(a)
Onsite requirements.
(1)
Abandoned wells.
All wells shall be abandoned in accordance with the rules of the railroad commission; however, all well casings shall be cut and removed to a depth of at least ten feet below the surface unless the surface owner submits a written agreement otherwise. Three feet shall be the minimum depth. No structures shall be built over an abandoned well.
(2)
Blowout prevention.
In all cases, blowout prevention equipment shall be used on all wells being drilled, worked-over or in which tubing is being changed. Protection shall be provided to prevent blowout during gas operations as required by and in conformance with the requirements of the railroad commission and the recommendations of the American Petroleum Institute. The operator must equip all drilling wells with adequate blowout preventers, flow lines and valves commensurate with the working pressures involved as required by the railroad commission. See also subsection [(a)(40)], valves.
(3)
Chemical and materials storage.
All chemicals and/or hazardous materials shall be stored in such a manner as to prevent, contain and facilitate rapid remediation and cleanup of any accidental spill, leak or discharge of hazardous materials. Operator shall have all material data safety sheets (MSDS) for all hazardous materials on site. All applicable federal and state regulatory requirements for the proper labeling of containers shall be followed. Appropriate pollution prevention actions shall be required and include, but are not limited to, chemicals and materials raised from the ground (i.e. wooden pallets or containment pallets), installation and maintenance of secondary containment systems, bulk storage and protection from stormwater and weather elements.
(4)
Closed loop mud system.
A closed loop mud circulating system shall be the only approved and permitted system used in the drilling process. This system is self contained and has the ability to reuse certain products and is contained within the confines of the gas well pad site.
(5)
Compliance.
Operator shall comply at all times with all applicable federal, state and city requirements.
(6)
Compressor stations.
For the compressing of gas are prohibited in the city. This prohibition is not intended to include well head compressor equipment used temporarily in placing a well into production or to prohibit well head compressors used at a single site for the purpose of moving the recovered gas from the well head to the distribution system.
(7)
Discharge.
No person shall place, deposit, discharge, or cause or permit to be placed, deposited or discharged, any oil, naphtha, petroleum, asphalt, tar, hydrocarbon substances or any refuse including wastewater or brine from any gas operation or the contents of any container used in connection with any gas operation in, into, or upon any public rights-of-way, alleys, streets, lots, storm drain, ditch or sewer, sanitary drain or any body of water or any public or private property in the city.
(8)
Drilling fluids.
Low toxicity glycols, synthetic hydrocarbons, polymers and esters shall be substituted for conventional oil-based drilling fluids. Drilling fluid storage pits shall not be located within the city.
(9)
Drill stem testing.
All open hole formation or drill stem testing shall be done during daylight hours. Drill stem tests may be conducted only if the well effluent during the test is produced through an adequate gas separator to storage tanks and the effluent remaining in the drill pipe at the time the tool is closed is flushed to the surface by circulating drilling fluid down the annulus and up the drill pipe.
(10)
Drip pans and other containment devices.
Drip pans and other containment devices shall be placed or installed underneath all tanks, containers, pumps, lubricating oil systems, engines, fuel and chemical storage tanks, system valves, connections and any other areas or structures that could potentially leak, discharge or spill hazard liquids, semi liquids or solid waste materials, including hazardous waste inseparable by simple mechanical removal processes and made up primarily of natural materials.
(11)
Dust, vibration, odors.
All drilling and production operations shall be conducted in such a manner as to minimize, so far as practicable, dust, vibration, or noxious odors, and shall be in accordance with the best accepted practices incident to drilling for the production of gas and other hydrocarbon substances in urban areas. All equipment used shall be so constructed and operated so that vibrations, dust, odor or other harmful or annoying substances or effect will be minimized by the operations carried on at any drilling or production 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, unsightly or unsafe. Proven technological improvements in industry standards of drilling and production in this area shall be adopted as they become available if capable of reducing factors of dust, vibration and odor.
