As Introduced

129th General Assembly Regular Session 2011-2012

H. B. No. 464

Representative Foley 

Cosponsors: Representatives Hagan, R., Goyal, Williams, Winburn, Antonio, Driehaus, Yuko 

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A BILL

To amend section 1509.19 of the Revised Code to

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prohibit well stimulation unless all methane gas

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released as a result of the proposed stimulation

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of the well is captured by the owner of the well

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or the owner's authorized representative and to

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revise other requirements governing well

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stimulation.

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BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF OHIO:

Section 1.  That section 1509.19 of the Revised Code be	8
amended to read as follows:	9

Sec. 1509.19. (A) No owner shall stimulate a well in this	10
state unless all methane gas released as a result of the	11
stimulation is captured by the owner or the owner's authorized	12
representative. Prior to well stimulation, the owner shall provide	13
sufficient evidence to the chief of the division of oil and gas	14
resources management that all such methane gas will be captured.	15

The chief shall adopt rules in accordance with Chapter 119.	16
of the Revised Code establishing all of the following:	17

(1) Standards of evidence to be used by an owner for the	18
purpose of showing that all methane gas that will be released as a	19
result of the proposed stimulation of a well will be captured;	20

(2) Procedures for submitting the evidence required by	21
division (A) of this section to the chief;	22

(3) Procedures to be utilized by the chief to verify that an	23
owner is in compliance with division (A) of this section and rules	24
adopted under it.	25

(B) An owner who complies with division (A) of this section	26
and who elects to stimulate a well shall stimulate the well in a	27
manner that will not endanger underground sources of drinking	28
waterground water. Not later than twenty-four hours before	29
commencing the stimulation of a well, the owner or the owner's	30
authorized representative shall notify an oil and gas resources	31
inspector. If during the stimulation of a well damage to the	32
production casing or cement occurs and results in the circulation	33
of fluids from the annulus of the surface production casing, the	34
owner shall immediately terminate the stimulation of the well and	35
notify the chief of the division of oil and gas resources	36
management. If the chief determines that the casing and the cement	37
may be remediated in a manner that isolates the oil and gas	38
bearing zones of the well, the chief may authorize the completion	39
of the stimulation of the well. If the chief determines that the	40
stimulation of a well resulted in irreparable damage to the well,	41
the chief shall order that the well be plugged and abandoned	42
within thirty days of the issuance of the order.	43

For purposes of determining the integrity of the remediation	44
of the casing or cement of a well that was damaged during the	45
stimulation of the well, the chief may require the owner of the	46
well to submit cement evaluation logs, temperature surveys,	47
pressure tests, or a combination of such logs, surveys, and tests.	48

Section 2.  That existing section 1509.19 of the Revised Code	49
is hereby repealed.	50