HomeMy WebLinkAboutOrdinance No. 187 ORDINANCE N0. 187
AN ORDINANCE REGULATING ALL OIL, GAS, BRINE WATER, AND SULPHUR
WATER DRILLING, OIL AND GAS PRODUCTION, OIL AND GAS PIPELINE
TRANSMISSION, PIPELINE INSTALLATION, WATER-FLOODING AND GAS
INJECTION FOR OIL RECOVERY, DEFINITIONS, TERMS, REQUIRIPdG A
PERMIT, PROVIDING FOR SPECIFICATIONS, REQUIRING A BOND, REQUIR-
ING A CERTIFICATE OF INSURANCE, PROVIDING FOR PERMIT FOR USE OF
STREETS AND ALLEYS, PROVIDING FOR PROXIMITY OF WELL AND PIPELINES
TO BUILDINGS, PROVIDING FOR DERRICKS AND RIG TYPES PROHIBITED,
PROVIDING FOR PITS, PROVIDING FOR OPERATIONAL PRACTICES AND CALLED
INSPECTIONS, PROVIDING FOR FENCES AND GATES, PROVIDING FOR FIRE
PREVENTION REQUIREMENTS, PROVIDING FOR PENALTY FOR VIOLATION OF
THIS ORDINANCE. AUTHORIZING AND DIRECTING FOR PUBLICATION OF
THIS ORDINANCE, SEVERABILITY CLAUSE AND REPEALING CLAUSE.
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FRIENDSWOOD, TEXAS:
Section 1: For the purposes of this Ordinance, the following words and
terms wherever and whenever used or appearing herein shall have the scope and mean-
ing hereafter defined and set out in connection with each:
A. The word "well" shall mean any hole or holes, bore or bores, to any
sand, horizon, formation, strata or depth for the purpose of producing any oil, gas,
liquid hydrocarbon, brine water, sulphur water or use as an injection well for '
secondary recovery, or any of them.
B. The term '°drilling district" is defined to be a tract of land comprising
a "spacing unit" or "proration unit" as determined by the Railroad Commission of
the State of Texas.
C. The word "permittee" shall mean the person to whom is issued a permit
or certificate for the drilling, operating and producing of a well under this
Ordinance, and his heirs, legal representatives, successors and assigns.
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D. The word "person" whenever used in this Ordinance means and includes
any natural person, corporation, association, partnership, receiver, trustee,
guardian, executor, administrator and a fiduciary or representative of any kind.
E. Al1 technical or oil and gas industry words, or phrases used herein and
not specifically defined shall have that meaning customarily attributable thereto
by prudent operators in the oil and gas industry.
F. The word "street" is any street, highway, sidewalk, alley, avenue,
recessed parking area, or other public right of way, including the entire right of
way.
G. The phrase "curb line" is the line established by the City of Friendswood
for any particular street.
H. The phrase "right of way" is expressly limited to all public rights of
way or streets or other public property within the City of Friendswood.
I. The phrase "gathering lines" are all pipelines operated incidentally
to the development and operation of any oil and/or gas wells, or oil and/or gas
fields and/or secondary recovery projects.
J. When the title of any City official is used herein such title shall
include any duly authorized representative of such official.
K. The phrase "trunkline pipeline" as used herein shall mean common carrier
pipelines and other main pipelines not included in the definition of gathering
lines, expressly including their rights of way as defined and established by
instruments of record in the office of the County Clerk of Galveston County, Texas;
the phrases "gathering lines" as used herein shall mean all pipelines operated as
an incident to the development and operation of oil and/or gas fields and secondary
recovery projects; and, the word "pipeline" whenever and wherever used herein
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as a part of the preceding phrases shall mean trunkline pipelines and gathering
lines as hereinabove defined.
L. "City Dispatcher" as used herein shall mean any representative situated
at the Friendswood Police Station.
Section 2: Inspector; Appointment; Removal; Duties
The City Council shall appoint an Oil and Gas Inspector. The Inspector may
be removed at the will of the City Council. It shall be the duty of the Oil and Gas
Inspector to enforce the provisions of this chapter.
Any person who may be aggrieved by any ruling, order and/or decision of the
Oil and Gas Inspector shall have the right of appeal to the City Council from such
ruling, order and/or decision, provided, however, that any such appeal must be taken,
if at all, within ten (10) days immediately following the filing of such rule, order
and/or decision in records of the office of the Oil and Gas Inspector, and receipt of
written notice by any permittee or applicant affected by such ruling, order and/or
decision.
Section 3: Permits; Required: Issuing Authority to Drill and/or Install
A. It shall be unlawful and an offense for any person acting either for
himself or acting as agent, employee, independent contractor, or servant for any person
to knowingly drill, repair, rework and/or deepen any well or to install any water and/
or gas repressurizing or injection facility within the corporate limits of the City
of Friendswood without a permit having first been issued by the authority of the City
Council in accordance with the terms of this ordinance.
B. When a permit has been issued for the drilling of a well, such permit
shall constitute sufficient authority for drillin�, operation, production, gathering
of production, maintenance, repair, reworking, testing, plugging and abandonment of
the well, and for the construction and use of all facilities reasonably necessary or
convenient in connection therewith, including gathering lines and discharge lines by
the permittee and its employees, agents, and contractors, provided, however, that a
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new or supplemental permit shall be obtained before such well may be deepened below
the geological formation in which it was originally completed and before it may be
used for repressurizing or injection of water and/or gas.
