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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the requirements for the casing and cementing of an oil |
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or gas well. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 91.011, Natural Resources Code, is |
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amended by amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (a-1) to |
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read as follows: |
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(a) Before drilling into the oil or gas bearing rock, the |
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owner or operator of a well being drilled for oil or gas shall |
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encase the well with good and sufficient wrought iron or steel |
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casing, or with any other material that meets standards adopted by |
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the commission, and cement the casing, particularly where wells |
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could be subjected to corrosive elements or high pressures and |
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temperatures, in a manner and to a depth that will exclude surface |
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or fresh water from the lower part of the well from penetrating the |
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oil or gas bearing rock, and if the well is drilled through the |
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first into the lower oil or gas bearing rock, the well shall be |
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encased and cemented [cased] in a manner and to a depth that will |
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exclude fresh water above the last oil or gas bearing rock |
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penetrated. |
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(a-1) A well drilled for oil or gas shall be encased with a |
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casing that is cemented to a depth of at least 50 feet below the base |
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of the deepest formation transected by the well that contains water |
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that is suitable as a source of drinking water supply. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2015. |