A gas well which has been designated as inoperative pursuant to section 10(b)¹ shall be declared a nonproducing gas well by the department if it does not become a producing gas well within five years of the date the permittee designates it as inoperative, unless prior to expiration of the five-year period the permittee certifies, in writing, to the department that it will become a producing gas well within two years and that it otherwise qualifies as an inoperative gas well as defined in this act.