C. When a permit has been issued for the installation of any trunkline,
pipeline or water and/or gas repressurizing or injection facility, such permit shall
constitute sufficient authority for the construction, operation, maintenance and
conversion of existing wells to injection wells and the repair and abandonment of such
facility, and for all facilities reasonable necessary or convenient in connection
therewith (including gathering lines) , by permittee and its employees, agents and
contractors.
D. As to all wells and pipelines and water and/or repressurizing or injec-
tion facilities and such other facilities as may be covered by this ordinance exist-
ing within the corporate limits of the City of Friendswood on the effective date of
this ordinance and which are in existence at the time the land upon which the same
are situated is annexed to the City of Friendswood, no permit or filing fee shall be
required; but the Oil and Gas Inspector shall inspect such facilities, and if satis-
fied that such conform to standards and practices generally recognized, observed, and
followed by the oil and gas industry and can be operated in such a manner to insure
public safety, shall issue a certificate in writing that such wells and/or facilities
conform to the requirements hereof, provided, however, that the operator of such
existing well or facilities shall comply with the bond and insurance provisions
hereof. It shall constitute no basis for denying a certificate (or for denying a
permit in connection with the drilling of a replacement well, the reworking and/or
deepening of an existing well) that the location of such existing well, pipeline or
facility is one which might not be permitted under Section 11 for a new installation,
or that the fence surrounding same is not of a solid nature or that existing
facilities are not "sight clear"; and when a certificate is issued, the certificate
shall constitute sufficient authority for the continued use or operation of such
existing well, pipeline or facility (provided, however, tYLat the subsequent rework-
ing and/or deepening of an existing well shall require a permit) , even though the
location of such existing well, pipeline or facility is one which might not be
permitted for a new installation under Section 11 below, or the fence enclosing
same is not made solid in nature, or the install�tio� is not "sight clear".
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E. No permit shall authorize the drilling of more than one well or the
installation of more than one trunkline pipeline or more than one water and/or gas
repressurizing or injection facility.
Section 4: Permit; Application: Filing Fee
Every application for a permit to drill a well or to install a water and/or
gas repressurizing or injection facility, or trunkline pipeline, shall be in writing,
signed by the applicant or some person duly authorized to sign on his behalf; and it
shall be filed with the City Secretary. In case a permit is requested for the purpose
of drilling a well or re-entering to drill to a deeper formation, the application shall
be accompanied by a filing fee of $500.00 in cash, Cashier's Check or Certified Check,
made payable to the City of Friendswood.
A separate application shall be required for each trunkline pipeline, well
and each water and/or gas repressurizing or injection facility. The application
shall include full information, including the following:
A. The date of the application.
B. The name of the applicant, and operator.
C. The address of the applicant.
D. Proposed site of the trunkline pipeline, the well (including proposed
location of gathering lines) , or water and/or gas repressurizing or
injection facility including:
1. Name of the Lessor.
2. Accurate description of the land.
3. Location with respect to property lines, right of way boundaries,
and the grades.
E. Type of derrick and drilling equipment (if any) to be used.
F'. The proposed maximum depth of the well.
G. Detailed explanation of operating pressures of all pipelines and
facilities.
H. Location of compressor, compressor control, or safety devices with
explanation of operating characteristics of each.
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I, The name of the person and/or persons to be notified in case of an
emergency.
J. If any pipeline connection with such well is to have pressures in
excess of 250 psi, the application shall include details and speci-
fications of the safety provisions and equipment.
K. Proposed hole size, casing program and cementing program.
L. Attached copy of "Application for Permit to Drill, Deepen or Plugback"
Railroad Commission of Texas Form W-1.
Such application shall be insufficient if the date contained therein fails
to set forth such information and details as to reasonably assure the City Council
that all provisions of this ordinance have been complied with and that the health,
safety, and welfare of the residents of the City of Friendswood will not be endan-
gered by the construction and/or drilling of the proposed facility or well.
Section 5: Permits; Issuance or Refusal to Issue
Following filing of application for permit to drill a we11, trunkline pipeline
or a permit to install water flooding� gas injection, or any primary or secondary
recovery system for the production of oil, gas and liquid hydrocarbons, brine water
and sulphur water: (1) application shall be considered by the City Council at its
next ragularly scheduled meeting� provi_ded that if application is received less than
�pu� days be�oxe meeting date, such application shall be considered at the seGOnd
regularly schedu�ed meeting following its receipt; (2) the Council shall determine
wh�ther or not the app�ication complies in all respects with the provisions o� this
ordinance; (3) if the application complies, and approval is giveny the City Council
shall issue such permit and shall fix the amount of the principal of the bond and
insurance provided for herein. Each permit shall.
A. By reference have incorporated therein al� the provisians o� this
ordinance with the same force and effect as if this ordinance were
copies verbatim in such permit.
B. Specify the location of the proposed well� injection facility ar
trunk�ine pipelineA with particularity to lot number, b�ock number,
name of addition or subdivision section line or other avai�able
correct Iegal description.
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C. Contain and specify that the term of the permit shall be for a period
of one year from the date of the permit and so long thereafter as oil
and gas are produced or until such time as the permittee has permanently
abandoned the operation of such well or facility for which the permit
was issued.
D. Contain and specify such other terms and provisions as may be necessary
in the particular case to accomplish the purpose of this ordinance.
E. Specify the hole size, casing program, cementing program, and total
depth to which the well (if any) will be drilled.
F. Contain and specify that no actual operations shall be commenced until
the permittee shall file and have approved an indemnity bond in the
designated principal amount as so determined by the City Council or
has complied with the bond and insurance provisions of this ordinance.
