SB 4 Interim Well Stimulation Treatment Regulations

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SB 4 INTERIM WELL STIMULATION TREATMENT REGULATIONS

TEXT OF PROPOSED REGULATIONS 

Added text is shown in underline. 

CHAPTER 4. DEVELOPMENT, REGULATION, AND CONSERVATION 

OF OIL AND GAS RESOURCES 

Subchapter 2. Environmental Protection 

Article 2. Definitions 

1761. Well Stimulation and Underground Injection Projects.

 (a) The following definitions are applicable to this subchapter: 

 (1) “Well stimulation treatment” means a treatment of a well designed to enhance oil 

and gas production or recovery by increasing the permeability of the formation. Well 

stimulation is a short term and non-continual process for the purposes of opening and 

stimulating channels for the flow of hydrocarbons. Examples of well stimulation 

treatments include hydraulic fracturing, acid fracturing, and acid matrix stimulation. Well 

stimulation treatment does not include routine well cleanout work; routine well 

maintenance; routine treatment for the purpose of removal of formation damage due to 

drilling; bottom hole pressure surveys; routine activities that do not affect the integrity of 

the well or the formation; the removal of scale or precipitate from the perforations, 

casing, or tubing; or a treatment that does not penetrate into the formation more than 36 

inches from the wellbore.

 (2) “Underground injection project” or “subsurface injection or disposal project” means 

sustained or continual injection into one or more wells over an extended period in order 

to add fluid to a zone for the purpose of enhanced oil recovery, disposal, or storage. 

Examples of underground injection projects include waterflood injection, steamflood 

injection, cyclic steam injection, injection disposal, and gas storage projects.

 (b) Well stimulation treatments and underground injection projects are two distinct 

kinds of oil and gas production processes. Unless a regulation expressly addresses 

both well stimulation and underground injection projects,

 (1) Regulations regarding well stimulation treatments do not apply to underground 

injection projects; and

 (2) Regulations regarding underground injection projects do not apply to well 

stimulation.

 (c) Well stimulation treatment on a well that is part of an underground injection project 

is subject to the regulations regarding well stimulation treatment. 
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NOTE: Authority cited: Section 3013, 3160, and 3161, Public Resources Code. 

Reference: Section 3106, 3160, and 3161, Public Resources Code.

Article 4. Well Stimulation Treatments

1780. Purpose, Scope, and Applicability.

 (a) The purpose of this article is to set forth regulations governing well stimulation 

treatments, as defined in Section 1761, subdivision (a)(1), except that the requirements 

of this article do not apply to acid matrix stimulation treatments that use an acid 

concentration of 7% or less. Nor is an operator required to obtain a permit under Public 

Resources Code section 3160, subdivision (d), prior to performing an acid matrix 

stimulation treatment that uses an acid concentration of 7% or less.

 (b) Well stimulation treatments are not subsurface injection or disposal projects and 

are not subject to Sections 1724.6 through 1724.10. This article does not apply to 

underground injection projects.

 (c) For purposes of this article, a well stimulation treatment commences when well 

stimulation fluid is pumped into the well, and ends when the well stimulation treatment 

equipment is disconnected from the well.

NOTE: Authority cited: Section 3013, 3160, and 3161, Public Resources Code. 

Reference: Section 3106, 3160, and 3161, Public Resources Code.

1781. Definitions.

 The following definition shall govern this article:

 (a) “Acid matrix stimulation treatment” means an acid treatment conducted at 

pressures lower than the applied pressure necessary to fracture the underground 

geologic formation.

 (b) “Acid well stimulation treatment” means a well stimulation treatment that uses, in 

whole or in part, the application of one or more acids to the well or underground 

geologic formation. The acid well stimulation treatment may be at any applied pressure 

and may be used in combination with hydraulic fracturing treatments or other well 

stimulation treatments. Acid well stimulation treatments include acid matrix stimulation 

treatments and acid fracturing treatments.

 (c) “Acid stimulation treatment fluid” means one or more base fluids mixed with 

physical and chemical additives for the purpose of performing an acid well stimulation 

treatment.

 (d) “Additive” means a substance or combination of substances added to a base fluid 

for purposes of preparing well stimulation treatment fluid, including, but not limited to, 

acid stimulation treatment fluid and hydraulic fracturing fluid. An additive may serve 

additional purposes beyond the transmission of hydraulic pressure to the geologic 

formation. An additive may be of any phase and may include proppants.

