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.