Such permit, in triplicate originals, after approval of the City Council, shall be
signed by the City Secretary of the City of Friendswood, and prior to delivery to
permittee shall be signed by the permittee (with one original to be retained by the
City and the others by the permittee); and when so signed, it shall constitute the
permittee's drilling and installation license, as well as the contractual obligation
of the permittee to comply with the terms of such permit, bond, and of this ordinance.
If the permit be refused, or if the applicant notifies the City Council in writing
that he does not elect to accept the permit as tendered and wishes to withdraw his
application, then upon the happening of such event the cash deposit provided for
to be filed with the application to drill a well shall be returned to the applicant,
except as shall be retained therefrom by the City $100.00 as a process fee.
If after a permit is issued, and prior to commencement or completion of the opera-
tion, the permittee desires to change the work plan set forth in the original appli-
cation, the permittee shall apply to the Oil and Gas Inspector for approval of such
change. If the requested amendment does not substantially enlarge the scope of
operations nor adversely affect public safety, the Inspector shall approve such
change in work plan and notify the City Secretary of such approval, and the permit
is thereby amended to the extent the changes are approved by the Inspector. If the
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permittee desires to substantially change the permit conditions, it shall file an
amended application to be considered in the manner set forth herein for an original
application, but no additional filing fee shall be required.
Section 6: Permit; Termination
In the event of a failure of a permittee to comply with any provision of
this ordinance, the oil and gas inspector shall issue in writing a notice to the
permittee of the nature of the non-compliance and stating a reasonable time necessary
to gain compliance. After lapse of such reasonable time, if compliance has not been
made, the City Council may suspend the permit for a period of time or cancel the
permit.
Section 7: Supplemental Permit for Deep Drilling
Once any well has either been completed as a producer or abandoned as a dry
hole, it shall be unlawful and an offense for any person to drill such well to a
deeper geological formation than that reached in the prior drilling operations
without the permittee as to such well obtaining a supplemental permit after filing
a supplemental application with the City Secretary specifying:
A. The condition of the well and the casing therein.
B. The depth to which it is proposed that such well will be deepened.
C. The proposed casing and cementing programs to be used in connection
with the proposed deepening operation.
In the event the City Council is satisfied that such well may be deepened
with the same degree of safety as existed in the original well, a supplemental permit
may be issued to the permittee within fourteen (14) days or at the next regular
Council Meeting thereafter authorizing the deepening and operation of the well to
such specified depth as applied for. In any deeper drilling or any deeper completion
of any deeper production operations the permittee s�all comply with all provisions
contained in this ordinance and applicable to drilling, completion, operation and
production of a well or wells.
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If the operator has removed the derrick and drilling equipment from the
location, the supplemental permit shall comply with the requirements specified for
a permit in Section 5.
Section 8. Fermit: For Conduits on Streets and Alleys
A. No permittee shall make any excavations for any purpose or construct
any lines for conveyance of fuel, water, or minerals, on, under, or through the
streets or alleys of the City of Friendswood without express permission of the City
Council in writing, and then only in strict compliance with the Ordinances of the
City.
B. The pipeline shall be tested to at least two times the design pressure
or USAS code, whichever is greater, prior to being placed in service.
C. The companies responsible for any and all pipelines now existent or
hereinafter installed within the corporate limits are hereby required to furnish the
City of Friendswood an "as built" plot plan showing the location, operating pressure,
depth, and size of all their facilities for permanent record with the City of
Friendswood.
D. All pipelines within the corporate limits, other than utility lines of
the City of Friendswood and the franchise distribution system of Houston Natural Gas
Company, designed or utilized to transport oil, gasy or water in connection with the
production and transportation of oil and/or gas or for repressurizing operation
shall hereafter be installed with the minimum of cover or backfill specified by the
then applicable USAS Code, State or Federal Law, for such pipelines. The Oil and
Gas Inspector is authorized to approve a lesser cover or specify a greater cover
of backfill in special cases where in the opinion of the Oil and Gas Inspector such
variation is advisable and/or will not increase the degree of hazard.
E. The digging up, breaking, excavating, tunneling, underminimg, breaking
up, or damaging of any street as herein defined, or leaving upon any street any earth
or other material or obstruction, shall not be permitted unless such persons shall
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first have obtained written permission from the City Council or from such officials
as the City Council may designate.
F. Exceptions:
1. Work done in new developments of the City by utility and street
contractors under and in conformity with the City's subdivision
policy is exempt from the provisions of the ordinance.
2. Work done by the City or under City contract and under directions
of the City of Friendswood is exempt from the provisions of the
ordinance.
3. Work done by Public Utility companies who operate under a current
franchise for the City are exempt from the bond and insurance
provisions of this ordinance, when such work is in connection
with the distribution of the product of such utility.
4. Work done by plumbers who are qualified and bonded with a valid
license from the State of Texas are exempt from the bond and
insurance provisions of this ordinance, but must comply with the
balance of the provisions hereof.
No permit for construction within public right-of-way shall be issued unless
the written application be accompanied with plans and description and unless such
plans and descriptions are approved by the Director of Public Works.
Section 9: Bond and Insurance; Required Amounts
In the event a permit or certificate of compliance be issued by the City
Council or the Oil and Gas Inspector under the terms of this ordinance for the
drilling of a well, or installation of trunkline pipeline or installation of a
water flooding project or gas injection project, no actual operations shall be
commenced unless the permittee shall file with the City Secretary a bond and
certificate of insurance as follows:
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A. A bond in the principal sum of such amount as may be determined by
the City Council, but not to be less than $25,000.00, and the bond shall be executed
by a reliable insurance company authorized to do business in the State of Texas,
as surety, and the applicant as principal, running to the City for the benefit of
the City and all persons concerned, under the condition that the permittee shall
comply with the terms and conditions of this ordinance in the drilling and operation
of the well, water flooding project, or gas injection project.
