For purposes of this chapter, the following words and phrases shall have the meanings respectively ascribed to them by this section.
APPLICANT. The applicant for the conditional use permit. An APPLICANT shall not be interpreted to include the surface owner, unless the surface owner is the applicant for the conditional use permit.
THE COUNTY. The County of San Benito.
DRILLING. Any boring into the earth for petroleum operations; but excluding any well drilled solely for the production of fresh water.
ENHANCED RECOVERY WELLS (also known as SECONDARY OR TERTIARY RECOVERY). Inject brine, water, steam, polymers, carbon dioxide, or other gasses into oil-bearing formations to recover residual oil and in some limited applications natural gas. The injected fluid thins (decreases the viscosity) or displaces small amounts of extractable oil and gas, which is then available for recovery.
FACILITIES. Include tanks, compressors, pumps, vessels, and other large equipment or structures pertinent to oil field operations sited at a single location which are related to up to six wells.
HAZARDOUS MATERIALS. Materials that, because of its quantity, concentration, or physical or chemical characteristics, pose a significant present or potential hazard to human health and safety or to the environment if released into the workplace or the environment, or as otherwise defined by the California Health and Safety Code.
HYDRAULIC FRACTURE or HYDRAULIC FRACTURING. A technique used in stimulating a formation or zone that involves the pressurized injection of hydraulic fracturing fluid and proppant into an underground geologic formation in order to fracture the formation, thereby causing or enhancing the production of oil or gas from a well.
IDLE WELL and LONG TERM IDLE WELL. Shall be defined as set forth in Cal. Public Resources Code § 3008(d) and (e).
INCIDENTAL EQUIPMENT AND APPURTENANCES. Facilities for the collection and/or separation of petroleum from water or other materials; for storage of water, petroleum or unrefined petroleum byproducts for recycling, re-pressuring or injecting such material for underground disposal, use or storage; and for preparation of such products for shipping and storage. It shall include lease facilities, processing plants, lease tanks, pipelines, test equipment, and the like.
INJECTION WELL. A well used for the purpose of injecting fluids or gas into the ground.
OPERATOR. Shall be defined as set forth in Cal. Public Resources Code § 3009.
PERSON. Shall be defined as set forth in Cal. Public Resources Code § 3005.
PETROLEUM. Includes crude oil, natural gas and petroleum derivatives.
PETROLEUM OPERATIONS. All activities in connection with the exploration, drilling for and the production of petroleum, gas and other hydrocarbons, together with all incidental equipment and appurtenances thereto until the abandonment of all wells in accordance with applicable law.
PIPELINES. For the purposes of this chapter, shall mean all flow lines or tubes for the transportation of hydrocarbons or their by-products or of materials used in the production of unrefined hydrocarbons.
PLUGGED AND ABANDONED WELL. A well that is considered “plugged and abandoned” by the DOGGR as evidenced by the issuance of a report of well abandonment and which has complied with all provisions of this chapter.
POLLUTION. Such contamination, or other alteration of the physical, chemical, or biological properties of any surface or groundwater within the county, or such discharge of any liquid or gaseous or solid substance into any waters within the county as will create a nuisance or render such waters harmful or detrimental or injurious to public health, safety or welfare, or to domestic, commercial, industrial, agricultural, recreational, or other legitimate beneficial uses, or to livestock, wild animals, birds, fish or other aquatic life.
PPM. Parts per million.
PRIMARY RECOVERY PROJECTS. Include any such operation where naturally occurring hydrocarbons are produced by natural flow, except a project utilizing a pumping unit or submersible pump which provides “artificial lift” shall also be considered a PRIMARY RECOVERY PROJECT.
PRODUCED WATER. Water produced with oil and gas.
RE-DRILLING. The deepening of an existing well or the creation of a partial new well bore some distance below the surface of the earth. Typically that portion of the well bore below the kickoff point for the re-drill has been plugged and abandoned to DOGGR standards.
SECONDARY CONTAINMENT. Shall be defined as set forth in Cal. Code of Regulations Title 14, § 1760.
TANK SETTING. The area on a lease where tanks are located for collecting, testing, treating and/or shipping crude oil or other fluids incidental to petroleum operations.
WELL. A hole, including a core hole, drilled or being drilled into the earth for the purpose of obtaining and removing or reintroducing into the ground, any substance for petroleum operations or which is to be used as an accessory to the production of petroleum, including the production, injection or disposal of USEPA designated Class II materials; but excluding any well drilled solely for the production of fresh water.
WELL SITE. The premises used during the maintaining, operating and producing of a well or wells located thereon.
(Ord. 918, § 1(part), 2013)