BILL ANALYSIS
Senate Research Center H.B. 484
79R3176 RMB-D By: West, George "Buddy" (Armbrister)
AUTHOR'S/SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT
Current law states that the log or confidentiality request must be filed with the Railroad Commission of Texas with the completion report, or in the case of dry holes, with the plugging application. Delays in filing completion or plugging reports could subsequently result in delays in filing logs or confidentiality requests.
HB 484 ties the filing of logs or confidentiality request to within 90 days of completion of drilling operations. Operators who fail to timely file confidentiality requests or extensions of confidentiality must file the log when it is due.
HB 484 better defines the deadline for submission of logs to the Railroad Commission of Texas and clearly identifies the operator as the person responsible for compliance.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS
SECTION 1. Amends Section 91.551(a), Natural Resources Code, by amending Subdivision (1) and adding Subdivisions (3) and (4) to redefine "well" and to define "drilling operation" and "operator."
SECTION 2. Amends Section 91.551(b), Natural Resources Code, to define "operator" and delete the definition of "person."
SECTION 3. Amends Section 91.552(a), Natural Resources Code, to require an operator, rather than a person, except as otherwise provided by this subchapter, not later than the 90th day after the date a drilling operation is completed, rather than at the time a person files with the Railroad Commission of Texas (commission) a completed report for a well or, in the case of a dry hole, an application to plug a well, to file with the commission a copy of a basic log run, rather than made, after September 1, 1985, in conjunction with the drilling or deepening, rather than just drilling, of the well that meets basic criteria established by the commission.
SECTION 4. Amends Section 91.553, Natural Resources Code, by amending Subsections (b)-(e) and adding Subsection (f), as follows:
(b) Authorizes the operator, rather than the person required to file the electric log, not later than the date by which an electric log is required to be filed with the commission, rather than at the time an electric log is required to be filed with the commission, to file a written request with the commission to keep the electric log confidential. Provides that on filing of the request for confidentiality, the electric log becomes confidential and remains confidential for a period of one year after the date that the drilling operated was completed, rather than one year after the date that the electric log is required to be filed with the commission. Makes conforming and nonsubstantive changes.
(c) Makes conforming and nonsubstantive changes.
(d) Makes conforming and nonsubstantive changes.
(e) Makes a conforming change.
(f) Requires an operator who fails to timely file with the commission a written request that an electric log remain confidential or a written request for an extension of the period of confidentially to file the log with the commission immediately after the conclusion of the period for filing the request.
SECTION 5. Amends Sections 91.554 and 91.556, Natural Resources Code, to make conforming changes.
SECTION 6. Makes application of this Act prospective to a drilling operation that is completed on or after the effective date of this Act.
SECTION 7. Effective date: September 1, 2005.