Railroad

A handful of speakers showed up Wednesday at a Railroad Commission of Texas (RRC) hearing to comment on Statewide Rule 29 for hydraulic fracturing (fracking) fluid disclosure, which the RRC is working to enact by January. Nearly everyone expressed support for the proposed rule and the commissioners’ work.

A handful of speakers showed up Wednesday at a Railroad Commission of Texas (RRC) hearing to comment on a rule for hydraulic fracturing (fracking) fluid disclosure that the RRC is working to enact by the end of the year. Nearly everyone expressed support for the proposed rule and the commissioners’ work.

A proposed rule in Texas to require public disclosure of hydraulic fracturing (fracking) fluid contents was approved for publication Monday by the Railroad Commission of Texas (RRC).

The recently formed Eagle Ford Task Force, which was created by Texas Railroad Commissioner David Porter (see Shale Daily, July 29), outlined its agenda for the rest of the year at a meeting last week. The 24 task force members plan to focus on water usage and hydraulic fracturing; the impact of oil and gas production on community infrastructure; the need for public education about oil and gas production; and the promotion of economic development through the industry. At the meeting members discussed workforce issues affecting the region. Industry representatives estimated that approximately 120 jobs are connected to each drilling rig and currently there are about 200 rigs operating in the Eagle Ford. However, employers are often battling failed drug tests and background tests or the lack of commercial drivers licenses when trying to fill jobs in the burgeoning oil and natural gas play, they said.

Texas Railroad Commissioner David Porter has assembled an Eagle Ford Task Force charged with establishing best practices for development of the South Texas play based on input from across the industry and affected communities.

Officials with the Railroad Commission of Texas (RRC) said they hope to have all rules governing the public disclosure of hydraulic fracturing (fracking) fluids — including one key rule with a separate deadline — finalized by the end of the year.

Officials with the Railroad Commission of Texas (RRC) said they hope to have all rules governing the public disclosure of hydraulic fracturing (fracking) fluids — including one key rule with a separate deadline — finalized by the end of the year.

Barry Smitherman was appointed to the Railroad Commission of Texas for a term that is to expire at the next general election. Smitherman, who lives in Austin, TX, is chairman of the Public Utility Commission of Texas, a position he has held since 2007. He is a member of the U.S. Department of Energy electricity advisory committee and a board member of the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners. He is vice president of the Southwest Power Pool regional state committee and an ex officio board member of the Electric Reliability Council of Texas. Smitherman received a bachelor’s degree from Texas A&M University, a law degree from the University of Texas School of Law, and a master of public administration from Harvard University.

A bill that would change the name of the Railroad Commission of Texas (RRC) to the Texas Oil and Gas Commission, as well as make other reforms, was approved Monday by the Texas House of Representatives. The legislation is slated for a conference committee with the state Senate.