 (e) “Base fluid” means the continuous phase fluid used in the makeup of a well 

stimulation treatment fluid. The continuous phase fluid may include, but is not limited to, 
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water, and may be a liquid or a hydrocarbon or nonhydrocarbon gas. A well stimulation 

treatment may use more than one base fluid.

 (f) "Chemical Disclosure Registry" means the chemical registry Internet Web site 

known as fracfocus.org developed by the Ground Water Protection Council and the 

Interstate Oil and Gas Compact Commission.

 (g) “Flowback fluid” means the fluid recovered from the treated well before the 

commencement of oil and gas production from that well following a well stimulation 

treatment. The flowback fluid may include materials of any phase. 

 (h) “Hydraulic fracturing” means a well stimulation treatment that, in whole or in 

part, includes the pressurized injection of hydraulic fracturing fluid or fluids into an 

underground geologic formation in order to fracture or with intent to fracture the 

formation, thereby causing or enhancing, for the purposes of this article, the production 

of oil or gas from a well. 

 (i) “Hydraulic fracturing fluid” means one or more base fluids mixed with physical 

and chemical additives for the purpose of hydraulic fracturing. 

 (j) “Proppants” means materials inserted or injected into the underground geologic 

formation that are intended to prevent fractures from closing.

 (k) “Protected water” means water outside of a hydrocarbon zone that contains no 

more than 10,000 mg/l total dissolved solids unless the water has been determined to 

be an exempt aquifer pursuant to the Code of Federal Regulations, title 40, part 146.4.

 (l) “Regional Water Board” means the Regional Water Quality Control Board with 

jurisdiction over the location of a well subject to well stimulation treatment.

 (m) “Surface property owner” means the owner of real property as shown on the 

latest equalized assessment roll or, if more recent information than the information 

contained on the assessment roll is available, the owner of record according to the 

county assessor or tax collector.

 (n) “Well stimulation treatment fluid” means a base fluid mixed with physical and 

chemical additives, which may include acid, for the purpose of a well stimulation 

treatment. A well stimulation treatment may include more than one well stimulation 

treatment fluid. Well stimulation treatment fluids include, but are not limited to, hydraulic 

fracturing fluids and acid stimulation treatment fluids.

NOTE: Authority cited: Sections 3013, 3160, and 3161, Public Resources Code. 

Reference: Sections 3106, 3150, 3151, 3152, 3153, 3154, 3156, 3158, 3159, 3160, and 

3161, Public Resources Code.

1782. General Well Stimulation Treatment Requirements.

 (a) When a well stimulation treatment is performed, the operator shall adhere to all of 

the following requirements:

 (1) Casing shall be sufficiently cemented or otherwise anchored in the hole in order to 

effectively control the well at all times during well stimulation treatment. 

 (2) All potentially productive zones, zones capable of over-pressurizing the surface 

casing annulus, or corrosive zones shall be isolated and sealed off to the extent that 

such isolation is necessary to prevent vertical migration of fluids or gases behind the 

casing.
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 (3) The wellbore’s mechanical integrity shall be tested and maintained and all 

cemented casing strings and all tubing strings utilized in the well stimulation treatment 

operations shall be pressure tested prior to well stimulation treatment. No casing or 

tubing shall be used unless it has been successfully tested. 

 (4) All surface equipment to be utilized for well stimulation treatment shall be rigged 

up as designed. The pump, and all equipment downstream from the pump, shall be 

pressure tested prior to well stimulation treatment.

 (5) The well stimulation treatment fluid shall not be of a concentration level that will 

damage the well casing, tubing, cement, or other well equipment, or would otherwise 

cause degradation of the well’s mechanical integrity during the treatment process.

 (6) The operator’s Spill Contingency Plan shall address handling of well stimulation 

fluid and additives.

NOTE: Authority cited: Section 3013, 3160, and 3161, Public Resources Code. 

Reference: Section 3106, 3160, and 3161, Public Resources Code.

