Title NR, Natural Resources Code

Sec. 90.005. FORM OF AGREEMENT. The agreement to extend the Interstate Compact to Conserve Oil and Gas, which the governor is authorized to execute for the state, shall be in substance as follows: "It is hereby agreed that the Interstate Compact to Conserve Oil and Gas executed i…

Sec. 90.006. WITHDRAWAL FROM COMPACT. (a) The governor may determine if and when it is in the best interest of the state to withdraw from the compact as provided by its terms on 60 days' notice. (b) If the governor determines that the state should withdraw from the compact, he ha…

Sec. 90.007. TEXT OF COMPACT. The Interstate Compact to Conserve Oil and Gas reads as follows: "AN INTERSTATE COMPACT TO CONSERVE OIL AND GAS "ARTICLE I "This agreement may become effective within any compacting state at any time as prescribed by that state, and shall become effe…

Sec. 91.001. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter: (1) "Commission" means the Railroad Commission of Texas. (2) "Gas" means natural gas. (3) "Oil" means crude oil and crude petroleum oil. Acts 1977, 65th Leg., p. 2560, ch. 871, art. I, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1977.

Sec. 91.002. CRIMINAL PENALTY. (a) A person who wilfully or with criminal negligence violates Section 91.101 of this code or a rule, order, or permit of the commission issued under that section commits an offense. (b) An offense under Subsection (a) of this section is punishable …

Sec. 91.003. ADDITIONAL ENFORCEMENT AUTHORITY. (a) In addition to other authority specifically granted to the commission under this chapter, the commission may enforce this chapter or any rule, order, or permit of the commission adopted under this chapter in the manner and subjec…

Sec. 91.011. CASING. (a) Before drilling into the oil or gas bearing rock, the owner or operator of a well being drilled for oil or gas shall encase the well with good and sufficient wrought iron or steel casing or with any other material that meets standards adopted by the commi…

Sec. 91.0115. CASING; LETTER OF DETERMINATION. (a) The commission shall issue, on request from an applicant for a permit for a well to be drilled into oil or gas bearing rock, a letter of determination stating the total depth of surface casing required for the well by Section 91.…

Sec. 91.012. WATER IN WELLS. (a) In boring any well for oil or gas, if a person pierces any cap rock or other geological formation in a manner that will cause a flow of salt water or fresh water injurious to an already bored oil well or any oil or gas deposits and that will proba…

Sec. 91.013. PLUGGING AND SHUTTING IN WELLS BY OTHERS. (a) If the owner of a well described in Subsection (a) of Section 91.012 of this code neglects or refuses to have the well plugged or shut in for more than 20 days after written notice is given to him, the owner or operator o…

Sec. 91.014. PETITION TO RESTRAIN WASTE. (a) In addition to any other penalties, a district judge, in term time or vacation time, shall hear and determine any petition that is filed to restrain the waste of gas in violation of this subchapter and may issue mandatory or restrainin…

Sec. 91.015. PREVENTION OF WASTE. Operators, contractors, drillers, pipeline companies, and gas distributing companies that drill for or produce oil or gas or pipe oil or gas for any purpose shall use every possible precaution in accordance with the most approved methods to stop …

Sec. 91.016. CONFINING GAS TO ORIGINAL STRATUM. (a) If gas located in a gas-bearing stratum known to contain gas in paying quantities is encountered in a well drilled for oil or gas in this state, the gas shall be confined to its original stratum until it can be produced and used…

Sec. 91.017. USING GAS IN THE OPEN AIR. (a) Any person who uses gas in lights in the open air or in or around derricks shall turn off the gas not later than 8 a. m. of each day the lights are burning or are used and shall not turn the lights on or relight them between 8 a. m. and…

Sec. 91.018. ILLUMINATION. No person, copartnership, or corporation may use gas for illuminating purposes in flambeau lights. The use of "jumbo" burners or other burners consuming no more gas than the "jumbo" burners is not prohibited. Acts 1977, 65th Leg., p. 2561, ch. 871, art.…