(12)
Electric lines.
All electric lines to site development and/or drilling facilities shall be located in a manner compatible to those already installed in the surrounding area or subdivision. Production power lines shall be placed underground.
(13)
Electric motors.
Only electric prime movers or motors shall be permitted for the purpose of pumping wells. All electrical installations and equipment shall conform to the city ordinances and the appropriate national codes.
(14)
Emergency response plan.
Prior to the commencement of any gas or other hydrocarbons production activities, operator shall submit to the planning and development department, the inspection services provider(s) and fire marshal an emergency response plan establishing written procedures to minimize any hazard resulting from drilling, completion or producing of gas wells. Said plan shall use existing guidelines established by the railroad commission, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, Department of Transportation and/or the Environmental Protection Agency. The emergency response plan shall be kept current with any additions, modifications and/or amendments concerning all construction related activities, oil and/or natural gas operations and/or production. Updated plans shall be submitted to the inspection services provider(s) and the fire marshal within two business days after any additions, modifications and/or amendments to said plans. A copy of the emergency response plan shall be kept on site in a location approved by the fire marshal and readily available.
(15)
Explosives.
Under no circumstances shall explosives of any type be stored on site, transported through the site, placed on the site or used during any phase of drilling, re-drilling, deepening, re-entering, activating, converting, fracturing or completing a gas well without the prior consent of the fire marshal. A fire department permit is required prior to any explosives being brought on site. The operator shall provide written notice to the planning and development department and the inspection services provider(s) and apply for a fire department permit at least ten days prior to such activities. The notice shall identify the date that the explosive charges will be used, when they will be removed, the type and quantity of explosives to be on site, the date and means of transporting the explosive charges, and the transportation route to and from the drill and/or operation site. Explosives must be properly secured and safeguarded and may not remain on the site longer than necessary for the operation for which they are used. It is the specific intent of this chapter that long term storage of explosives, considered to be storage in excess of 30 consecutive days, is prohibited. Modifications to the explosives permit may be made by the fire marshal upon written request by the operator.
(16)
Equipment painted.
All production equipment on the site shall be painted and maintained at all times, including pumping units, storage tanks, buildings and structures. Paint colors must be approved by the city manager or their designee.
(17)
Fire prevention; sources of ignition.
Firefighting apparatus and supplies as approved by the fire marshal and required by any applicable federal, state, or local law shall be provided by the operator, at the operator’s cost, and shall be maintained on the drilling site at all times during drilling and production operations. The operator shall be responsible for the maintenance and upkeep of such equipment. Each well shall be equipped with an automated valve that closes the well in the event of an abnormal change in operating pressure. All well heads shall contain an emergency shut off valve to the well distribution line.
(18)
Fresh water wells.
It shall be unlawful to drill any well, the center of which, at the surface of the ground, is located within 200 feet of any fresh water well. The measurement shall be in a direct line from the closest well bore to the fresh water well bore.
The operator of a gas well shall provide the inspection services provider(s) with a “pre-drilling” and “post-drilling” water analysis from any fresh water well within 500 feet of the gas well.
Water samples must be collected and analyzed utilizing proper sampling and laboratory protocol from a United States Environmental Protection Agency or Texas Commission on Environmental Quality approved laboratory. Well samples shall be analyzed prior to any drilling activity and again within three months after the drilling begins. Testing must include, but are not limited to: methane, chloride, sodium, barium and strontium.
Within 180 days of its completion date, each gas well shall be equipped with a cathodic protection system to protect the production casing from external corrosion. The inspection services provider(s) may approve an alternative method of protecting the production casing from external corrosion.
(19)
Reduced emission completion.
After fracturing or re-fracturing, operators shall employ appropriate equipment and processes as soon as practicable to minimize natural gas and associated vapor releases to the environment. All salable gas shall be directed to the sales line as soon as practicable or shut in and conserved. All wells that have a sales line shall be required to employ reduced emission completion techniques and methods, but operators may request a variance from the gas inspector if they believe that reduced emission completion techniques or methods are not feasible or would endanger the safety of personnel or the public.
