The Wise Report
Henry M. Wise, P.G.
September 8, 2012
If you're interested in making comments or voting for or against suggestions made on the Texas Red Tape Challenge, you've got until September 15, 2012. This website was deveoloped by the House Government Efficiency & Reform Committee to obtain the public's suggestions to streamline government. The portion dealing with geology can be found at: http://texasredtapechallenge.ideascale.com/a/dtd/Comments-from-Current-Geoscientists-Board-members/180745-19448
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The Railroad Commission of Texas (RRC) proposes amendments to §3.13, relating to Casing, Cementing, Drilling, and Completion Requirements; §3.99, relating to Cathodic Protection Wells; and §3.100, relating to Seismic Holes and Core Holes. The RRC proposes the amendments to §3.13 to implement Article 2 of House Bill 2694 (82nd Legislature, 2011) and to update the rule with respect to drilling, casing, cementing, well control, and hydraulic fracturing. The RRC proposes the amendments to §3.99 and §3.100 to conform the definition of "protection depth."
The proposed amendments to §3.13 more clearly outline the requirements for all wells, consolidate the requirements for well control and blowout preventers, and update the requirements for drilling, casing, cementing, and fracture stimulation. The proposed amendments also add additional requirements for "minimal separation wells," which are wells in which the distance between the protection depth as defined by the rule and the top of the formation to be fracture-stimulated is less than 1,000 vertical feet.
The RRC proposes to amend §3.13(a)(1) to clarify the intent of the paragraph and to add that overpressured zones must be isolated.
The RRC proposes to amend the definition of "protection depth," pursuant to Article 2, House Bill 2694, 82nd Legislature, which transferred from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) to the RRC duties relating to the protection of groundwater resources from oil and gas associated activities. Specifically, the law transfers from the TCEQ to the RRC, effective September 1, 2011, duties pertaining to the responsibility of preparing groundwater protection advisory/recommendation letters. After the transfer, the RRC will be responsible for providing surface casing and/or groundwater protection recommendations for oil and gas activities under the jurisdiction of the RRC. The TCEQ's Surface Casing Program and staff have transferred to the RRC effective September 1, 2011. The RRC's Surface Casing Program has been renamed the Groundwater Advisory Unit, and is now located in the William B. Travis Building, 1701 North Congress, Austin. The RRC proposes to amend §3.13(a)(2)(C) to replace the phrase "Texas Commission on Environmental Quality or its successor agencies."
All of these proposed amendments can be found at: http://www.sos.state.tx.us/texreg/sos/PROPOSED/16.ECONOMIC%20REGULATION.html#56