1783. Written Notice of Well Stimulation Treatment. 

 (a) At least 10 days in advance of commencing a well stimulation treatment, the 

operator shall submit written notification to the Division that includes all of the 

information and certifications listed in Section 1783.1. The written notification shall be 

submitted on the Interim Well Stimulation Treatment Notice form (1/14 version), hereby 

incorporated by reference, and signed by an authorized representative of the operator 

with basis of knowledge of all of the information and certifications provided. The Interim 

Well Stimulation Treatment Notice form shall be submitted to the Division in an 

electronic format, directed to the email address “NoticeWST@conservation.ca.gov”.

 (b) Well stimulation treatment shall not commence unless the Division has reviewed 

the Interim Well Stimulation Treatment Notice form and approved the form as complete.

As directed in Public Resources Code section 3161, the Division must allow, and will 

allow, well stimulation to proceed if the operator has provided all of the required 

information and certifications.

 (c) The operator shall notify the Division at least 72 hours prior to commencing well 

stimulation so that Division staff may witness. Three hours prior to commencing, the 

operator shall confirm with the Division that the well stimulation treatment is proceeding.

 

NOTE: Authority cited: Section 3013, 3160, and 3161, Public Resources Code. 

Reference: Section 3106, 3160, and 3161, Public Resources Code.

1783.1. Contents of Interim Well Stimulation Treatment Notice.

 (a) Written notification of a well stimulation treatment shall include the following

information:

 (1) Operator’s name;

 (2) Name and telephone number of person filing the form; 

 (3) Lease name and number of the well;

 (4) Location of the well, submitted as a non-projected, Latitude Longitude, in 

the General Coordinate System (GCS) NAD83.
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 (5) API number assigned to the well by the Division;

 (6) Name of the oil field;

 (7) County in which the well is located;

 (8) The time period during which the well stimulation treatment is planned to occur.

 (9) For directionally drilled wells, the proposed coordinates (from surface location), 

the true vertical depth at total depth, and the wellbore path; and

 (10) The planned location of the well stimulation treatment on the well bore, the 

estimated length, height, and direction of the induced fractures or other planned 

modification, if any.

 (11) Whether the Division has made a determination that the well subject to well 

stimulation treatment is a confidential well under Public Resources Code section 3234.

 (b) Written notification of a well stimulation treatment shall include certification of all of 

the following:

 (1) Attached to the notice is a complete list of the names, Chemical Abstract Service 

(CAS) numbers, and estimated concentrations, in percent by mass, of each and every 

chemical constituent of the well stimulation fluids anticipated to be used in the 

treatment, as required by Public Resources Code section 3160, subdivision (d)(1)(D). If 

a CAS number does not exist for a chemical constituent, another unique identifier has 

been provided, if available.

 (2) Attached to the notice is a Water Management Plan that includes all of the 

information required by Public Resources Code section 3160, subdivision (d)(1)(C).

 (3) Attached to the notice is a list of locations of existing wells, including plugged and 

abandoned wells, that may be impacted by the fractures or modifications, as required by 

Public Resources Code section 3160, subdivision (d)(1)(E).

 (4) Attached to the notice is a Groundwater Monitoring Plan that meets the 

requirements of Section 1783.4.

 (5) The operator has contracted with an independent entity to provide neighboring 

property owners and tenants with a copy of this notice and the attachments thereto, and 

with information about the availability of water well testing, as required by Public 

Resources Code section 3160, subdivision (d)(6). The well stimulation will not 

commence until 30 days after the required notice has been provided. If a notified 

property owner makes a timely, written request for water well sampling and testing, then 

the operator will pay for testing and sampling by one or more qualified independent 

third-party contractors designated by the State Water Resources Control Board, 

provided that the sampling and testing is consistent with the standards and protocols 

specified by the State Water Resources Control Board pursuant to Public Resources 

Code section 3160(d)(7)(B) and is conducted in accordance with Public Resources 

Code section 3160, subdivision (d)(7)(A). If a notified property owner makes a timely, 

written request for water well sampling and testing, then the well stimulation will not 

commence until requested baseline water well sampling and testing is complete. 

 (6) Within 60 days after the cessation of the well stimulation treatment, the abovenamed operator will make all public disclosures required by Public Resources Code 

section 3160, subdivisions (b) and (g), and pursuant to Section 1788.