Reduced emission completion techniques and methods shall not be required for well(s) that do not have a sales line and:
a.
Were permitted prior to July 1, 2009; or
b.
Is the first permitted well on a pad site.
Flaring may be allowed in some instances as an alternative to venting as allowed by the gas inspector. If burning of gases by open flame is authorized by the gas inspector then such open flame shall not be located closer than 300 feet from any buildings not used in operations on the drilling site and such open flame shall be screened in such a way as to minimize detrimental effects to adjacent property owners. |
(20)
Gas processing onsite.
Except for a conventional gas separator or line heater, no refinery, processing, treating, dehydrating or absorption plant of any kind shall be constructed, established or maintained in the city.
(21)
Gas well stimulation.
All formation fracturing operations shall be conducted during daylight hours unless the operator has notified and received written authorization from the city manager or their designee and the inspection services provider(s) that fracing will occur before or after daylight hours to meet safety requirements. Air, gas, or pneumatic drilling shall not be permitted. Only light sand fracture technology or those technologies approved by the inspection services provider(s) may be used to fracture stimulate a well.
(22)
Air, gas or pneumatic drilling.
Air, gas, or pneumatic drilling shall not be permitted.
(23)
Gas monitor.
Any well site that is located within 1,000 feet of an occupied or occupiable structure shall be equipped with an approved gas monitoring or leak detection device or system. The device or system must be equipped to sound a local alarm and shall also be monitored off site continuously by a licensed and approved alarm monitoring company when required by the fire marshal. The installation must meet design criteria approved by the fire marshal.
(24)
Grass, weeds, trash.
All drill and operation pad sites shall be kept clear of grass, weeds, and combustible trash.
(25)
Hazardous materials management plan.
Hazardous materials management plan shall be on file with the fire marshal and the inspection services provider.
(26)
Lights.
No person shall permit any lights located on any drill or operation site to be directed in such a manner so that they shine directly on public roads, adjacent property or property in the general vicinity of the operation site. To the extent practicable, and taking into account safety considerations, site lighting shall be directed downward and internally so as to avoid glare on public roads and adjacent residences, commercial structures and public buildings within 1,000 feet. Other provisions not withstanding, lights shall be shielded or otherwise protected to avoid presenting a hazard to traffic on adjacent roadways.
(27)
Lubricating oil purification units.
Any and all stationary diesel power plants located on the drilling site and associated with the exploration, development, operation and production of oil, natural gas or associated minerals shall have a lube oil purification unit installed, maintained and functional at all times while the diesel plant is operating.
(28)
Muffling exhaust.
Exhaust from any internal combustion engine, stationary or mounted on wheels, used in connection with the drilling of any well or for use on any production equipment shall not be discharged into the open air unless it is equipped with an exhaust muffler, or mufflers or an exhaust muffler box constructed of noncombustible materials sufficient to suppress noise and prevent the escape of obnoxious gases, fumes or ignited carbon or soot.
(29)
Organic solvents.
Organic solvents, such as trichloroethylene and carbon tetrachloride, shall not be used for cleaning any element, structure or component of the drilling rig, platform, and/or associated equipment, tools or pipes. To the maximum extent practical, high flash point Varsol shall be used.
(30)
Pipe dope.
Lead-free pipe dope shall be substituted for API specified pipe dope.
(31)
Pits.
The use of pits is generally prohibited on site. If a specific need for a pit exists, the operator shall submit a detailed request in writing to the planning and development department and the inspection services provider(s), who will consider the request as part of the gas well permit site plan. No pit is permitted unless it is outlined in the site plan, is accompanied by a specific request as outlined herein, and is indicated on and approved as part of the gas well pad site permit and gas well operations permit.
(32)
Private roads and drill sites.
