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Chairman David PorterCommissioner Christi CraddickCommissioner Ryan SittonAugust 2016
Groundwater Protectionand
The Railroad Commission of Texas
Overview
• RRC History
• Regulatory Authority
• Groundwater Protection
• Groundwater Remediation
• Contacting the RRC
RRC History
• 1891 – Railroad Commission of Texas established to regulate railroads
• 1917 – Regulation of Pipelines• 1919 – Regulation of Oil and Gas Production• 1976 – Surface Mining Regulation• 2005 – Last of railroad oversight transferred
to TxDOT
Oil and Gas Jurisdiction
• Oil and natural gas primary production• Pipelines• Natural gas processing and natural gas utilities• Salt dome cavern storage• Bulk storage of crude oil• RRC commercial disposal facilities• Liquid propane gas (LPG), compressed natural
gas (CNG), and liquid natural gas (LNG)
Statutory Authority
• Natural Resources Code §91.101• Texas Water Code §26.131
RRC Rules
Texas Administrative Code (TAC)Title 16, Part 1, Chapter 3
§3.3 Identification of Properties, Wells & Tanks
§3.8 Water Protection§3.9 Disposal Wells
§3.13 Casing, Cementing, Drilling, Well Control & Completion
RRC Rules
Texas Administrative Code (TAC)Title 16, Part 1, Chapter 3
§3.14 Plugging§3.20 Notification of Fire Breaks, Leaks, or
Blow-outs§3.30 Memorandum of Understanding
Between the RRC and TCEQ§3.98 Standards for Management of
Hazardous Oil & Gas Waste
Rule 8 (b) - Water Protection
“No pollution. No person conducting activities subject to regulation by the commission may cause or allow pollution of surface or subsurface water in the state.”
RRC Water Protection
• Pipeline Damage Prevention (Texas 811)• Pipeline Safety• Groundwater Advisory Unit (surface casing)• Cementing, Testing, and Plugging Rules• State Managed Plugging Program• Texas Groundwater Protection Committee• Field Operations
RRC Field Operations
• Monitor Emergency Operations– Blowouts– Spills
• Witness Industry Operations & Tests– Surface Casing– Well Plugging– Mechanical Integrity Tests– Operator Cleanups– Fluid Level Tests (H-15 Program)
RRC Field Operations
• Field Inspections– Lease– Rig– Pit– Commercial Waste and Saltwater Disposal Facilities
• Complaint Investigations– Conducted by the District Offices– Monitored by Field Operations
• Enforcement Recommendations– Plug Hearings– Penalty Action Hearings
Inspection/Violation Process
• Notification by Letter (2)– Severance / Seal– Cancel P4
• Legal Enforcement– Settlement– Hearing
• Cancel P5
RRC Cleanup Programs
• Operator Cleanup Program (OCP)• State Managed Cleanup Program
– Oil and Gas Regulation and Cleanup Fund (OGRC)
• Voluntary Cleanup Program (VCP)• Brownfields Response Program (BRP)
– EPA 128(a) environmental site assessment grant
Rig Supply Wells
• Well installed to supply water for drilling and completion (including hydraulic fracturing)
• Registered with the local GCD• Equipped and maintained according to GCD or
TWDB and TDLR requirements• Subject to GCD rules if no longer actively
engaged in drilling or exploration operations for an oil or gas well permitted by RRC
• Must be plugged in accordance with GCD/TDLR requirements
Contact the RRC
District Offices: http://www.rrc.state.tx.us/about-us/organization-activities/rrc-locations/
Contact the RRC
Call Before You Dig: 81124-hour Emergency: 844-773-0305General Information: 877-228-5740
http://www.rrc.texas.gov/