Sec. 91.019. STANDARDS FOR CONSTRUCTION, OPERATION, AND MAINTENANCE OF ELECTRICAL POWER LINES. (a) An operator shall construct, operate, and maintain: (1) an electrical power line serving a well site or other surface facility employed in operations incident to oil and gas develop…

Sec. 91.020. ELECTRONIC GEOLOGIC DATA. The commission shall work cooperatively with other appropriate state agencies to study and evaluate electronic access to geologic data and surface casing depths necessary to protect usable groundwater in this state. Added by Acts 2011, 82nd …

Sec. 91.051. TITLE. This subchapter may be cited as the Standard Gas Measurement Law. Acts 1977, 65th Leg., p. 2561, ch. 871, art. I, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1977.

Sec. 91.052. DEFINITION. (a) The term "cubic foot of gas" or "standard cubic foot of gas" means the volume of gas contained in one cubic foot of space at a standard pressure base and at a standard temperature base. (b) The standard pressure base shall be 14.65 pounds per square i…

Sec. 91.053. COMMISSION DETERMINATION. The commission shall determine the average temperature of gas as produced in each oil and gas field in Texas, other variable factors necessary to calculate the metered volumes in accordance with the ideal gas laws, and the variable factors t…

Sec. 91.054. NOTICE AND HEARING. On request of any interested person, the commission shall give proper notice and hold a public hearing before making a determination under Section 91.053 of this code. Acts 1977, 65th Leg., p. 2562, ch. 871, art. I, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1977.

Sec. 91.055. FINDINGS AND RULES. On making the determination, the commission promptly shall make its findings and shall adopt reasonable field rules that may be necessary to effectuate the provisions of this subchapter. Acts 1977, 65th Leg., p. 2562, ch. 871, art. I, Sec. 1, eff.…

Sec. 91.056. USE OF FINDINGS AND FIELD RULES. (a) Any person may use the findings and field rules of the commission for any purposes under this subchapter. (b) If the findings or field rules are not used as provided in Subsection (a) of this section in determining volumes under t…

Sec. 91.057. METHOD OF REPORTING. A person required to report volumes of gas under the laws of this state shall report the volumes in number of standard cubic feet calculated and determined under the provisions of this subchapter. Acts 1977, 65th Leg., p. 2562, ch. 871, art. I, S…

Sec. 91.058. SALE, PURCHASE, DELIVERY, AND RECEIPT OF GAS. (a) Each sale, purchase, delivery, and receipt of gas by volume made in this state by, for, or on behalf of an oil and gas lease owner, royalty owner under a lease, or other mineral interest owner shall be made and the ga…

Sec. 91.059. CONSTITUTIONALITY. If the provisions of Section 91.058 of this code or any part of that section are held to be invalid or unconstitutional by the courts, the remaining portions of this subchapter shall become ineffective and inoperative. Acts 1977, 65th Leg., p. 2563…

Sec. 91.061. CIVIL SUIT. None of these provisions shall prevent an aggrieved person from maintaining a civil suit for damages in the county or counties in which the gas is produced. Acts 1977, 65th Leg., p. 2563, ch. 871, art. I, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1977.

Sec. 91.062. APPLICABILITY OF CERTAIN PROVISIONS. None of the provisions of Sections 91.058 through 91.061 of this code affect or apply to purchases or sales made on any basis other than a volume basis. Acts 1977, 65th Leg., p. 2563, ch. 871, art. I, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1977. S…

Sec. 91.101. RULES AND ORDERS. Text of section effective upon delegation of RCRA authority to Railroad Commission of Texas To prevent pollution of surface water or subsurface water in the state, the commission shall adopt and enforce rules and orders and may issue permits relatin…

Sec. 91.1011. OIL AND GAS WASTE. Text of section effective upon delegation of RCRA authority to Railroad Commission of Texas (a) In this subchapter, "oil and gas waste" means waste that arises out of or incidental to the drilling for or producing of oil or gas, including waste ar…

Sec. 91.1012. ACCESS TO PROPERTY AND RECORDS. Members and employees of the commission, on proper identification, may enter public or private property to inspect and investigate conditions relating to the quality of water in the state, to inspect and investigate conditions relatin…