 (c) A claim of trade secret protection for the information required under this section 

shall be handled in the manner specified under Public Resources Code section 3160, 
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subdivision (j). Notwithstanding any claim of trade secret protection, the Division shall 

not approve as complete an Interim Well Stimulation Treatment Notice unless all of the 

information specified in Public Resources Code section 3160, subdivision (d)(1)(D), has 

been provided to the Division.

 

NOTE: Authority cited: Section 3013, 3160, and 3161, Public Resources Code. 

Reference: Section 3106, 3160, and 3161, Public Resources Code.

1783.2. Copy of Interim Well Stimulation Treatment Notice; Notice of Availability 

for Water Testing, Sampling; Request for Water Testing.

 (a) At least 30 days in advance of commencing well stimulation treatment, the operator

of the well subject to well stimulation treatment is required to provide to surface property 

owners and tenants of legally recognized parcels of land situated within a 1500-foot 

radius of the wellhead of any such well, or within 500 feet of the horizontal projection of 

the subsurface parts of any such well, the following:

 (1) A copy of the Interim Well Stimulation Treatment Notice, approved as complete by 

the Division;

 (2) Notice of the availability of water sampling and testing of any water well located 

on the parcel that is suitable for drinking or irrigation purposes; 

 (3) Notice of the availability of water sampling and testing of any surface water 

located on the parcel that is suitable for drinking or irrigation purposes; and

 (4) Information about how to request water sampling and testing, and notice that a 

request for water sampling and testing must be made within 20 days of receipt of the 

notification.

 (b) A property owner notified pursuant to this section may request water quality 

sampling and testing on any water well located on the parcel that is suitable for drinking 

or irrigation purposes and on any surface water located on the parcel that is suitable for 

drinking or irrigation purposes, provided that the request is made in writing within 20 

days of receipt of the notification. Upon receipt of a timely, written request for water 

quality sampling and testing, the operator shall pay for testing and sampling by one or 

more qualified independent third-party contractors designated by the State Water 

Resources Control Board, provided that the sampling and testing is consistent with the 

standards and protocols specified by the State Water Resources Control Board 

pursuant to Public Resources Code section 3160(d)(7)(B) and is conducted in 

accordance with Public Resources Code section 3160, subdivision (d)(7)(A).

 (c) For the purposes of this section, “tenant” means a person or entity possessing the 

right to occupy a legally recognized parcel, or portion thereof.

 (d) For the purposes of this section, “horizontal projection” means the surface 

representation of the horizontal path of the wellbore.

NOTE: Authority cited: Section 3013, 3160, and 3161, Public Resources Code. 

Reference: Section 3106, 3160, and 3161, Public Resources Code.

1783.3. Duty to Hire Independent Third Party to Provide Copy of Permit, Notice of 

Water Testing, Sampling.
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 (a) It is the operator’s responsibility to identify the surface property owners and tenants 

to whom a copy of the completed Interim Well Stimulation Treatment Notice must be 

provided and notification is required under Section 1783.2. To fulfill this responsibility, 

the operator or owner must hire an independent person or entity to provide a copy of the 

Interim Well Stimulation Treatment Notice and the notification required. 

 (b) Any person or entity hired by the owner of a well to provide a copy of the Interim 

Well Stimulation Treatment Notice and notice in accordance with this regulation shall, 

after providing such notice, deliver to the Division, in writing, the following:

 (1) The names of the property owners or tenants identified; 

 (2) The method by which the copy of the completed Interim Well Stimulation 

Treatment Notice was provided, and the date on which the copy of the completed 

Interim Well Stimulation Treatment Notice was provided; and

 (3) The method by which the notice of the availability of water sampling and testing 

was provided, and the date on which the notice was provided.

 (c) Information about the availability of water quality testing may be included in the 

notification or the notification may reference a website with further information about 

testing options.

NOTE: Authority cited: Section 3013, 3160, and 3161, Public Resources Code. 

Reference: Section 3106, 3160, and 3161, Public Resources Code.

1783.4. Groundwater Sampling, Testing, and Monitoring.

 (a) The purpose of this section is to provide interim model groundwater monitoring 

criteria for groundwater sampling, testing, and monitoring related to well stimulation that 

is conducted prior to the finalization of model groundwater monitoring criteria by the 

State Water Resources Control Board. These interim criteria do not apply to regional 

groundwater monitoring programs developed by the State Water Resources Control 

Board or the Regional Water Board.

