By Merritt                                           H.C.R. No. 319

         75R17175 EFD-D                           

                             HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

 1-1           WHEREAS, The discovery of the first oil field in East Texas

 1-2     ushered in an unprecedented age of growth and prosperity for the

 1-3     state; oil and natural gas are among the most valuable natural

 1-4     resources that our state has to offer, and their production has

 1-5     greatly enhanced the Texas economy for many generations; and

 1-6           WHEREAS,  The East Texas Oil Field is not only the largest

 1-7     oil field in the state, but it is also the largest and most

 1-8     productive field in the entire continental United States; this

 1-9     field, which covers portions of Gregg, Rusk, Smith, Upshur, and

1-10     Cherokee counties, has produced more than 5.2 billion barrels of

1-11     oil since its discovery; and

1-12           WHEREAS, Although this region is still rich in resources,

1-13     production has been in steady decline and is expected to diminish

1-14     to a mere trickle within the next 10 years; lack of continued

1-15     production may leave an estimated 1.4 billion barrels of oil

1-16     untapped; and

1-17           WHEREAS, Texas cannot afford to lose this valuable resource,

1-18     and steps should be taken to facilitate the deployment of enhanced

1-19     recovery technologies, alternative drilling methods, and other

1-20     measures necessary for maximizing recovery and sustaining

1-21     production in the East Texas Oil Field; now, therefore, be it

1-22           RESOLVED, That the 75th Legislature of the State of Texas

1-23     hereby recommend that the Railroad Commission of Texas conduct a

1-24     study of measures that should be taken to maximize the ultimate

 2-1     recovery of oil and gas from the East Texas Oil Field; and, be it

 2-2     further

 2-3           RESOLVED, That the secretary of state forward an official

 2-4     copy of this resolution to the chairman of the Railroad Commission

 2-5     of Texas.