Section 19-13-2 - Definitions. - New Mexico Statutes

19-13-2. Definitions.

As used in the  Geothermal Resources Act [19-13-1 to 19-13-28 NMSA 1978]:   

A.     "geothermal resources" means the natural heat of the earth, or the energy, in whatever form, below the surface of the earth present in, resulting from or created by, or  which may be extracted from, this natural heat, and all minerals in solution or other products obtained from naturally heated fluids, brines, associated gases and steam, in whatever form, found below the surface of the earth, but excluding oil, hydrocarbon gas and other hydrocarbon substances;   

B.     "commissioner" means the commissioner of public lands;   

C.     "state lands" includes all land owned by the state, all land owned by school districts, beds of navigable  rivers and lakes, submerged lands and lands in which mineral rights have been reserved to the state;   

D.     "lease" means a lease for the extraction and removal of geothermal resources from state lands; and   

E.     "well" means any well for the discovery of geothermal resources or any well on lands producing geothermal  resources or reasonably presumed to contain geothermal resources.