RRC - AIPG-TX

The Wise Report

The Texas Legislature is now in session and bills are being filed and worked on. New information are shown in bold. HB 632, by Darby, Relating to the establishment of an advisory committee for the TexNet seismic monitoring program. Filed 11/23/2020. For more information go to: https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=87R&Bill=HB632 HB 666, by Harris, Companion bills HB 668 (Duplicate) and SB 152 (Identical), Relating to the regulation of groundwater conservation districts. A person with groundwater ownership and rights may petition the district to adopt modify a rule. This bill lists what the petition must contain. Filed 11/30/2020. For more information go to: https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=87R&Bill=HB666 HB 668, by Harris, Companion [...]

By admin|2025-08-04T12:31:17-05:00February 12th, 2021|AIPG-TX News|

The Wise Report

The TCEQ discovered and fixed several errors found in the soil TPH calculator (columns E and I of the excel sheets) for the >C12-C16 Aliphatic, >C16 – C21 Aliphatic, and the >C21-C35 Aliphatic carbon ranges. The errors were caused by the incorrect referencing of cells within the PCL calculation equation for the listed aliphatic carbon ranges. Instances of the errors occurred in the TotSoilComb, GWSoilIng, GWSoilClass3, and AirSoilInh-V TPH excel sheets. The soil TPH calculator has been updated and posted on the TCEQ external webpage: https://www.tceq.texas.gov/remediation/trrp/trrppcls.html. The revised version (V 3.0 - 02/2020) should be used moving forward. The Railroad Commission of Texas proposes amendments to §3.30, relating to [...]

By admin|2025-08-04T13:57:40-05:00March 8th, 2020|AIPG-TX News|

The Wise Report

The Railroad Commission of Texas (Commission) proposes amendments to §3.53, relating to Annual Well Tests and Well Status Reports Required. The amendments would adjust the testing requirements for oil wells to minimize the frequency of such tests, thereby reducing the administrative burden for those wells and associated costs to industry. The Commission also proposes amendments to §3.52, relating to Oil Well Allowable Production, to reflect the changes in §3.53. Requirements for oil well production capability testing are found in both §3.52 and §3.53, as well as §3.51, relating to Oil Potential Well Test Forms Required. The current version of [...]

By Editor|2025-08-04T18:24:38-05:00May 13th, 2018|AIPG-TX News|

The Wise Report

At its open meeting on April 24, 2018, the Railroad Commission (RRC) proposed amendments to §§3.52 and 3.53 regarding testing requirements for oil wells. The amendments to §3.53 would allow operators to elect not to perform or file a production capability test for a well after the initial test has been filed except in certain circumstances. If the operator elects not to perform such a test, then the RRC would use the results of the most recent test or optional allocation on file with the RRC. Under the proposed amendments, operators would still be required to file the Form [...]

By Editor|2025-08-04T18:25:08-05:00April 29th, 2018|AIPG-TX News|

The Wise Report

The Railroad Commission is seeking stakeholder input on our first-ever oil and gas monitoring and enforcement strategic plan. This plan assesses the most effective use of the agency's resources to ensure public safety and environmental protection. The draft was developed by an RRC multi-disciplinary team and can be found at: http://www.rrc.texas.gov/media/44365/draft-og-strategic-plan-fy2019_final-draft.pdf Using a web-based survey tool, the Commission is accepting public comments on the first draft plan until 5 p.m. Friday, April 20, 2018. To submit comments online, complete the survey at: https://www.surveygizmo.com/s3/4227181/Oil-and-Gas-Division-Monitoring-and-Enforcement-Plan-Comments Written comments also will be accepted and may be sent to: Oil and Gas Strategic Plan Comments/Oil and [...]

By Editor|2025-08-04T18:26:18-05:00March 31st, 2018|AIPG-TX News|

Environmental Issues & the Railroad Commission of Texas

The stewardship of natural resources and the environment is an important part of the Railroad Commission of Texas’ (RRC) mission. On the evening of November 8, 2017, Mr. Peter Fisher and Mr. Peter Pope discussed the environmental issues and regulations related to activities under the jurisdiction of the RRC, with a focus on regulation of oil and gas exploration and production activities, as well as such related topics as reclamation, remediation, the EPA hydraulic fracturing study, and seismicity, among other topics during their presentation during the Houston Geological Society Environmental & Engineering Dinner Meeting & Seminar. The HGS announcement (here). [...]

By Editor|2025-08-04T18:50:06-05:00November 12th, 2017|AIPG-TX News|

The Wise Report

Gov. Greg Abbott signed the Railroad Commission's Sunset Bill, House Bill 1818 (HB 1818) into law May 22, 2017 reauthorizing the RRC for 12 more years until Sept. 1, 2029. The bill also provides the agency with the authority to assess pipeline safety fees to support its pipeline safety regulatory program; jurisdiction over preventing interstate pipeline damage and a mandate to publish an annual oil and gas monitoring report. Under this legislation, the RRC's Oil & Gas Division is directed to develop and publish an oil and gas monitoring strategic annual plan each fiscal year to ensure the agency's [...]

By Editor|2025-08-04T19:06:32-05:00June 6th, 2017|AIPG-TX News|

The Wise Report

The Texas Railroad Commission (RRC) adopts amendments to §3.15, relating to Surface Equipment Removal Requirements and Inactive Wells, with one change to the proposed text as published in the August 26, 2016, issue of the Texas Register (41 TexReg 6311). The RRC adopts the amendments to more accurately track when inactive wells have been returned to production, thereby reducing the administrative burden for the operators of those wells and associated costs to industry. The RRC adopts the amendments with an effective date of January 1, 2017. For more information go to: http://www.sos.state.tx.us/texreg/archive/December22016/ While the State Legislature meets in January, [...]

By Editor|2025-08-04T19:33:29-05:00December 2nd, 2016|AIPG-TX News|

The Wise Report

The Railroad Commission of Texas (RRC) adopts amendments to §§3.5, 3.31, 3.38, 3.40, 3.45, 3.51, 3.52 and 3.86, relating to Application To Drill, Deepen, Reenter, or Plug Back; Gas Reservoirs and Gas Well Allowable; Well Densities; Assignment of Acreage to Pooled Development and Proration Units; Oil Allowables; Oil Potential Test Forms Required; Oil Well Allowable Production; and Horizontal Drainhole Wells, respectively. Sections 3.5, 3.31, 3.38, 3.40, 3.45, 3.51 and 3.52 are adopted without changes, and §3.86 is adopted with changes from the proposed text as published in the November 6, 2015, issue of the Texas Register (40 TexReg 7766). [...]

By admin|2025-08-04T19:57:53-05:00February 6th, 2016|AIPG-TX News|

The Wise Report

The Texas Board of Professional Geoscientists (TBPG) is proposing rule amendments to Chapters 850 and 851 concerning the licensure and regulation of Professional Geoscientists. Many of the changes are for consistency and clarity. Comments on the proposed amendment may be submitted in writing to Charles Horton, Executive Director, Texas Board of Professional Geoscientists, 333 Guadalupe Street, Tower I-530, Austin, Texas 78701 or by mail to P.O. Box 13225, Austin, Texas 78711 or by e-mail to chorton@tbpg.state.tx.us. Be sure to state which sections you're commenting on in the subject line. The TBPG has approved Draft Advisory Opinion #13 regarding: Is Texas [...]

By admin|2025-08-04T20:03:48-05:00November 21st, 2015|AIPG-TX News|