Introduced Version
House Bill 2257 History
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Key: Green = existing Code. Red = new code to be enacted
H. B. 2257
(By Delegates Manypenny, Rowan and Fleischauer)
[Introduced February 13, 2013; referred to the
Committee on the Judiciary then Finance.]
A BILL to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by
adding thereto a new section, designated §22-6A-21a, relating
to the creation of a publicly available database that
documents and maintains specific, up to date information on
all horizontally drilled wells in the state.
Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, be amended
by adding thereto a new section, designated §22-6A-21a, to read as
follows:
ARTICLE 6A. NATURAL GAS HORIZONTAL WELL CONTROL ACT.
§22-6A-21a. Public database of horizontally drilled wells;
contents and accessibility.
_____(a) For all permits for horizontally drilled wells that exist
on or following the effective date of this statute, the secretary shall forward all plats and data required by section twelve,
article six, chapter twenty-two of this code, as modified pursuant
to section fifteen, article six, chapter twenty-two of this code,
if modified, to the United States Geological Survey and to the West
Virginia Geological and Economic Survey. Further, the secretary
shall forward any additional modifications or deviations made to
plats and data following the initial permit, as soon as
modifications are approved or agreed upon or variances granted, to
the United States Geological Survey and to the West Virginia
Geological and Economic Survey.
_____(b) In addition to the information required under subsection
(a) of this section, the secretary shall require from the well
operator and forward to the United States Geological Survey and to
the West Virginia Geological and Economic Survey for all permits
for horizontally drilled wells that exist on or following the
effective date of this statute, the following:
_____(1) The location of all wells, abandoned or otherwise located
within five hundred feet of any well or lateral;
_____(2) Where available, the casing records of all such wells;
_____(3) Where available, the drilling log of all such wells;
_____(4) The maximum pressure to be introduced;
_____(5) The geologic formation into which such liquid or pressure
is to be introduced;
_____(6) A general description of the liquids to be introduced;
_____(7) The location of all water-bearing horizons above and below
the geological formation into which such pressure, liquid or waste
is to be introduced; and
_____(8) Such other information as the secretary by rule may
require.
_____(c) In the event a completed well deviates from the location
as indicated on a plat or on a plat as modified but is not a
deviation which requires approval of the secretary, the owner or
operator of the well shall notify the secretary of this deviation
and the precise location of the completed well. The secretary
shall forward this information to the United States Geological
Survey and to the West Virginia Geological and Economic Survey in
addition to updating the database on the West Virginia Department
of Environmental Protection's website.
_____(d) The secretary shall maintain a database on the West
Virginia Department of Environmental Protection's website and
available upon request that contains all information made available
to the United States Geological Survey and the West Virginia
Geological Survey pursuant to subsection (a) of this section.
NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to create a publicly
accessible database of information relevant to all horizontally
drilled wells.
§22-6A-21a is new; therefore, it has been completely
underscored.