Prior to the commencement of any drilling operations, all private roads to be used for access to the drill site and the operation site itself shall be installed and shall be at least 24 feet wide, and shall have an overhead clearance of 14 feet. A standard commercial drive approach meeting the requirements of the city shall be installed at the point of contact with the city street prior to any drilling commencing and an approved concrete drive shall extend for a minimum of 75 feet onto the property from the street within 60 days after production commences. All other private roads on drill sites during the drilling and fracturing stages of a drill site shall be constructed of an approved all-weather hard surface and be maintained to prevent dust, mud and rutting. Requirements for the road surface following drilling operations may be different than those permitted during the drilling operations and may include approved concrete surfaces in certain areas as defined in the approved site plan. All concrete road surfaces specified in the site plan shall be installed within 60 days after the production stage at the site begins. In particular cases these requirements governing surfacing of private roads and the width of the roads may be waived at the discretion of the city engineer with the approval of the fire marshal.
(33)
Salt water and disposal wells.
No disposal wells shall be located within the city.
(34)
Soil sampling.
Soil sampling may be required at the discretion of the inspection services provider(s) to determine if soil contamination is present at the site. Soil contamination assessments shall be conducted at the expense of the operator and shall utilize an approved laboratory testing for any increase above the Texas-specific median background concentrations for metals or specific contaminants that might have been present on the site. A minimum of five samples shall be taken and shall include the pit or area of concern as well as the area down grade from the site.
(35)
Signs.
a.
A sign shall be immediately and prominently displayed at the gate on the fencing erected pursuant to section 40-16 of this chapter. Such sign shall be durable material, maintained in good condition, and, unless otherwise required by the railroad commission, shall have a surface area of not less than two square feet nor more than four square feet and shall be lettered with the following:
b.
Permanent weatherproof signs reading “DANGER NO SMOKING ALLOWED” shall be posted immediately upon completion of the well site fencing at the entrance of each well site and tank battery or in any other location approved or designated by the fire marshal of the city. Sign lettering shall be four inches in height and shall be red on a white background or white on a red background. Each sign shall include the emergency notification numbers of the fire department and the operator, well and lease designations required by the railroad commission.
c.
No other signs shall be permitted on the site unless specifically required for notifications or safety purposes by the city or other governmental agency or logos and similar company specific signage that is a part of equipment on a site.
(36)
Storage of equipment.
Onsite storage is prohibited on the operation site. No equipment shall be stored on the drilling or production operation site, unless it is necessary to the everyday operation of the well. Lumber, pipes, tubing and casing shall not be left on the operation site except when drilling or well servicing operations are being conducted on the site.
No vehicle or item of machinery shall be parked or stored on any street, right-of-way or in any driveway, alley or upon any operation site which constitutes a fire hazard or an obstruction to or interference with fighting or controlling fires except that equipment which is necessary for drilling or production operations on the site. The fire marshal or his designee shall be the person that determines whether equipment on the site shall constitute a fire hazard.
No refinery, processing, treating, dehydrating or absorption plant of any kind shall be constructed, established or maintained on the premises. This shall not be deemed to exclude a conventional gas separator or dehydrator.
(37)
Storage tanks.
All tanks and permanent structures shall conform to the American Petroleum Institute (A.P.I.) specifications and local codes unless the fire marshal approves other specifications. All storage tanks shall be equipped with a secondary containment system approved by the fire marshal. The secondary containment system shall be a minimum of three feet in height and sized to contain one and one-half times the contents of the largest tank and a 25-year, 24-hour rainfall (to be calculated at 12 inches) in accordance with the fire code. The secondary containment system on permanent (production) tanks must be concrete. Temporary tanks may use an earthen berm with an approved plastic, impervious lining material which must be buried at least one foot below the surface of the containment area. Provisions must be made to drain the secondary containment area of accumulations of ground water and rainfall. Secondary containment areas must be routinely drained as necessary. Drip pots shall be provided at the pump out connection to contain the liquids from the storage tank. Tanks and tank installations must also conform to the provisions of any applicable NFPA standard, the fire code in effect at the time of submittal, and site specific requirements imposed by the fire marshal.
