reglab/statecodes huggingface dataset:
2023 California Code › Public Resources Code - PRC › DIVISION 3 - OIL AND GAS › CHAPTER 1 - Oil and Gas Conservation › ARTICLE 4 - Regulation of Operations › Section 3201.

3201. (a) The operator of a well or production facility shall notify the supervisor or the district deputy, in writing, in the form that the supervisor or the district deputy may direct, of the sale, assignment, transfer, conveyance, exchange, or other disposition of the well or production facility by the operator of the well or production facility as soon as is reasonably possible, but in no event later than the date that the sale, assignment, transfer, conveyance, exchange, or other disposition becomes final. The operator shall not be relieved of responsibility for the well or production facility until the supervisor or the district deputy acknowledges the sale, assignment, transfer, conveyance, exchange, or other disposition, in writing, and the person acquiring the well or production facility is in compliance with Section 3202. The operator’s notice shall contain all of the following information:
(1) The name and address of the person to whom the well or production facility was or will be sold, assigned, transferred, conveyed, exchanged, or otherwise disposed.
(2) The name and location of the well or production facility, and a description of the land upon which the well or production facility is situated.
(3) The date that the sale, assignment, transfer, conveyance, exchange, or other disposition becomes final.
(4) The date when possession was or will be relinquished by the operator as a result of that disposition.
(b) (1) Upon request of the supervisor, the former operator shall, within 15 days, provide to the division copies of the documents recorded with a governmental office involving the sale, assignment, transfer, conveyance, exchange, or other disposition of the well or production facility.
(2) If after reviewing the documents submitted pursuant to paragraph (1) the division determines additional documentation is needed to validate the sale, assignment, transfer, conveyance, exchange, or other disposition of the well or production facility, the division shall notify the former operator.
(3) Upon receiving notice pursuant to paragraph (2), the former operator shall, within 30 days, provide to the division documents necessary to identify the operator of the well or production facility. If the documents are not otherwise publicly available, the former operator may redact information from the documents before submitting them to the division if the division agrees the information is not relevant to identification of the current operator of the well or production facility.
(Amended by Stats. 2020, Ch. 370, Sec. 234. (SB 1371) Effective January 1, 2021.)
2023 California Code › Public Resources Code - PRC › DIVISION 3 - OIL AND GAS › CHAPTER 1 - Oil and Gas Conservation › ARTICLE 4 - Regulation of Operations › Section 3202.

3202. (a) A person who acquires the right to operate a well or production facility, whether by purchase, transfer, assignment, conveyance, exchange, or other disposition, shall, as soon as it is reasonably possible, but not later than the date when the acquisition of the well or production facility becomes final, notify the supervisor or the district deputy, in writing, of the person’s operation. The acquisition of a well or production facility shall not be recognized as complete by the supervisor or the district deputy until the new operator provides all of the following material:
(1) The name and address of the person from whom the well or production facility was acquired.
(2) The name and location of the well or production facility, and a description of the land upon which the well or production facility is situated.
(3) The date when the acquisition becomes final.
(4) The date when possession was or will be acquired.
(5) An indemnity bond for each well as required pursuant to Section 3204, 3205, or 3205.8, as applicable.
(b) (1) Upon request of the supervisor, the new operator shall, within 15 days, provide to the division copies of the documents recorded with a governmental office involving the sale, assignment, transfer, conveyance, exchange, or other disposition of the well or production facility.
(2) If after reviewing the documents submitted pursuant to paragraph (1) the division determines additional documentation is needed to validate the sale, assignment, transfer, conveyance, exchange, or other disposition of the well or production facility, the division shall notify the new operator.
(3) Upon receiving notice pursuant to paragraph (2), the new operator shall, within 30 days, provide to the division documents necessary to identify the operator of the well or production facility. If the documents are not otherwise publicly available, the new operator may redact information from the documents before submitting them to the division if the division agrees the information is not relevant to identification of the current operator of the well or production facility.
(c) After notice is given pursuant to subdivision (a) and until another person acquires the well or production facility, the new operator shall notify the supervisor whether any of the rights have changed. That notification shall be in writing and occur every other year by July 1.
(d) The new operator shall also notify the supervisor within 30 days of any quitclaim of a well or production facility.
(e) The supervisor shall maintain records of all transfers recognized as complete pursuant to subdivision (a), including all materials required to be provided by the new operator under that subdivision, and shall make those records available on the division’s internet website.
(Amended by Stats. 2023, Ch. 359, Sec. 3. (AB 1167) Effective January 1, 2024.)
2023 California Code › Public Resources Code - PRC › DIVISION 3 - OIL AND GAS › CHAPTER 1 - Oil and Gas Conservation › ARTICLE 4 - Regulation of Operations › Section 3203.