Such bond shall become effective on or before the date it is filed with the
City Secretary and remain in force and effect for at least a period of six months
subsequent to the expiration of the term of the permit issued; and in addition, the
bond will be conditioned that the permittee will promptly pay all legally imposed
fines, penalties, and other assessments imposed upon permittee by reason of his
breach of any of the terms, provisions, and conditions of this ordinance and that
the permittee will promptly restore the streets and sidewalks and other public
property of the City, which may be disturbed or damaged in the operations, to their
former condition; that the permittee will promptly clear all premises of all litter,
trash, waste, and other substances used, allowed, or occurring in the operations,
and will after abandonment, or completion, grade, level, and restore such property
to the same surface conditions, as nearly as possible, as existed when operations
were first commenced, and that the permittee will indemnify and hold the City harm-
less from any and all liability growing out of or attributable to the granting of
such permit. If at any time the City Council shall, after hearing thereon, deem
any permittee's bond to be insufficient for any reason, it may require the permittee
to file a new bond.
If after the completion of a producing well, gas injection well, water
injection well or any facility for which a bond is required by this ordinance and
the permittee has complied with all the provisions of this ordinance, such as
removing derrick, clearing the premises and erection of fences, he may apply to
the City Council to have the bond reduced to a sum not less than $15,000.00 on
each well or facility for the remainder of the time the well produces or facility
is operated without reworking. During reworking operations, the amount of the
bond shall be increased to the original amount. A trunkline pipeline installation
shall not be considered as completed until the lines have been tested and in opera-
tion for the period of thirty (30) days.
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B. In addition to the bond required in Paragraph A of this section, the
permittee shall carry a policy or policies of standard, comprehensive public
liability insurance, including contractual liability covering bodily injuries and
property damage, naming the permittee and the City, in an insurance company
authorized to do business in the State of Texas. Such policy or policies in the
aggregate shall provide for the following minimum coverages:
l. Bodily injuries, $100,000.00 one person; $300,000.00 one accident.
2. Property damage,$200,000.00
Permittee shall file with the City Secretary, certificates of such insurance
as above stated. The insurance policy or policies shall not be cancelled without
written notice to the City Secretary at least ten days prior to the effective date
of such cancellation. In the event such insurance policy or policies are cancelled,
the permit granted shall terminate, and the permittee's right to operate under such
permit shall cease until permittee files additional insurance as provided herein.
If after the completion of a well, water flooding project, or gas injection project,
permittee has complied with all the provisions of this ordinance, such as removing
derrick, completion of the pipeline, clearing the premises, and any other provision
hereof, the insurance will be as follows:
a. Bodily injuries, $100,000.00 one person; $300,000.00 one accident.
b. Property damage, $200,000.00 for the remainder of the time such
well is produced without reworking. During the reworking operations
the amount of the insurance policy or policies shall be increased to
the original amount.
c. Exceptions.
The City Council may elect to make an exception to requirements of this
Section when in their opinion the intent and purpose for the requirements of the
bond and insurance can be assured by the following means:
1. Acceptance of the Guarantee or Indemnity to the City in lieu of bond
and a plan of self insurance in the case of financially responsible
operators.
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2. Acceptance of a blanket bond and single policy of insurance to cover
all operations of the permittee within the corporate limits of the
City.
3. Application of bond and insurance requirements acceptable to the City
Council.
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Section 10: Streets and Alleys; Obstructions; Permits
No well shall be drilled and no permit shall be issued for any well to be
drilled at any location which is within any of the streets or alleys of the City
and/or streets or alleys shown by the Master Plan of the City, and no street or
alley shall be blocked or encumbered or closed in any drilling, production or pipe-
line operation except by written permission of the Oil and Gas Inspector and the
City Council or from such official as the City Council may designate and then only
temporarily.
Section 11: Proximity of well , tanks , or pipelines to building;
Permission
No well shall be drilled and no permit shall be issued for any well to
be drilled at any location or storage tank to be located which is nearer than 500
feet to any residence or commercial building or fresh water well without the
applicant having first secured the written permission of the City Council . In
exceptional cases for reasons of health or safety, the City Council may require
that any well or related facility shall be located at a greater distance than 500
feet from any fresh water well , residence, commercial building, stadium, etc.
No Trunkline Pipeline shall be installed nearer than 40 feet to any
residence or commercial building without the applicant having first secured the
written permi�sion of the City Council .
No residential , commercial or industrial structure other than structures
necessary to operate the pipeline shall be erectea or moved to a location nearer
than 40 feet to any pipeline transporting flammable material when the pipeline
operating pressure is greater than 250 PSI unless a greater or lesser distance is
recommended by the then applicable USAS Code.
No residential , commercial or industrial structure should be permitted
to be built nearer than 150 feet from any well or related facility other than
structures necessary to operate the well or facility.
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The engines used in connection with the drilling of any well and/or any
production equipment shall be equipped with an exhaust muffler, or mufflers, or an
exhaust muffler box, sufficient to suppress noise and to prevent the escape of
obnoxious gases� fumes or sparks or ignited carbon or soot. The type and design
of any muffler or muffler box shall be approved by the Administrator.
The operation of oil field production equipment, with the exception of
equipment located in industrial zones set forth in the Zoning regulations shall
not increase the ambient noise level at any given time by more than five decibels
in any octave band, when measured at a distance of fifty feet from the oil field
production equipment in question.