Sec. 91.1013. APPLICATION FEES. (a) In this section: (1) "Commercial oil and gas waste separation facility" means a facility that manages but does not dispose of oil and gas waste on site and that is managed by an owner or operator whose primary business is to provide oil field f…

Sec. 91.1015. GROUNDWATER PROTECTION REQUIREMENTS. The commission shall adopt rules to establish groundwater protection requirements for operations that are within the jurisdiction of the commission, including requirements relating to the depth of surface casing for wells. Added …

Sec. 91.1017. LOCATION OF CERTAIN PITS. The commission by rule shall establish standards governing permissible locations for pits used by commercial oil and gas disposal facilities. The rules must include a history of flooding in the 10 years preceding the construction of the pit…

Sec. 91.102. ADDITIONAL PERSONNEL. The commission is directed to employ additional personnel necessary to administer this subchapter and related laws and rules and orders adopted by the commission. Acts 1977, 65th Leg., p. 2563, ch. 871, art. I, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1977. Amende…

Sec. 91.103. PERSONS REQUIRED TO EXECUTE BOND, LETTER OF CREDIT, OR CASH DEPOSIT. Any person, including any firm, partnership, joint stock association, corporation, or other organization, required to file an organization report under Section 91. 142 of this code shall execute and…

Sec. 91.104. BONDS, LETTERS OF CREDIT, CASH DEPOSITS, AND WELL-SPECIFIC PLUGGING INSURANCE POLICIES. (a) The commission shall require a bond, letter of credit, or cash deposit to be filed with the commission as provided by Subsection (b). (b) A person required to file a bond, let…

Sec. 91.1041. INDIVIDUAL BOND. (a) A person required to file a bond, letter of credit, or cash deposit under Section 91.103 who operates one or more wells may file a bond in an amount equal to $2 for each foot of well depth for each well. (b) Notwithstanding Subsection (a), the c…

Sec. 91.1042. BLANKET BOND. (a) A person required to file a bond, letter of credit, or cash deposit under Section 91.103 may file a blanket bond to cover all wells for which a bond, letter of credit, or cash deposit is required as follows: (1) a person who operates 10 or fewer we…

Sec. 91.105. BOND CONDITIONS. Each bond required by Section 91.103 shall be conditioned that the operator will plug and abandon all wells and control, abate, and clean up pollution associated with an operator's oil and gas activities covered under the bond in accordance with the …

Sec. 91.106. EXECUTION OF BOND. Each bond shall be executed by a corporate surety authorized to do business in this state and shall be renewed and be continued in effect until the conditions have been met or release is authorized by the commission. Acts 1977, 65th Leg., p. 2564, …

Sec. 91.107. NEW BOND, LETTER OF CREDIT, OR CASH DEPOSIT. If an active or inactive well is transferred, sold, or assigned by its operator, the commission shall require the party acquiring the well to file a new bond, letter of credit, or cash deposit as provided by Section 91.104…

Sec. 91.108. DEPOSIT AND USE OF FUNDS. Subject to the refund provisions of Section 91.1091, if applicable, proceeds from bonds and other financial security required pursuant to this chapter and benefits under well-specific plugging insurance policies described by Section 91.104(c…

Sec. 91.109. FINANCIAL SECURITY FOR PERSONS INVOLVED IN ACTIVITIES OTHER THAN OPERATION OF WELLS. (a) A person applying for or acting under a commission permit to store, handle, treat, reclaim, or dispose of oil and gas waste may be required by the commission to maintain a perfor…

Sec. 91.1091. REFUND. The commission shall refund the proceeds from a bond, letter of credit, or cash deposit required under this subchapter if: (1) the conditions that caused the proceeds to be collected are corrected; (2) all administrative, civil, and criminal penalties relati…

Sec. 91.110. OIL AND GAS WASTE REDUCTION AND MINIMIZATION. To encourage the reduction and minimization of oil and gas waste, the commission shall implement a program to: (1) provide operators with training and technical assistance on oil and gas waste reduction and minimization; …