Fuel storage tanks and installations, if required on a site, are subject to additional requirements as outlined in the current edition of the fire code as amended. The temporary use of fuel tanks on site is permitted with the approval of the fire marshal and he is authorized to modify the distances outlined in the fire code as amended for the placement of said temporary fuel tanks.
All tanks shall be set back pursuant to the standards of the railroad commission and the National Fire Protection Association, but in all cases, shall be at least 75 feet from any public right-of-way or property line. Each storage tank shall be equipped with a level control device that will automatically activate a valve to close the well in the event of excess liquid accumulation (90 percent capacity) in the tank.
No meters, storage tanks, separation facilities, or other above ground facilities, other than the well head and flow lines, shall be placed in a floodway or the 100-year floodplain.
Tanks must be at least 300 feet from any residence, commercial structure, church, public building, public park, playground or golf course, commercial structure, hospital, school, or combustible structure.
(38)
Tank battery facilities.
Tank battery facilities shall be equipped with a remote foam application piping system approved by the fire marshal and a lightning arrestor system. The foam system shall be provided with a four-inch storz fdc secured with a locking Knox cap at a location approved by the fire marshal a minimum of 200 feet from the tanks. This distance may be reduced with the approval of the fire marshal if conditions warrant. When required by the fire marshal, on site storage of foam may be required under the conditions as set forth by the fire marshal. All components shall be installed in accordance with nationally recognized standards and shall be properly maintained by the well operator. A fire hydrant may be required by the fire marshal to provide adequate fire fighting water for the tank battery facilities. Fire hydrants shall be placed as designated by the fire marshal.
(39)
Surface casing.
Surface casing shall be run and set in full compliance with the applicable rules and regulations of the railroad commission.
(40)
Valves.
Each well must have a shutoff valve to terminate the well’s production. The fire department shall have access to the well site to enable it to close the shut-off valve in an emergency. All well heads shall be equipped with an automated valve that closes the well in the event of an abnormal change in operating pressure. All well heads shall contain an appropriately labeled emergency shut off valve to the well distribution line located where it is accessible to the operator and the fire department in an emergency.
(41)
Waste disposal.
Unless otherwise directed by the railroad commission, all tanks used for storage shall conform to the following:
Operator must use portable or other approved closed steel storage tanks for storing liquid hydrocarbons. Tanks must meet the American Petroleum Institute standards, any applicable NFPA standard, the fire code in effect at the time of submittal, and site specific requirements imposed by the fire marshal.
All tanks must have a vent line, flame arrester and pressure relief valve. All tanks must be enclosed by a fence applicable to the issued permit classification. No tank battery shall be within 300 feet of any residence, church, public building, public park, playground, or golf course, hospital, commercial structure, or school or other combustible structure.
Drilling mud, cuttings, liquid hydrocarbons and all other field waste derived or resulting from or connected with the drilling, re-working or deepening of any well shall be handled in an approved manner for a closed loop system and under no circumstances shall be placed in a pit or in a disposal well in the city. All disposals must be in accordance with the rules of the railroad commission, this chapter and any other appropriate local, state or federal agency.
Unless otherwise directed by the railroad commission, waste materials shall be removed from the site and transported to an off-site disposal facility not less often than every 30 days. Water stored in on-site tanks shall be removed as necessary.
All waste shall be disposed of in such a manner as to comply with the air and water pollution control regulations of the state, this chapter and any other applicable ordinance of the city.
(42)
Watchman.
The operator must keep a watchman or security personnel on site during the drilling or re-working of a well when other workmen are not on the premises.
(43)
Items not specifically addressed.