The ambient noise level� for the purpose of this section, shall be the
average of sound level meter readings talcen consecutively at any given time from
four or more diametrically opposite positions within an area of not more than five
hundred feet nor less than two hundred feet from Xhe oil field production equipment
in question; all such readings to be taken at a distance and in such. a manner so as
to obtain the surrounding noise level as distinguished from the noise level produced
by the oil field production equipment. However, if the ambient noise level is less
than sixty decibels, the production equipment shall not generate a noise level in
excess of_ sixty decibels measured at a distance of fifty feet from such equipment.
Provided, that �his subsectiQn shall nat apply to production equipment located one
thousand feet or more from the nearest o�cupied dwelling (except a dwelling occupied
in connection with said oil field operations); provided, furthery that any production
equipment located one thousand feet or more from the nearest occupied dwelling
(except a dwelling occupied in connection with said oil field operations) shall not
generate a noise level in excess of eigh�y decibels at a distance of fifty feet
from said production equipment, A11 sound level meter performance, including defi-
nitions and units, shall be in accordance taith American Standards Association,
Standards Z-24.1, Z-24.2 and Z-24.3 copies of which are on file in the office of
the City Secretary.
No person, either as owner, agent, or operator, shall conduct any drilling
or redrilling operations on any well located within seven hundred fifty feet of any
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residential or commercial district if the sound pressure level of the drilling
operation exceeds 60 db(A) when measured at the nearest residential or commercial
property line, unless all derricks and all drilling machinery which produce noise
and which are used in connection with said drilling or redrilling operations are
enclosed with soundproofing material as provided in this sectiony and such sound-
proofing material shall be maintained in a clean and serviceable condition.
No person, either as owner, agent or operatory shall conduct any drilling
or redrilling operations on any well located more than seven hundred fifty feet
of any residential or cammercial district zf_ the sound pressure level of the drilling
operation exceeds 60 db(A) when measured at the nearest residential or commercial
property line, unless either: (1) all derricks and all drilling machinery which
produce noise and which are used in connection with said drilling or redrilling
operations are enclosed with soundproofing material as provided in this sectionA or
(2) drilling or redri-ling operations are confined to tYie hours of 7:00 a.m. and
10:00 p.m,
When soundproofing is required by the provisions of this sectiony such
soundproofing sha11 comply with the following minimum specificat ons: Sound-proofing
accoustical blankets for the drilling derrick and accessory structures shall be
fibrous glass insulation 1-1/2" thick, 0.50 pounds per cubic footN density� .063
pounds per square foot� weight� .00010 to .00015 fiber diameter (inches) wizh a
phenolic binder having a temperature limit of 450 degrees F sewed between layers
of fire retar_dant, vinvl fiberglass cloth, 15-17 ounces per square yard sewed with
dacron thread D-92 with stitches not more than 6 to the inch.
The lacing cord sha11 be flat vinyl coated tape composed of fibrous
glass yarn braided, heat set and bonded. The tape sha11 have a 90-pound tensile
strength. Grommets shall be ��4 brass. All doors and similar openings shall be
kept closed during drilling operations, except for. ingress and egress.
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Alternate materials or methods of soundproofing may be used, provided
that such alternative has been approved by the Oil and Gas Inspectors. Said
department may approve any such alternative if it finds that the proposed material
and method are satisfactory and eomply with the intent of this section, and that
the material or method offered is, for the purposes intended, at least the equiv-
alent of that prescribed by this section in quality, strength, effectiveness , fire
resistance, durability and safety. Said department may require the submission of
evidence to substantiate any claims that may be made regarding the use of such
alternative. In order to substantiate claims for the use of alternate materials
or methods, the department may require tests as proof of compliance to be made at
the expense of the permittee. Test methods may be specified by the department.
Any person, required to soundproof any well or curtail drilling or
rearilling operations pursuant to the provisions of this section, may appeal to
the City Council for relief herefrom on a showing that no other person within one
thousand feet of said well , is harmfully affected or annoyed as a result of the
noise produced from the drilling or redrilling operations. The decisian of the
City Council on the appeal shall be final . In granting relief from the provisions
of this section, the City Council may impose such other reasonable conditions as
it may deem appropriate to carry out the intent of this section.
The City Council shall have authority, upon proper application, to
grant the permission provided for by this section.
Section 12: Derrick and Rig Types Prohibited; Not Allowed to Remain
Watchmen.
It shall be unlawful and an offense for any person to use or operate
in eonnection with the drilling or reworking of any well within the corporate
limits of the City of Friendswood, any wooden derrick or any steam-powered rig,
and all engines shall be equipped with adequate mufflers approved by the
Inspector. The drilling rig or derrick shall be removed from the premises within
thirty (30) days from the date of completion of the well , and thereafter, when
necessary, such completed well shall be served by portable rigs , which shall be
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removed from the premises within fifteen (15) days from the completion of the
servicing operation. At all times from the start of erection of a derrick or a
mast, or a ginpole, until the well is abandoned and plugged or completed as a
producer and enclosed as herein provided, the permittee shall keep a watehman on
duty on the premises or a regular seheduled patrol at all times when other work-
men of permittee are not on such premises.