 (b) A well-specific (also referred to as “well-by-well”) or area-specific (also referred to 

as “oil or gas field-specific”) groundwater monitoring plan shall include all of the 

following: 

 (1) A map and cross section of the well borehole(s) to undergo well stimulation 

treatment, showing the well name(s), extent and orientation of the planned fracture 

network, the stratigraphic depths of protected waters, and the stratigraphic depths of 

low-permeability zones that will function to slow the migration of fluids towards protected 

waters or the surface.

 (2) Complete well construction details for the well borehole(s) to undergo well 

stimulation treatment and all new and existing groundwater wells that will be used for 

monitoring.

 (3) To the extent that information is publicly available, a map showing the location of 

all existing groundwater supply wells (public, private domestic, irrigation, and industrial) 

and groundwater monitoring wells within a 1500-foot radius of the well(s) to undergo 

well stimulation treatment, or within 500 feet of the surface representation of the 

horizontal path of the wellbore of any such well. 
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 (4) A map showing location of any abandoned or inactive wells within a 1500-foot 

radius of the well(s) to undergo well stimulation treatment, or within 500 feet of the 

surface representation of the horizontal path of the wellbore of any such well. 

 (5) A map showing location of groundwater wells (new and existing monitoring wells 

and supply wells) to be sampled in the groundwater monitoring plan.

 (6) A contingency plan for reporting information in the event of a well failure, or any 

other unintended event that has the potential to affect groundwater quality, such as the 

detection of a fracture beyond the intended zone or into protected waters. A “well 

failure” means instances where the well casing has been compromised producing a 

subsurface leak into water bearing zones and is a potential threat to groundwater

quality. The contingency plan shall, at a minimum, require the well operator to submit 

the following information to the Division, the State Water Resources Control Board, and 

the appropriate Regional Water Board within 48 hours of discovery of a well failure or 

other unintended event that has the potential to affect groundwater quality:

 (A) A description of the activities leading up to the well failure or unintended event;

 (B) Depth interval(s) of the well failure or unintended event;

 (C) Chemical composition of the well stimulation treatment fluid and of the fluid in 

the well at the time of the well failure, or unintended event; and

 (D) An estimate of the volume of fluid lost during well failure, or unintended event.

 (c) Well-specific and area-specific groundwater monitoring should be designed to 

assess whether protected waters have been impacted by well stimulation treatment. 

Groundwater wells to be used for groundwater monitoring should be located within 

reasonable proximity of the oil or gas well(s) undergoing stimulation treatment. 

Groundwater wells to be used for groundwater monitoring should be screened at depths 

in the aquifer where existing groundwater supply wells are screened. Additional 

groundwater wells to be used for groundwater monitoring should be screened near the 

base of protected waters. The number of new and existing groundwater wells to be 

used for groundwater monitoring, their locations, depths, screened intervals, and 

justification for their use shall be included in the groundwater monitoring plan. If any 

groundwater wells identified in accordance with subsection (b)(3) are not to be used for 

groundwater monitoring, a justification for their exclusion shall be included in the 

groundwater monitoring plan.  The Division shall not approve as complete an Interim

Well Stimulation Treatment Notice submitted on or after January 1, 2014 that asserts

the absence of protected water as the basis for not conducting groundwater monitoring 

unless the submittal includes written concurrence by the Water Boards with the 

operator’s determination of the absence of protected water.

 (d) If new groundwater wells are used for well-specific or area-specific groundwater 

monitoring, they shall be constructed in accordance with any applicable local well 

ordinances. If there are no applicable local well ordinances, they shall be constructed in 

accordance with the California Well Standards contained in Department of Water 

Resources Bulletin 74-81 (publicly available at 

http://www.water.ca.gov//pubs/groundwater/water_well_standards__bulletin_74-

81_/ca_well_standards_bulletin74-81_1981.pdf), as supplemented by Department of 

Water Resources Bulletin 74-90 (publicly available at 
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http://www.water.ca.gov/pubs/groundwater/water_well_standards__bulletin_74-

90_/ca_well_standards_bulletin74-90_1991.pdf).

 (e) For well-specific and area-specific groundwater monitoring, the operator should 

sample the groundwater monitoring wells frequently enough to detect changes in water 

quality. The operator shall sample the groundwater monitoring wells before well 

stimulation commences to establish a groundwater quality baseline and at least once 

within 60 days after the well stimulation is completed. The well operator shall sample 

the wells semiannually thereafter until the State Water Resources Control Board has 

developed its final groundwater monitoring model criteria.

