By Craddick H.B. No. 2484 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1-1 AN ACT 1-2 relating to enforcing the duty to plug wells which have been 1-3 abandoned or which have ceased operation. 1-4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: 1-5 SECTION 1. Section 89.002(a), Natural Resources Code, is 1-6 amended to read as follows: 1-7 (a) In this chapter: 1-8 (1) "Well" means a hole drilled for the purpose of: 1-9 (A) producing oil or gas; 1-10 (B) injecting fluid or gas in the ground in 1-11 connection with the exploration or production of oil or gas; or 1-12 (C) obtaining geological information by taking 1-13 cores or through seismic operations. 1-14 (2) "Operator" means a person who is responsible for 1-15 the physical operation and control of a well at the time the well 1-16 is about to be abandoned or ceases operation. However, in the 1-17 event of a sale or conveyance of a well which has been abandoned or 1-18 has ceased operation, but which was in compliance with commission 1-19 rules regarding plugging and abandonment at the time of sale or 1-20 conveyance, the term "operator" shall mean the person who acquires 1-21 the right to physical operation and control of the well upon sale 1-22 or conveyance of such well. 1-23 (3) "Nonoperator" means a person who owns a working 2-1 interest in a well at the time the well is about to be abandoned or 2-2 ceases operation and is not an operator as defined in Subdivision 2-3 (2) of this subsection. However, in the event of a sale or 2-4 conveyance of a well which has been abandoned or has ceased 2-5 operation, but which was in compliance with commission rules 2-6 regarding plugging and abandonment at the time of sale or 2-7 conveyance, the term "nonoperator" shall mean the person who 2-8 acquires ownership of a working interest in the well upon sale or 2-9 conveyance of such well and is not an operator as defined in 2-10 Subdivision (2) of this subsection. 2-11 (4) "Commission" means the Railroad Commission of 2-12 Texas. 2-13 SECTION 2. This Act effect September 1, 1993. 2-14 SECTION 3. The importance of this legislation and the 2-15 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an 2-16 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the 2-17 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several 2-18 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.