Section 13: Pits Required
All slush and reserve pits used in eonnection with all drilling and
reworking operations shall be constructed of steel or shall be earthen pits of
such character as to eliminiate any seepage. (Where allowed and regulated by the
Railroad Commission of Texas, emergency pits may be unlined, but shall be kept
dry except during brief emergency episodes . ) Such pits and contents shall be
removed from the premises and drilling sites within thirty (3Q) days after com-
pletion of the well , and all waste substances such as drilling muds, oil , brine,
or acids, produced or used in connection with drilling operations or oil produc-
tion shall be retained in water tight receptors from which they may be disposed
of outside of the corporate limits. Permittee in connection with production
operations shall use water tight steel reeeptors for the disposal of all salt
water and other impurities that he may bring to the surface and shall remove
same from site so as not to eontaminate the potable water supply. Permittee
may, by the drilling of a disposal well , dispose of any produced salt water
providing, however, that said disposal wells shall be a well within the meaning
of this ordinance and shall be subject to this ordinance and all State and
Federal regulatory agencies.
Section 14: Operations and Equipment; Called Inspections; Practices
and Standards
All drilling and operations at any well performed by a permittee under
this ordinance shall be conducted in accordance with the practices of a reason-
able and prudent operator. All casing, valves and blow-out preventors , drilling
fluid, tubing, bradenhead, christmas tree, and well head conneetions shall be of
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a type and quality consistent with such practice. Setting and cementing casing
and running drill stem tests shall be performed in a manner and at a time con-
sistent with the practices of a reasonable and prudent operation. Each permittee
under this section shall observe and follow the regulations of the Railroad
Commission of the State of Texas .
All operations relative to the design, installation, maintenance and
operation of pipelines shall eonform to the requirements of this ordinance, State
and Federal law, or USAS code where such law is not applicable, and the standards
of performance of a reasonable and prudent operator.
All pipelines hereafter constructed shall be tested prior to being
placed in operation and the standard for testing will be the applicable State or
Federal law, but not less than two times the design pressure. Valves shall be
installed on all pipelines at such locations and spaeing to safely and adequately
control the operation of the line and to minimize the quantity of gas, oil or
water that would be released from the line in case of line failure or rupture.
The types and locations of all valves shall be indicated on a plan layout.
Internal combustion engines or electrical equipment may be used in the
drilling or pumping operations of the well , and if internal combustion engines
are used, mufflers shail be installed on the mud pumps and on the engines so as
to reduce noise to a minimum, all of said installations to be done in a manner
satisfactory to the Oil and Gas Inspector and all electrical installations to
be done in a manner satisfactorily conforming with the applicable electrical
code. Drilling operations must be �on�ucted in such a manner that percolating
or ground water will not be adversely affected, including the prevention of
vertical movement of percolating water.
Pipeiine location markers shall be approved, as to type and location,
by the USAS Code and the removal of any pipeline marker without the express
permission of the Oil and Gas Inspeetor shall constitute a violation of the
provisions of this ordinance.
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Pipelines crossing certain thoroughfares, designated by the Oil and
Gas Inspector, shal.l be cased and vented in accordance with accepted practice
of the pipeline industry.
That except in case of emergency, no materials or equipment such as
tools or pipe used for production or maintenance operations shall be delivered
to or removed from the site except between the hours of 7 o'clock A.M, and
8 o'clock P.M. on any day.
That adequa.te fire fighting apparatus and supplies shall be main-
tained on the drilling site at all times during drilling and production oper-
ations. That no refining process or any process for the extraction of products
from natural gas sha11 be carried on at the drilling site, except that separa-
tors may be maintained on the drilling site for the separation of liquids from
natural gas.
That all production equipment used shall be so constructed and operat-
ed so that no noise, fibration, dust� odor or other harmful or annoying
substances or eff ect which can be eliminated or diminished by the operations
carried on at any drilling site or from anything incident thereto, to the
injury or annoyance of persons living in the vicinity; nor shall the site or
structures thereon be permitted to become dilapidated� unsigntly or unsafe.
�roven technological improvements in methods of production shall be adopted
as theyp from time to time, become available if capable of reducing factors
of nuisance or annoyance. There sh.all be no unnecessary venting of gas into
the open air. In the event of pumping units, no inkernal combustion engines
are to be used except when approved by Inspector.
A11 injection wells shall be equipped in such a manner as to protect
the existing fresh water supply and operated in compliance with the rules of
the Railroad Commission of Texas and the Texas Water Quality Control Board.
Any permittee operating an injection well shall conduct a 24 hour
test for the purpose of determining tfie pressure differential between the
surface pipe and the injection string of such well during each six calendar
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�_ �
months and shall submit a report of such test to the City within ten (10) days
thereafter. If test indicates a casing leak or communication between strings,
the well shall be shut down immediately and corrective action taken.
The well site shall not be used for the storage of pipe, equipment or
materials except during the drilling or servicing of the well or pipelines from
the well or the produetion facilities allowed on the site.
The Inspector shall inspect annually and at such other times as he
deems necessary each active well and suspended well regulated by this Code for
the purpose of ascertaining whether the well is being operated or maintained in
conformity with the minimum standards of this Code. To meet the expense of such
inspection, the operator shall pay to the Tax Collector an annual inspection fee
of $35.00. The year for which each fee is applicable runs from July 1 to June 30.
The fee shall be based upon the total number of wells in existence (whether
active or not) on July 1. The fees shall be due no later than July 1 of the year
to which they pertain. No additional fee shall be charged for additional inspec-
tions which may be required during the year. The Tax Collector shall keep a per-
manent, accurate account of all annual inspection fees collected and received
under this Code, the name of the operator for whose account the same were paid,
the date and amount thereof, together with the well name and description and the
general location of the well .