It is the intent that reasonable safety measures be followed during all phases of the development and production processes at any site in the city. Sites and operations must comply with all federal, state or local laws, regulations and ordinances in effect at the time. Specific safety concerns that are identified during inspection processes must be resolved by the operator in a timely manner.
(b)
Well, tank batteries, well facilities, and equipment setbacks.
It shall be unlawful to drill any well, the center of which, at the surface of the ground, is located:
(1)
Within 100 feet from any outer boundary line of the well site; or
(2)
Within 100 feet from any storage tank, or source of ignition; or
(3)
Within 75 feet of any public street, road, highway or future street, or right-of-way;
(4)
Within 100 feet of a property line; or
(5)
Within a minimum of 600 feet from any residence, church, public building, hospital, commercial structure, or school without waiver and shall exceed 600 feet where conditions allow; or
(6)
Within 100 feet of any building accessory to, but not necessary to the operation of the well; or
(7)
Within 200 feet to any fresh water well. The measurement shall be in a direct line from the closest well bore to the fresh water well bore.
(8)
Within 600 feet of a public park, playground or golf course without the prior consent of the city council. this provision is not intended to prevent the drilling of wells within public parks.
The distance shall be calculated from the well bore, in a straight line, without regard to intervening structures or objects, to the closest exterior point of any object listed above with the exception of schools, to which the distance shall be calculated from the well bore, in a straight line, without regard to intervening structure or objects to the closest property line of the school site.
The distances set out in subsections (b)(1), (2), (3), (4), (5), (6), (7) or (8) may be reduced at the discretion of the city council, but never less than 200 feet from any residence, public building or commercial structure without the unanimous consent of the property owners within a 200-foot radius around said well and the affirmative vote of the members of the city council. For protection of the public health, safety and welfare, the city council may impose additional requirements for a reduction of such distance. The reduction of the distance requirement for fresh water wells is subject to the railroad commission regulations and any other state or federal requirements.
Tank batteries, well facilities and equipment shall be located at least 300 feet from any residence, church, public building, hospital, public park, playground or golf course, commercial structure, or school for which a building permit has been issued on the date the application for a drilling permit is filed. The distance shall be calculated from the closest tank batteries, well facilities and/or equipment, in a straight line, without regard to intervening structures or objects, to the building.
Notwithstanding the provisions of this section, new residences, churches, public buildings, commercial structures, hospitals or school buildings may not be built closer than 150 feet from the outside fence or boundary of an existing production gas well site, inclusive of the well, tanks and other appurtenances. Prior to the issuance of any building permit by the city for any structure located within 600 feet of a gas well site, the following notation shall be placed on the deed, plat or site plan for said lot or tract:
“This tract or lot is located less than six hundred feet (600') from an existing oil or gas well and is subject to the Codes and Ordinances of the City of Euless.”
(c)
Installation of pipelines on, under or across public property including rights-of-way, parks and similar locations. The operator shall apply to the city for a city council approved agreement to install pipeline(s) on, over, under, along or across the city streets, sidewalks, alley, rights-of-way and other city property for the purpose of constructing, laying, maintaining, operating, repairing, replacing and removing pipelines so long as production or operations may be continued under any gas well operations permit issued pursuant to this chapter. The operator shall:
Not interfere with or damage existing water, sewer or gas lines or the facilities of public utilities located on, under or across the course of such rights-of-way.
(1)
Furnish to the planning and development director a plat showing the location of such pipelines.
(2)
Construct such lines out of pipe in accordance with the city codes and regulations consistent with Barlow’s Formula for proper casing and ventilation.
(3)
Grade, level and restore such property to the same surface conditions, as nearly as practicable, as existed when operations for the placement of the pipeline were first commenced.
(4)
Comply with all city ordinances. Reference all provisions of article XI of this chapter.
(5)
Streets or alleys may not be blocked, encumbered or closed due to any operation unless prior consent is obtained by the city using the street closure process in place through the city engineer.
(Ordinance 1852, § 1, 6-23-09)