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Introduced Version House Bill 3028 History

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Key: Green = existing Code. Red = new code to be enacted
H. B. 3028


(By Delegates Kominar and Varner)
[Introduced March 10, 2009; referred to the
Committee on Government Organization then the Judiciary.]




A BILL to amend and reenact §22-6-22 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating to the reporting of certain geologic information obtained incidental to oil and gas drilling; requiring the filing of reports with the Department of Environmental Protection and the State Geological and Economic Survey; providing for the delivery of core samples and well cuttings to the State Geological and Economic Survey; and assuring the confidentiality of reports and other information provided.

Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That §22-6-22 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, be amended and reenacted to read as follows:
ARTICLE 6. OFFICE OF OIL AND GAS; OIL AND GAS WELLS; ADMINISTRATION; ENFORCEMENT.

§22-6-22. Well log to be filed; contents; authority to promulgate rules.

(a) Within a reasonable time after the completion of the drilling of a shallow or deep well, the well operator shall file with the director an accurate log. Such log shall contain secretary and with the State Geological and Economic Survey a report containing the following:
(1)
the The character, depth and thickness of geological formations encountered, including fresh water, coal seams, mineral beds, brine and oil and gas bearing formations; and
(2) such Such other information as the director secretary may require to effectuate the purposes of this chapter.
The director secretary may promulgate such reasonable rules in accordance with article three, chapter twenty-nine-a of this code, as he may deem may be considered necessary to ensure that the character, depth and thickness of geological formations encountered are accurately logged: Provided, That the director shall not require logging by the use of an electrical logging device: Provided, however, That if electrical or mechanical or geophysical logs are recorded in the well, they shall accompany the report: Provided further, That mechanical or geophysical logs shall not include vertical seismic profiles or two-dimensional or three-dimensional seismic information.
(b) If a well operator takes core samples, that activity shall be noted within the report, and upon written request, the operator shall provide the State Geological and Economic Survey with a complete set of cores, consisting of at least quarter slabs, correctly labeled and identified as to depth.
(c) Upon timely written request prior to constructing any well, a well operator shall provide the State Geological and Economic Survey with a complete set of washed drill cuttings, if available, correctly labeled and identified as to depth.
(d) Reports and other information or materials that reveal trade secrets or other confidential business information relating to the competitive interests of the operator or the operator's privy may not be disclosed to the public for one (1) year following delivery, unless the operator consents in writing. For good cause shown, the period of nondisclosure may be extended in annual increments: Provided, That the total period of nondisclosure shall not exceed three (3) years.
(e) Notwithstanding subsection (d) of this section, the State Geological and Economic Survey may store and process confidential information within its minerals mapping or geographic information systems. Statistics or other information generated as the result of storage and processing may be disclosed in the aggregate through articles, reports, maps, or lectures presented in accordance with generally accepted academic or scientific practices and in a manner to preclude the identification of a particular well or operator.


NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to authorize the preparation and submission of geological reports incidental to oil and gas drilling and to require that logs and other valuable geological information obtained by operators in the normal course of business be delivered to the State Geological and Economic Survey.

Strike-throughs indicate language that would be stricken from the present law, and underscoring indicates new language that would be added.
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