3203. (a) The operator of any well, before commencing the work of drilling the well, shall file with the supervisor or the district deputy a written notice of intention to commence drilling. Drilling shall not commence until approval is given by the supervisor or the district deputy. If the supervisor or the district deputy fails to give the operator written response to the notice within 10 working days from the date of receipt, that failure shall be considered as an approval of the notice and the notice, for the purposes and intents of this chapter, shall be deemed a written report of the supervisor. If operations have not commenced within 24 months of receipt of the notice, the notice shall be deemed canceled, the notice shall not be extended, and the cancellation shall be noted in the division’s records. The notice shall contain the pertinent data the supervisor requires on printed forms supplied by the division or on other forms acceptable to the supervisor. The supervisor may require other pertinent information to supplement the notice.
(b) After the completion of any well, this section also applies as far as may be, to the deepening or redrilling of the well, any operation involving the plugging of the well, or any operations permanently altering in any manner the casing of the well. The number or designation of any well, and the number or designation specified for any well in a notice filed as required by this section, shall not be changed without first obtaining a written consent of the supervisor.
(c) If an operator has failed to comply with an order of the supervisor, the supervisor may deny approval of proposed well operations until the operator brings its existing well operations into compliance with the order. If an operator has failed to pay a civil penalty, remedy a violation that it is required to remedy to the satisfaction of the supervisor pursuant to an order issued under Section 3236.5, or to pay any charges assessed under Article 7 (commencing with Section 3400), the supervisor may deny approval to the operator’s proposed well operations until the operator pays the civil penalty, remedies the violation to the satisfaction of the supervisor, or pays the charges assessed under Article 7 (commencing with Section 3400).
(Amended by Stats. 2017, Ch. 652, Sec. 1. (SB 724) Effective January 1, 2018.)
2023 California Code › Public Resources Code - PRC › DIVISION 3 - OIL AND GAS › CHAPTER 1 - Oil and Gas Conservation › ARTICLE 4 - Regulation of Operations › Section 3203.5.

3203.5. (a) The division shall require a copy of the local land use authorization that supports the installation of a well at the time an operator submits the notice of intention for the well under Section 3203.
(b) The division shall modify its forms used to evaluate notices of intention under Section 3203 to include expiration dates for the required local land use authorizations described in subdivision (a).
(Added by Stats. 2021, Ch. 727, Sec. 5. (SB 406) Effective January 1, 2022.)
2023 California Code › Public Resources Code - PRC › DIVISION 3 - OIL AND GAS › CHAPTER 1 - Oil and Gas Conservation › ARTICLE 4 - Regulation of Operations › Section 3204.

3204. (a) An operator who, on or after January 1, 2018, engages in the drilling, redrilling, deepening, or in any operation permanently altering the casing, of a well, shall file with the supervisor an individual indemnity bond for each well so drilled, redrilled, deepened, or permanently altered in the following amount:
(1) Twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000) for each well that is less than 10,000 feet deep.
(2) Forty thousand dollars ($40,000) for each well that is 10,000 or more feet deep.
(b) The bond shall be filed with the supervisor at the time of the filing of the notice of intention to perform work on the well, as provided in Section 3203, or at the time of acquisition of the well, as provided in Section 3202. The bond shall be executed by the operator, as principal, and by an authorized surety company, as surety, on the condition that the principal named in the bond shall faithfully comply with all the provisions of this chapter, in drilling, redrilling, deepening, or permanently altering the casing in any well or wells covered by the bond, and shall secure the state against all losses, charges, and expenses incurred by it to obtain the compliance by the principal named in the bond.
(c) The conditions of the bond shall be stated in substantially the following language: “If the ____, the above bounden principal, shall well and truly comply with all the provisions of Division 3 (commencing with Section 3000) of the Public Resources Code and shall obey all lawful orders of the State Oil and Gas Supervisor or the district deputy or deputies, subject to subsequent appeal as provided in that division, and shall pay all charges, costs, and expenses incurred by the supervisor or the district deputy or deputies in respect of the well or wells or the property or properties of the principal, or assessed against the well or wells or the property or properties of the principal, in pursuance of the provisions of that division, then this obligation shall be void; otherwise, it shall remain in full force and effect.”
(Amended by Stats. 2023, Ch. 359, Sec. 4. (AB 1167) Effective January 1, 2024.)
2023 California Code › Public Resources Code - PRC › DIVISION 3 - OIL AND GAS › CHAPTER 1 - Oil and Gas Conservation › ARTICLE 4 - Regulation of Operations › Section 3205.