No drilling, redrilling, work or construction shall be done beyond the
point indicated in each successive inspection without first obtaining the written
approval of the Inspector and without giving notice within twelve hours prior to
any work hereinafter deseribed is commenced, said notice to be given to the City
Dispatcher of the City of Friendswood.
A. Site Preparation
1. Permittee shall not commence drilling until well location has
been cleared and marked by a stake and inspeeted by the Inspec-
tor and approved in writing.
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� �
6. Commencement of Drilling
1. The Inspector shall be called and notified when the drilling
derrick or mast has been erected and all necessary equipment
to drilling operation has been installed.
C. Completion of Drilling
1. Upon completion of drilling operations, a site inspection
request shall be called for, and obtained within 30 days
after completion of drilling operations.
D. Abandonment
l. Any operations conducted in connection with the plugging or
abandonment of any well shall be in eompliance with all
applicable rules promulgated by the Railroad Commission of
Texas or other regulatory agency with jurisdiction, and
suitable evidence of complianee submitted to the City.
E. Running and Cementing Pipe
1. All running and cementing of pipe shall be in compliance
with the Railroad Commission of Texas.
Section 15: Cleanliness and Sanitation
The premises shall be kept in a clean and sanitary condition, satis-
factory to the Oil and Gas Inspector of the City. The permittee shall take
reasonable precautions to prevent any mud, waste water, oil , slush, or other
waste matters from flowing into the alleys, streets, lots, or leases within
the corporate limits of the City. However, should any of the above materials
flow into the alleys , streets, lots or leases within the eorporate limits of
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�
the City„ the owner or operator whose equipment is at fault, will immediately or
as soon as possible, restore the damaged area as nearly as possible to its
original or former condition.
Section 16� Storage Tanks; Separators; Types; Requirements
It sha11 be unlawful and an of_fense for any person to use„ construct
or operate in connection with any producing well within the City limits, any
crude oil storage tanks, except to the extent of two tanks for oil storage,,
not exceeding one thousand barrels capacity for each completion connected
thereto and so constructed and maintained as to be vapor tight and properly
vented. A permittee may use, construct� and operate a steel conventional
separator, and such other approv�d tanks and appur�enances as are necessary
for separating oil water mixtures and treating oi1, with each such facilities
to be so constructed and maintained as to be vapor tight. �'ach oi1/gas
separator sha11 be equipped with both a regulation pressure relief safety
valve and a bursting head. Such tanks may be placed either under ground or
above ground and if above ground shall be placed upon a suitable earth or
concrete pad.
The use of a central. tank t�attery is permitted so long as not more tfi an
two tanks as specified are used for each we11 connected to the battery.
The tank or tanks shall be enclosed within a conventional type fire
wall constructed of compacted earth; sufficient water sha11 be used during
the fire wa11 construction to assure adequate compaction.
The fire wa11 enclosin� tfi,e tanks shall be o£ adequate size to
contain one and one-half times the capacity of tTie tanks.
The location of the tank site shall be approved by the City Oil and
Gas Inspector.
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The tanks shall be recessed within the fire wall enclosed to such
depth that will assure them of being "praetically sight clear" when viewed from
without the fenced enclosure and painted dark green or brown.
The separators shall be installed in a manner that will assure them of
being "practically sight clear" when viewed from without the fenced enclosure
and painted dark green or brown.
Section 17: Fences; Required: Locking Gates; Landscaping
Any person who eomp]etes any well shall have the obligation to enclose
such well , together with its surfaee facilities, by an adequate fence. Feneing
shall be solid in nature, approximately six feet high, sight pleasing, properly
built so as to ordinarily keep persons and animals out of the enclosure, with
all gates to be kept locked when the permittee or his employees are not on
location. All fences shall be subject to the approval of the Friendswood
Planning and Zoning Commission.
The pump station compressor unit location shall be enclosed with a
masonry or equivalent noncombustible structure constructed in such a manner to
reduce or minimize the noise of operation; the design of the structure shall
be submitted to and approved by the Oil and Gas Inspector prior to erection.
The well site, tank site, tank battery site, pump station site, or
compressor site shall not be used for the storage of pipe, equipment, or materials
except during the drilling or servicing of the well , pipelines, tanks , pump
stations , or compressor station, except where the site is located in an industrial
or manufacturing zone.
Shrubs or other appropriate vegetation shall be planted and maintained
along the exterior of the fence or walt enclosing the produetion area. This
requirement shall not be construed to limit or prohibit additional site beauti-
fication by landscaping or other planting.
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Section 18: Fire Prevention; Escape of Gas; Burning; Flaring; General
Requirements
Any permittee engaged in the drilling or operation of any oil and/or gas
well or the operation of any facility used in conjunction with the production of
oil and/or gas within the corporate limits of the City shall take reasonable pre-
cautions to prevent gas from escaping into the air, and shall not flare or burn
gas from a torch or any similar means within the eorporate limits of the City;
provided, gas may be burned for a limited time when necessary to complete any oil
and/or gas well upon the original completion or upon the recompletion of workover
jobs upon oil and/or gas wells , so long as the same does not constitute a fire
hazard to the property of others within the vicinity of such oil and/or gas well .
It shall hereafter be unlawful to operate a well for oil and/or gas
without a four inch header being laid over the top of the tank and a two and one-
half inch line extending from the tank battery to a point designated by the Oil
and Gas Inspector. The manner and method provided for eonnection at such point
shall be determined by the fire department of the City so that foamite or other
chemicals may be pumped through such line or lines and the header of the tanks
into such tanks to extinguish fires in the tanks.
