Kentucky Revised Statutes Title XXVIII. Mines and Minerals § 353.570.Permit required; department may authorize operation prior to issuance of permit

(1) No person shall drill or deepen a well, drill a stratigraphic test well, or reopen a plugged well for the production of oil or gas or for the injection of water, gas or other fluid into any oil or gas producing formation (except seismograph test holes) after June 16, 1960, or drill or deepen a water supply well after June 16, 1966, until such person shall obtain a permit from the department, except as provided in KRS 353.588.

(2) When any applicant for a permit as required by this section has complied with the provisions of this chapter and all rules and regulations promulgated hereunder, the department shall issue the permit.

(3) The department may authorize the commencement of the drilling, deepening or reopening of any well prior to the issuance of a permit therefor; except if the location of the well is known to be underlaid by a coal-bearing stratum and consent of the owner, operator, and lessee of the coal-bearing stratum has not been granted. Consent shall be implied, when the coal-bearing stratum is owned by the oil and gas lessor or lessee, and the coal is not under lease to any third party.