Sealing off strata

During the drilling and operation of any well for subsurface minerals, all mineral-bearing and water strata above the producing horizon shall be sealed or separated where necessary in order to prevent their contents from passing into other strata. All freshwaters and waters of present or probable value for domestic, commercial, or stock purposes shall be confined to their respective strata and shall be adequately protected by methods approved by the commission. Special precautions shall be taken in drilling and plugging wells to guard against any loss of artesian water from the strata in which it occurs, and the contamination of artesian water by objectionable water or subsurface minerals. All water shall be shut off and excluded from the various subsurface mineral-bearing strata which are penetrated. Water shutoffs shall ordinarily be made by cementing casing or landing casing with or without the use of mud-laden fluid.