Emergency fire fighting apparatus and supplies, subject to the approval
by the Fire Department of the City, shall be maintained on the drilling site at
all times during the drilling operations , and on the site of each compressor used
for gas injection operations.
The permittee shall place a sign at each well loeation or site to
identify the well .
Section 19: Penalties ; Fines ; Forfeitures; Revoeation of Permit
It shall be unlawful and an offense for any person to violate or fail
to comply with any provision hereof, irrespective of whether or not the verbiage
of each seetion hereof eontains the specific language that sueh violation of
failure to comply is unlawful and is an offense. Any person who shall violate
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any of the provisions of this ordinance, or any of the provisions of a permit
issued pursuant hereto, or who shall fail to comply with the terms hereof shall
upon receipt of notice from the Oil and Gas Inspector of such violation or
noncompliance have a reasonable time to remedy such noncompliance. Failure to
gain compliance within such reasonable time by any person shall constitute a
misdemeanor and shall on conviction thereof, be fined in a sum not to exceed
$200.00 and the violation of each separate provision of this ordinance, and of
such permit, shall be considered a separate offense, and each day's violation
of eaeh separate provision thereof shall be considered a separate offense.
In addition to the foregoing penalites, it is further provided that
the City Council of the City, at any regular or special session or meeting
thereof, may, provided thirty days ' notice has been given to the permittee
that revocation is to be considered at such meeting, revoke or suspend any
permit issued under this ordinance and under which operations are being
conducted, in the event the permittee thereof has violated any provisions
of such permit, or this ordinance. In the event the permit is revoked, the
permittee may make application to the City Council for a reissuance of such
permit. Except under such conditions relating to health, safety, and welfare,
the permit can be immediately suspended.
Section 20: Severability
If any section, paragraph, subdivision, clause, phrase or provision
of this ordinance shall , for any reason, be adjudgea invalid or held to be
unconstitutional , the invalidity or unconstitutionality of such particular
section, paragraph, subdivision, clause, phrase or provisions so declared
shall not affect the validity or constitutionality of the remaining provi-
sions hereof, but the same, and each of them, shall remain in full force and
effect.
Section 21: Exceptions
The City Council shall have authority to order an exeeption and/or
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exceptions to any provision contained in this ordinance in any case where it
may be determined that such exception and/or exceptions are equitable and/or
necessary to protect the safety, property, health and welfare of the citizens
and residents of the City of Friendswood.
Section 22: Repealing Clause
Any and all ordinances of the City of Friendswood in confliet with
any of the provisions of this ordinance are hereby expressly repealed.
FIRST READING taken this lOth day of September , 1973
SECOPJD READING taken this 17th day of Septemb er , 1973
PASSED, APPROVED AND FINALLY ADOPTED ON THIRD READING this lst
day of October , 1973.
•" ,,��►�.�«,,,y'�'"�►•.
.�.•�'"r Cfj�'p�'',�''` CITY OF FRIENDSWOOD, TEXAS
.(�;� •������./�'� �,61 ,
`�i Z�:
� r : . ....Z
,, � �Z �,
.�r� ' `�/J� . � .
� � Ralph L Lowe, ayor
S S�,'••,, � ,•l�`i1 .• �
;1y '�,j •�*' v-
�•"`�.
~Y11eri��•�.
ATTE�"f:
t ,,� �
Bobbie C. Henry, City Secretary
-27-
Explanatory Notes
These sketches are intended to demonstrate one of innumerable satisfactory
alternative design details to provide satisfactory camouflage of wellheads
in the Hastings field.
Regardless of the final design detail selected, personnel and public safety
dictate that all or part of the shield must be removable in a quick and
simple operation. In a wire line operation it may be desirable to remove
only a part of the shield, whereas in rig operations the entire shield
should be removed. Removal should be accomplished with tools and equipment
normally available and should not endanger personnel, property or public.
Removal and replacement should not require special construction skills which
are not available in the rig crews or maintenance crews.
Features of this particular camouflage shield incorporate the provisions for
easy removal. Four rough cedar panels are hung on three sections of standard
wellguard, providing one gated side. Individual wooden panels can be removed
from the pipe or structural steel wellguard and individual sections of wellguard
can be removed from their permanent seats.
Removable corner braces provide sturdiness and lock the corners of the panels
together.
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FOR SAFETY OF PERSONEL :
�V,4LL5 TD P�E gRACeD Atilfl I-I►NGEA �tDu�N CUT CEDAR OR EQUAL.
FoR EASY R�MOVAL DUR�NG WORK�OYER �
OP�RA"`r►ONS. ��• .. " '�
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t y
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EXTER �aR v�cw
P �v �oS �D FE �CE A��UND WE �LS
Lo � ATED l�l C� TY OF �21 � �ID�WDoU
. , _
�_o___.__.�_��.L..E� .
' -29-
1NTeR►a� GoRN�,c�
M4tD l T�tG• 1 F ��Q��?.
� CORNER BRACE
� „
�
, 1 PIN FOR EASY REMOVAL
� DURING WORKOVER
l � .��r���,
: !
�
,' �
I x 6 CEOAR FENCE �
PANELS �
i
o I �/4�� � STANDARD REMOVABLE
" . � GuAR��RA11. 1'ANEI.
# �
IZx4
�
�
I N
� ' d-
� — . .
I \�� "L� BOLTS
REMOVABLE ;
FENCE PANELS � �
I ,
1 �
, �
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� ��� ���� � a: n o:�.o ���� '�/�``
. ., SLEEVE
v o� . „
:4. ,� CONCRETE
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EXAMPLE OF FENCE SUPPORT �
� lUo Sca ��, � .
-30-