(A) An IDLE WELL is one that is not being used for production of oil, gas, or waste water or for injection or disposal. An owner or operator shall be allowed to maintain one idle well for each two active wells owned or operated by the operator within a given lease provided that:
(1) The well is listed on the Department of Conservation, Division of Oil, Gas and Geothermal Resources' (DOGGR) most recent annual list of idle wells; and
(2) The required annual permit fee has been paid and permit issued by the city.
(3) No well drilled or redrilled after January 1, 1987 shall be eligible for inclusion in the count of active wells used to determine the number of idle wells an owner or operator is allowed to have.
(B) A well that remains idle for three years commencing July 1, 1988 shall be subject to a review by the city and DOGGR based on a report submitted by the operator to determine whether it has a legitimate future use or should be abandoned as a public nuisance. If the well is not abandoned, the operator of the well shall submit a report on the status and mechanical condition of the well every third year thereafter to the City's Department of Fire-Rescue (Fire Department) and Director of Planning and Development (Director) or on demand by the Fire Department or Director for a new determination of status.
(C) The Fire Department may require that the well be inspected and tested under the direction of a registered petroleum engineer or other qualified persons if there are grounds to believe that the certification is faulty or inaccurate.
('64 Code, § 16-62) (Ord. 512, passed 1-13-77; Am. Ord. 726, passed 12-22-87; Am. Ord. 1075, passed 8-25-16; Am. Ord. 1076, passed 9-8-16; Am. Ord. 1104, passed 8-8-19) Penalty, see § 10.97
Cross-reference:
Misdemeanor offenses, see § 117.004