---
kind: "section"
citation: "30 C.F.R. § 556.601"
title: "30"
number: "556.601"
heading: "How may I maintain my oil and gas lease beyond the primary term?"
url: "https://uscodex.org/cfr/30/556.601"
---

# §556.601. How may I maintain my oil and gas lease beyond the primary term?


You may maintain your oil and gas lease beyond the expiration of the primary term as long as:

- (a) You are producing oil or gas in paying quantities;
- (b) You are conducting approved drilling or well reworking operations with the objective of establishing production in paying quantities, in accordance with [30 CFR 250.180](/cfr/30/250.180.md);
- (c) You are producing from, or drilling or reworking, an approved well adjacent to or adjoining your lease that extends directionally into your lease in accordance with [30 CFR 256.71](/cfr/30/256.71.md);
- (d) You make compensatory payments on your lease in accordance with [30 CFR 256.72](/cfr/30/256.72.md);
- (e) Your lease is included in a BSEE-approved unit, in accordance with [30 CFR part 250](/cfr/30/part250.md), [subpart M](/cfr/30/subpartM.md); or
- (f) Your lease is subject to a suspension of production or a suspension of operations, in accordance with [30 CFR 250.168 through 250.180](/cfr/30/250.168..250.180.md), for reasons other than gross negligence or a willful violation of a provision of your lease or any governing regulations.

## Notes

### Authority

Authority: 31 U.S.C. 9701; 42 U.S.C. 6213; 43 U.S.C. 1334.

### Source

Source: 81 FR 18152, Mar. 30, 2016, unless otherwise noted.