 (f) For all groundwater sampling, testing, and monitoring conducted pursuant to this 

Article, groundwater shall be measured for field parameters including pH, temperature, 

and electrical conductivity. For all groundwater sampling, testing, and monitoring 

conducted pursuant to this Article, groundwater samples shall be analyzed using current 

applicable EPA-approved analytical methods for water, if available, for all of the 

following: appropriate indicator compounds(s) for the well stimulation treatment fluid; 

total dissolved solids; metals listed in California Code of Regulations, title 22, section 

66261.24, subdivision (a)(2)(A); benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylenes; total 

petroleum hydrocarbons for crude oil; polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (including 

acenaphthene, acenaphthylene, anthracene,benzo[a]anthracene, benzo[b]fluoranthene, 

benzo[k]fluoranthene, benzo[a]pyrene, benzo[g,h,i]perylene, chrysene, 

dibenzo[a,h]anthracene, fluoranthene, fluorene, indeno[1,2,3-cd]pyrene, naphthalene, 

phenanthrene, and pyrene); radionuclides listed under California Code of Regulations, 

title 22, Table 64442; methane; major and minor cations (including sodium, potassium, 

magnesium, and calcium); major and minor anions (including nitrate, chloride, sulfate, 

alkalinity, and bromide); and trace elements (including lithium, strontium, and boron).

 (g) For all groundwater sampling, testing, and monitoring conducted pursuant to this 

Article, groundwater sampling shall be done in accordance with all of the following:

 (1) All groundwater sampling is to be performed by a qualified person. A qualified 

person is any person with the knowledge and training in proper sampling methods, 

chain of custody, and quality assurance/quality control protocols. Any person 

conducting groundwater sampling, other than personnel from an approved laboratory, 

shall consult with the laboratory to ensure that the sampler understands and follows the 

proper sampling collection procedures and protocols.

 (2) All procedures to sample groundwater monitoring wells shall be consistent with

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) Groundwater Sampling Guidelines for 

Superfund and RCRA Project Managers (May 2002) (publicly available at 

www.epa.gov/superfund/remedytech/tsp/download/gw_sampling_guide.pdf). All 

procedures to sample groundwater supply wells shall be consistent with US EPA 

Science and Ecosystem Support Division Operating Procedure for Groundwater 

Sampling (March 2013) (publicly available at 

www.epa.gov/region04/sesd/fbqstp/Groundwater-Sampling.pdf).

 (3) All analytical testing shall be performed by a laboratory that is certified by the 

California Department of Public Health environmental laboratory accreditation program 

(ELAP).
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 (4) All groundwater monitoring data collected in accordance with a well-by-well or 

area-specific groundwater monitoring plan shall be compiled in groundwater monitoring 

reports, and submitted to the State Water Resources Control Board. Data collected 

prior to commencement of, and within 60 days of completion of, well stimulation 

treatment shall be submitted in a single groundwater monitoring report. Subsequent 

semiannual data should be submitted in semiannual groundwater monitoring reports. 

Groundwater monitoring reports shall include at a minimum:

 (A) Site plan with locations of wells used for groundwater monitoring, and oil and 

gas wells. 

 (B) Table(s) of analytical results, with both recent and historical data in chronological 

order and tabulated by well number.

 (C) Maps and/or cross-sections displaying groundwater analytical results. 

 (D) Well completion reports and associated lithologic information for sampled 

well(s).

 (E) Description of field procedures, including well installation or selection, and 

groundwater sampling.

 (F) Copies of analytical laboratory reports, including quality assurance/quality 

control procedures and analytical test methods.

 (G) Changes, if any, to the scope of work, and rationale for the changes.

 (H) Decontamination procedures.

 (I) Waste management and disposal procedures, including associated 

documentation. 

 (5) All groundwater quality data and groundwater monitoring reports shall be 

submitted to the State Water Resources Control Board in an electronic format that 

follows the guidelines detailed in California Code of Regulations, title 23, division 3, 

chapter 30 (commencing with section 3890).

NOTE: Authority cited: Section 3013, 3160, and 3161, Public Resources Code. 

