SENATE
HOUSE
JOINT
BILL STATUS
STATE LAW
REPORTS
EDUCATIONAL
CONTACT
home
home
Enrolled Version - Final Version Senate Bill 382 History

OTHER VERSIONS  -  Introduced Version  |     |  Email
Key: Green = existing Code. Red = new code to be enacted
ENROLLED

Senate Bill No. 382

(By Senators Minard, Helmick, Green, Bowman and Plymale)

____________

[Passed March 8, 2010; in effect ninety days from passage.]

____________




AN ACT to amend and reenact §22-6-22 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating to the reporting of certain geologic information obtained incidental to oil and gas drilling; requiring the filing of reports with the Department of Environmental Protection and the state Geological and Economic Survey; providing for the delivery of core samples and well cuttings to the state Geological and Economic Survey; and assuring the confidentiality of reports and other information provided.

Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:

That §22-6-22 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, be amended and reenacted to read as follows:

ARTICLE 6. OFFICE OF OIL AND GAS; OIL AND GAS WELLS; ADMINISTRATION; ENFORCEMENT.

§22-6-22. Well report, logs, core samples and cuttings to be filed; confidentiality and permitted use; authority to promulgate rules.

(a) Within a reasonable time after the completion of the drilling of a shallow well or deep well, the well operator shall file with the secretary and with the state Geological and Economic Survey a completion report containing the following:
(1) The character, depth and thickness of geological formations encountered, including fresh water, coal seams, mineral beds, brine and oil and gas bearing formations; and
(2) Such other information as the secretary may require to effectuate the purposes of this chapter.
The secretary may promulgate such reasonable rules in accordance with article three, chapter twenty-nine-a of this code, as may be considered necessary to ensure that the character, depth and thickness of geological formations encountered are accurately logged: Provided, That the secretary shall not require logging by the use of an electrical logging device: Provided, however, That if electrical or mechanical or geophysical logs are recorded in the well, the secretary may request copies of these logs: Provided further, That mechanical or geophysical logs may not include vertical seismic profiles or two-dimensional or three-dimensional seismic information.
(b) If a well operator takes core samples, that activity shall be noted within the report, and, within sixty days after filing the completion report, the operator shall, subject to the terms of this article, provide the state Geological and Economic Survey with a complete set of cores, consisting of at least quarter slabs, correctly labeled and identified according to depth. The core samples requested by and provided to the state Geological and Economic Survey may not contain any materials or documents made with regard to analyzing or interpreting the core samples.
(c) If a well operator catches cuttings during the drilling of any deep or shallow well, that activity shall be noted within the report and, within sixty days after filing the completion report, the operator shall, subject to the terms of this article, provide the state Geological and Economic Survey with a sample of the cuttings, correctly labeled and identified according to depth.
(d) Any information, reports, cuttings and core samples requested by and provided to the state Geological and Economic Survey by the operator shall be kept confidential at the written request of the operator for a specified amount of time as follows:
(1) Except for core samples, any logs, drill cuttings, reports and other information or materials that reveal trade secrets or other confidential business information relating to the competitive interests of the operator or the operator's privy may not be disclosed to the public for one year following delivery, unless the operator consents in writing to a shorter time. At the operator's written request, the period of confidentiality may be extended in annual increments: Provided, That the total period of confidentiality may not exceed three years.
(2) Any core samples may not be disclosed to the public for five years following delivery to the state Geological and Economic Survey, unless the operator consents in writing to a shorter time. At the operator's written request, the period of confidentiality may be extended for an additional five years: Provided, That the total period of confidentiality may not exceed ten years.
(e) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (d) of this section, the state Geological and Economic Survey may store and process confidential information within its minerals mapping or geographic information systems; however, that confidential information may not be revealed to the public until the lapsing of the period of confidentiality created pursuant to subsection (d) of this section. After the period of confidentiality has lapsed, statistics or other information generated as the result of storage and processing may be disclosed in the aggregate through articles, reports, maps, or lectures presented in accordance with generally accepted academic or scientific practices and in a manner to preclude the identification of a particular well or operator.
This Web site is maintained by the West Virginia Legislature's Office of Reference & Information.  |  Terms of Use  |   Email WebmasterWebmaster   |   © 2024 West Virginia Legislature **


X

Print On Demand

Name:
Email:
Phone:

Print