diff --git a/opm/parser/eclipse/EclipseState/Schedule/Schedule.cpp b/opm/parser/eclipse/EclipseState/Schedule/Schedule.cpp
index e0bcfd0bb..79d18d0ff 100644
--- a/opm/parser/eclipse/EclipseState/Schedule/Schedule.cpp
+++ b/opm/parser/eclipse/EclipseState/Schedule/Schedule.cpp
@@ -181,25 +181,6 @@ namespace Opm {
                                 msg);
             throw std::invalid_argument(msg);
         }
-
-        if (well->getRefDepthDefaulted() == record->getItem("REF_DEPTH")->hasValue(0)) {
-            std::string msg =
-                "Unable process WELSPECS for well " + well->name() + ", REF_DEPTH defaulted state deviates from existing value";
-            logger->addError(keyword->getFileName(),
-                                keyword->getLineNumber(),
-                                msg);
-            throw std::invalid_argument(msg);
-        }
-        if (!well->getRefDepthDefaulted()) {
-            if (well->getRefDepth() != record->getItem("REF_DEPTH")->getSIDouble(0)) {
-                std::string msg =
-                    "Unable process WELSPECS for well " + well->name() + ", REF_DEPTH deviates from existing value";
-                logger->addError(keyword->getFileName(),
-                                    keyword->getLineNumber(),
-                                    msg);
-                throw std::invalid_argument(msg);
-            }
-        }
     }
 
     void Schedule::handleWCONProducer(DeckKeywordConstPtr keyword, LoggerPtr logger, size_t currentStep, bool isPredictionMode) {
diff --git a/opm/parser/eclipse/EclipseState/Schedule/Well.cpp b/opm/parser/eclipse/EclipseState/Schedule/Well.cpp
index 4afeee2c1..6001622b5 100644
--- a/opm/parser/eclipse/EclipseState/Schedule/Well.cpp
+++ b/opm/parser/eclipse/EclipseState/Schedule/Well.cpp
@@ -169,9 +169,6 @@ namespace Opm {
         return m_headJ;
     }
 
-    bool Well::getRefDepthDefaulted() const {
-        return !m_refDepth.hasValue();
-    }
 
     double Well::getRefDepth() const{
         if (!m_refDepth.hasValue())
diff --git a/opm/parser/eclipse/EclipseState/Schedule/Well.hpp b/opm/parser/eclipse/EclipseState/Schedule/Well.hpp
index b68a5aa26..40069c4e3 100644
--- a/opm/parser/eclipse/EclipseState/Schedule/Well.hpp
+++ b/opm/parser/eclipse/EclipseState/Schedule/Well.hpp
@@ -55,7 +55,6 @@ namespace Opm {
 
         int    getHeadI() const;
         int    getHeadJ() const;
-        bool   getRefDepthDefaulted() const;
         double getRefDepth() const;
         Phase::PhaseEnum getPreferredPhase() const;