Reference: Section 3106, 3160, and 3161, Public Resources Code; Section 10783, 

Water Code.

1788. Required Public Disclosures.

 (a) Except as provided in subdivision (c), within 60 days after the cessation of a well 

stimulation treatment, the operator shall publicly disclose all of the following information:

 (1) Operator’s name;

 (2) API number assigned to the well by the Division; 

 (3) Lease name and number of the well;

 (4) Location of the well, submitted as a non-projected, Latitude Longitude, in 

the General Coordinate System (GCS) NAD83.

 (5) County in which the well is located;

 (6) Date that the well stimulation treatment occurred;

 (7) True vertical depth of the well;

 (8) Name and vertical depth of the productive horizon where well stimulation

treatment occurred;
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 (9) The trade name, supplier, concentration, and a brief description of the intended 

purpose of each additive contained in the well stimulation fluids used;

 (10) The total volume of base fluid used during the well stimulation treatment;

 (11) Identification of whether the base fluid is water suitable for irrigation or domestic 

purposes, water not suitable for irrigation or domestic purposes, or a fluid other than 

water;

 (12) The source, volume, and specific composition and disposition of all water 

associated with the well stimulation treatment, including, but not limited to, water used 

as base fluid and water recovered from the well following the well stimulation treatment 

that is not otherwise reported as produced water pursuant to Section 3227;

 (13) Identification of any reuse of treated or untreated water for well stimulation 

treatments and well stimulation treatment-related activities;

 (14) The specific composition and disposition of all well stimulation treatment fluids, 

including waste fluids, other than water;

 (15) Any radiological components or tracers injected into the well as part of the well 

stimulation treatment, a description of the recovery method, if any, for those 

components or tracers, the recovery rate, and specific disposal information for 

recovered components or tracers;

 (16) The radioactivity of the recovered well stimulation fluids;

 (17) The location of the portion of the well subject to the well stimulation treatment 

and the extent of the fracturing or other modification, if any, surrounding the well 

induced by the treatment.

 (18) The estimated volume of well stimulation treatment fluid that has been 

recovered; and

 (19) A complete list of the names, Chemical Abstract Service numbers, and 

maximum concentration, in percent by mass, of each and every chemical constituent of 

the well stimulation treatment fluids used. If a Chemical Abstract Service number does 

not exist for a chemical constituent, the operator may provide another unique identifier, 

if available.

 (b) For hydraulic fracturing well stimulation treatments, the operator shall post the 

information listed in subsection (a) to the Chemical Disclosure Registry, to the extent 

that the website is able to receive the information. If the Chemical Disclosure Registry 

is unable to receive information required to be reported under this section, then the 

operator shall provide the information directly to the Division on the Well Stimulation 

Treatment Disclosure Reporting Form. For well stimulation treatments other than 

hydraulic fracturing, the operator shall provide all of the information listed in subsection 

(a) directly to the Division on the Well Stimulation Treatment Disclosure Reporting 

Form. The Well Stimulation Treatment Disclosure Reporting Form is available on the 

Division’s public internet website at 

ftp://ftp.consrv.ca.gov/pub/oil/forms/Oil%26Gas/OG110S.XLSX. The Well Stimulation 

Treatment Disclosure Reporting Form shall be submitted to the Division in an electronic 

format, directed to the email address “DisclosureWST@conservation.ca.gov”.

 (c) Except for items (1) through (6) of subsection (a), operators are not required to post 

information to the Chemical Disclosure Registry if the information is found in a well 

record that the Division has determined is not public record, pursuant to Public 
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Resources Code section 3234. If information listed in subsection (a) is not posted to the 

Chemical Disclosure Registry on this basis, then the operator shall inform the Division in 

writing, specifying the information that is not being publicly disclosed. It is the operator’s 

responsibility to post the information to the Chemical Disclosure Registry as soon as the 

information becomes public record under Public Resources Code section 3234.

 (d) A claim of trade secret protection for the information required to be disclosed under 

this section shall be handled in the manner specified under Public Resources Code 

section 3160, subdivision (j).

 (e) Groundwater quality data reported under this section shall also be submitted to the 

State Water Resources Control Board in an electronic format that follows the guidelines 

detailed in California Code of Regulations, title 23, chapter 30.

NOTE: Authority cited: Section 3013, 3160, and 3161, Public Resources Code. 

