifications to a well record since a previous search. See Date search tips above.

Operator – Any person, company or organization in charge of the development of a lease or operation of a well.

Producing Formation – This is the geologic formation that contains the oil or gas being produced. If no drop–down menu appears, the link at left shows correct spelling of formation names.

Producing Information – Well operators are legally required to report producing information every year. After you do a Wells search, check the 2nd column of results. If you see the word “View”, click for producing information for that specific well.

Objective Formation – This is the formation that the operator indicated was the well’s target in the drilling permit application. If no drop–down menu appears, the link at left shows correct spelling of formation names.

Spacing – Complex legal requirements apply to the land area that a well drains oil and/or gas from (the well’s spacing). If no drop–down menu appears, click on the link at the beginning of this entry for a key. Tip – Use the “like” search option and a unique word from the key.

Town – This is the name of the town where the well is located. If no drop–down menu appears, the link at the beginning of this entry shows correct spelling of town names.

Well Name – This is the name of the well as shown on the drilling permit.

Well Status – This is the status of the well for the previous calendar year. Click on the link at the beginning of this entry for 2–letter codes needed to interpret search results and/of to type in search box.

Well Types – This category occurs on the drop–down search menu and twice in the search results. The “Well Type” results column is the well’s final classification. The “Original Well Type” results column is the well type proposed on the drilling permit application. Click on the link at the beginning of this entry for 2–letter codes needed to interpret search results and/or to type in search box.