Rules

On a day in which Gov. Jerry Brown delivered his state-of-the-state address with no mention of energy or regulations, California’s agency overseeing oil and natural gas on Thursday released draft rules covering the use of water, steam and underground storage in oil/gas activities.

In the first 18 months under California’s well stimulation rules, nearly 95% of permits granted were for hydraulic fracturing (fracking), according to a report oil/natural gas regulators submitted to the state legislature on the last day of 2015.

The Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission (COGCC) said this week it doesn’t plan to include a time-out provision for mandated short drilling lulls under draft local control rules undergoing public comment because regulators already have that authority.

The Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) on Thursday implemented new rules for the construction of horizontal well pad sites that require operators to submit detailed plans that must be certified by a professional engineer and reviewed by state regulators.

California's new rules covering well stimulation, including hydraulic fracturing (fracking), completed the state's environmental review and went into effect Wednesday as called for in a state law passed two years ago (SB 4). They replace interim regulations that have been effective since the start of 2014.

California’s new rules covering well stimulation, including hydraulic fracturing (fracking), completed the state’s environmental review and went into effect Wednesday as called for in a state law passed two years ago (SB 4). They replace interim regulations that have been effective since the start of 2014.

North Dakota’s newly implemented Bakken sweet crude oil conditioning rules helped in lessening the potential fallout from the recent crude-carrying train derailment in the northeast part of the state, the state’s chief oil/natural gas official said Wednesday while reporting the state’s latest monthly production statistics.

North Dakota's newly implemented Bakken sweet crude oil conditioning rules helped in lessening the potential fallout from the recent crude-carrying train derailment in the northeast part of the state, the state's chief oil/natural gas official said Wednesday while reporting the state's latest monthly production statistics.

U.S. Senate subcommittee members on Thursday took turns criticizing the federal Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) new rule for hydraulic fracturing (fracking) on federal and tribal lands as unnecessary and an example of federal government overreach during a hearing in Washington, DC. The new requirements are set to take effect June 24.