(a) It shall be unlawful for any owner or operator to commence operations to drill, deepen, plug back or convert a well for exploration, production, input, storage or disposal until he has filed an application with the department and has received a permit as specified below. This application shall not be required for deepening or plug back operations to be conducted exclusively within the producing horizon of a pool.

(b) Each copy of the application must be accompanied by a neat, legible plat which has been certified as to correctness by a licensed land surveyor or licensed civil engineer. The plat must be drawn to scale and show the boundaries of the lease or unit containing the well, the distance in feet from the well to the two nearest boundaries, the distance in feet from the well to the nearest well completed in the objective pool (if same is within one mile) and the distance in feet from the well to the nearest producing well (if same is within one mile). Both of the latter two distances may be obtained by scaling from a map, stadia measurements, pacing, odometer or other reasonably accurate means. However, if the distance between the well and the nearest well completed in the objective pool is such that there is a possibility of violation of the spacing requirements of sections 553.1 or 553.3, the distance between the well and the nearest well completed in the objective pool shall be measured accurately on the ground. The plat also must have indicated thereon the latitude and longitude of the well and the scaled distances in feet in east-west and north-south directions from the nearest corner of the United States Geological Survey topographical map upon which the well location is situated, with the topographical map being identified by title, date and as to whether seven and one-half minute or 15 minute coverage.