(a) It shall be unlawful for the owner or operator thereof to shut in a well capable of being produced on a commercial basis for more than one year without specific permission from the department for an extension of the time period during which shut-in is permitted.

(b) Permission for an extension of the time period during which shut-in is permitted shall be granted administratively by the department upon written application therefor by the owner or operator and the demonstration of sufficient good cause. Such extension shall be granted for a period of not more than one year, but shall be renewable for additional successive periods of equivalent length upon receipt of successive petitions from the owner or operator and the demonstration of continued sufficient good cause.

(c) Upon termination of the period of lawful shut-in, the owner or operator must begin producing the well or permanently plug and abandon it as provided hereinafter.