On December 11, 2012, the Railroad Commission of Texas (RRC) released for informal public comment a revised version of its proposed amendments (the Revised Amendments) to 16 TAC § 3.13, also known as Rule 13, which governs casing, cementing, drilling, well control, and completion of oil and natural gas wells. A copy of the Revised Amendments is available for download from the RRC's website here.

The RRC will accept informal written comments on the Revised Amendments to Rule 13 until noon on Wednesday, January 2, 2013. The RRC's website directs anyone who would like to submit informal written comments to contact Veronica Larson by e-mail at mailto:Veronica.Larson@rrc.state.tx.us or by telephone at 512.463.6810.

If adopted, the Revised Amendments would, among other things:

  • Impose detailed new standards and practices for casing and cementing of all wells, including specific provisions designed to isolate wells from productive zones, potential flow zones, and zones where corrosive formation fluids are present;
  • Require certain well control practices and equipment — including blowout prevention systems — for all wells;
  • Promulgate more stringent casing standards and annulus pressure monitoring practices for all wells that are hydraulically fractured;
  • Impose additional cementing and pressure testing requirements for hydraulically fractured "minimum separation wells," i.e., wells for which the distance between the target formation and usable groundwater is less than 1,000 vertical feet or otherwise "inadequate," or wells that are located in a complex geologic setting; and
  • Require approval from the RRC before setting surface casing to a depth of 3,500 feet or greater for land and bay wells.

The RRC published the original proposed amendments to Rule 13, which can be downloaded here, in the September 7, 2012 edition of the Texas Register. The RRC revised the proposed amendments in response to comments it received, and is making the Revised Amendments available for additional public comment.

The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.