Reference: Section 3106, 3160, and 3161, Public Resources Code.
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NATURAL RESOURCES AGENCY OF CALIFORNIA

DEPARTMENT OF CONSERVATION

DIVISION OF OIL, GAS, AND GEOTHERMAL RESOURCES

INTERIM WELL STIMULATION TREATMENT NOTICE

1  Name of Operator

 

2 Email address

 

3  Address

 

4 City/ State

 

5  Zip Code

 

6  Well

 

7 API No.

 

8 Field  (and Area, if applicable)

 

9  County  

 

10 Directional Status:   

       Directionally drilled           

       Horizontally drilled

       Not directionally drilled    

       Unknown

11 Type of treatment

        Hydraulic Fracture     

        Acid Matrix  

        Other, type: 12  Sec.  

 

13  T.

 

14  R.

 

15  B.&M.

 

16  Location of Well (Give surface location from property or section corner, street center line)

 

17 Lat./Long. in decimal degrees, to six decimal places, submitted in a non‐projected (GCS) NAD 83 format:  

Lat:                                                 Long:   

18 Has the Division made a determination that the well subject to well stimulation treatment is a confidential well under

Public Resources Code section 3234?                          Yes               No

19 Time period during which the well

stimulation treatment is planned to

occur

 

20 Planned location of the well

stimulation treatment on the well

bore

Measured Depth:       TVD: 

21  Name of stimulated horizon

and depth

 

22  Estimated length of fractures or other

planned modification

 

23 Estimated height of fractures or other

planned modification

 

24 Estimated direction of

fractures or other planned

modification

 

25 Pursuant to Public Resources Code section 3161, subdivision (b)(1), I hereby certify that the above‐named operator has

or will comply with the requirements of Public Resources Code section 3160, subdivisions (b), (d)(1)(A)–(F), (d)(6), (d)(7),

and (g), as demonstrated by the information reported in and attached to this notice and the following certifications:  

  Attached to this notice is a complete list of the names, Chemical Abstract Service (CAS) numbers, and

estimated concentrations, in percent by mass, of each and every chemical constituent of the well stimulation

fluids anticipated to be used in the treatment, as required by Public Resources Code section 3160, subdivision

(d)(1)(D).  If a CAS number does not exist for a chemical constituent, another unique identifier has been

provided, if available.

  Attached to this notice is a Water Management Plan that includes all of the information required by Public

Resources Code section 3160, subdivision (d)(1)(C).

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  Attached to this notice is a list of locations of existing wells, including plugged and abandoned wells, that may

be impacted by the fractures or modifications, as required by Public Resources Code section 3160, subdivision

(d)(1)(E).

  Attached to this notice is a Groundwater Monitoring Plan that meets the requirements of California Code of

Regulations, title 14, section 1783.4.

  The above‐named operator has contracted with an independent entity to provide neighboring property

owners and tenants with a copy of this notice and the attachments thereto, and with information about the

availability of water well testing, as required by Public Resources Code section 3160, subdivision (d)(6).  The

well stimulation will not commence until 30 days after the required notice has been provided.  If a notified

property owner makes a timely, written request for water well sampling and testing, then the operator will pay

for testing and sampling by one or more qualified independent third‐party contractors designated by the State

Water Resources Control Board, provided that the sampling and testing is consistent with the standards and

protocols specified by the State Water Resources Control Board pursuant to Public Resources Code section

3160(d)(7)(B) and is conducted in accordance with Public Resources Code section 3160, subdivision (d)(7)(A).  If

a notified property owner makes a timely, written request for water well sampling and testing, then the well

stimulation will not commence until requested baseline water well testing is complete, as required by Public

Resources Code section 3160, subdivision (d)(7).

  Within 60 days after the cessation of the well stimulation treatment, the above‐named operator will make all

public disclosures required by Public Resources Code section 3160, subdivisions (b) and (g), and pursuant to

California Code of Regulations, title 14, section 1788.

26 Name of Person Filing

Certification

 

27 Telephone

Number

 

28 Signature

 

29 Date

 

30  Address

 

31  City/ State

 

32 Zip Code

 

FOR DIVISION OF OIL, GAS, AND GEOTHRERMAL RESOURCES USE ONLY

Reviewed and approved as complete:                                                                                                  Date: