The Railroad Commission of Texas (RRC) has released the latest revised draft amendments of rules relating to the well integrity issues of well casing, cementing, drilling and completions, cathodic protection wells, and seismic holes and core holes. The draft revisions are being circulated for an informal comment period, which is to end Dec. 31. The revisions are in response to comments RRC staff has received so far. The proposals are working drafts that have not been finalized and have not been submitted to the Texas Register for publication for public comment. Revisions are proposed to rules relating to cement sheath thickness; drilling fluid programs; isolation of productive zones; surface casing testing; cement specifications, quality and requirements; new requirements for wells that are to be hydraulically fractured (fracked); minimum separation of wells to be fracked; and well control/blowout preventer and pipeline shut-off valve requirements. One of the proposed revisions would ban fracking at noncemented wells when the zone being fracked ends within 1,000 vertical feet of a usable aquifer.
Tag / Amendments
SubscribeAmendments
Articles from Amendments
Court Creates Uncertainty for Some Marcellus Gas Property Rights
The Pennsylvania Supreme Court has introduced a measure of uncertainty into some ownership claims for the resource rights to Marcellus Shale gas, ordering a lower court to consider whether the owner of the shale also owns the shale gas in the same manner that state law declares that coalbed methane belongs to the owner of the coal.
North Carolina Fracking Study Bills Nearing Passage
Two separate bills calling for a comprehensive study of hydraulic fracturing (hydrofracking) in North Carolina — a state where the practice is currently illegal — are expected to be sent to Democratic Gov. Bev Perdue this week.
New Pennsylvania Rules Coordinate Gas Drilling, Coal Mining Activities
Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Corbett on Monday signed into law amendments to the state’s 1984 Coal and Gas Resource Coordination Act, which will require natural gas drillers to coordinate their activities with active coal mine operations.
Sponsor Sees Limits to New York Fracking Ban
New York state lawmakers have no plans to extend their proposed ban on the issuance of new permits for drilling involving hydraulic fracturing (fracking) beyond the May 15 deadline included in a bill recently passed by both chambers of the state’s legislature, according to Assemblyman Robert Sweeney (D-Suffolk County).
CPOs Back CFTC Jurisdiction over Commodity Mutual Funds
Reinstating requirements applicable to commodity pool operators (CPO) to apply to certain mutual fund operators, which were excluded in amendments passed in 2003, would level the playing field for investors with respect to pooled vehicles that utilize the same instruments to meet their investment objectives, CPO Steben & Co. of Rockville, MD said in comments filed at the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) last Monday.
CPOs Back CFTC Jurisdiction over Commodity Mutual Funds
Reinstating requirements applicable to commodity pool operators (CPO) to apply to certain mutual fund operators, which were excluded in amendments passed in 2003, would level the playing field for investors with respect to pooled vehicles that utilize the same instruments to meet their investment objectives, CPO Steben & Co. of Rockville, MD said in comments filed at the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) Monday.
CFTC Considers Expanded ECM Oversight
The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) is seeking comments on proposed rules and rule amendments that would heighten oversight authority of certain lightly regulated contracts in exempt commercial markets (ECM) that perform significant price discovery for commodities in interstate commerce.
CFTC Seeks Comments on Rules for Expanded ECM Oversight
The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) is seeking comments on proposed rules and rule amendments that would heighten oversight authority of certain lightly regulated contracts in exempt commercial markets (ECM) that perform significant price discovery for commodities in interstate commerce.
Frist May Block Floor Amendments to Lease 181 Bill
Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-TN) is not likely to allow votes on amendments to Lease Sale 181 legislation during debate on the measure this week, according to some Capitol Hill aides.