3205. (a) An operator who engages in the drilling, redrilling, deepening, or in any operation permanently altering the casing, of 20 or more wells at any time, may file with the supervisor one blanket indemnity bond to cover all the operations in any of its wells in the state in lieu of an individual indemnity bond for each operation as required by Section 3204. The bond shall be executed by the operator, as principal, and by an authorized surety company, as surety, and shall be in substantially the same language and upon the same conditions as provided in Section 3204, except as to the difference in the amount. The bond shall be provided in one of the following amounts, as applicable:
(1) The sum of two hundred thousand dollars ($200,000), for an operator having 50 or fewer wells in the state, exclusive of properly abandoned wells.
(2) The sum of four hundred thousand dollars ($400,000), for any operator having more than 50, but no more than 500, wells in the state, exclusive of properly abandoned wells.
(3) The sum of two million dollars ($2,000,000), for any operator having more than 500, but no more than 10,000, wells in the state, exclusive of properly abandoned wells.
(4) The sum of three million dollars ($3,000,000), for any operator having more than 10,000 wells in the state, exclusive of properly abandoned wells.
(b) This section shall become operative on January 1, 2018.
(Repealed (in Sec. 7) and added by Stats. 2016, Ch. 272, Sec. 4. (AB 2729) Effective January 1, 2017. Section operative January 1, 2018, by its own provisions.)
2023 California Code › Public Resources Code - PRC › DIVISION 3 - OIL AND GAS › CHAPTER 1 - Oil and Gas Conservation › ARTICLE 4 - Regulation of Operations › Section 3205.1.

3205.1. (a) Notwithstanding Sections 3204 and 3205, a person who engages in the drilling, redrilling, or deepening, or in any operation permanently altering the casing, of one or more wells located on submerged lands under ocean waters within the jurisdiction of this state, shall file with the supervisor a blanket indemnity bond for one million dollars ($1,000,000) to cover all his or her operations in drilling, redrilling, deepening, or permanently altering the casing in any of his or her wells located on those submerged lands. The bond shall be executed by the person, as principal, and by an authorized surety company, as surety, and the conditions of the bond shall be the same as the conditions stated in Section 3204, except for the difference in the amount.
(b) In addition to providing the bond required by subdivision (a), a person who operates one or more wells that are located on tide or submerged lands within the jurisdiction of this state shall provide an additional amount of security acceptable to the supervisor, covering the full costs of plugging and abandoning all of the operator’s wells. The supervisor shall determine the amount of the security required of each operator, based on his or her determination of the reasonable costs of that plugging and abandonment, after providing the operator with an opportunity to submit a cost estimate for consideration by the supervisor. The supervisor may not adjust the amount of security required of each operator more frequently than once every three years, to reflect changes in those costs. An operator may self-insure this security obligation if the supervisor, at his or her discretion, determines that the operator has sufficient financial resources to plug and abandon the wells for which the operator is responsible. The security shall remain in effect until all wells are plugged and abandoned in accordance with Section 3208, but the supervisor shall reduce the amount of the security required of an operator to reflect reduced obligations as wells are plugged and abandoned.
(c) If the state lease or other agreement that sets forth obligations or performance requirements under the lease provides security that is equal to, or greater than, the total of the additional security required pursuant to subdivision (b), plus all other liabilities under the lease or other agreement, the supervisor shall not require the additional security.
(Amended by Stats. 2018, Ch. 607, Sec. 2. (SB 1147) Effective January 1, 2019.)
2023 California Code › Public Resources Code - PRC › DIVISION 3 - OIL AND GAS › CHAPTER 1 - Oil and Gas Conservation › ARTICLE 4 - Regulation of Operations › Section 3205.2.

3205.2. (a) Notwithstanding Section 3204, any person who engages in the operation of a class II commercial wastewater disposal well, as defined in subdivision (d), shall file an indemnity bond with the supervisor for one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000) for each well so used. The bond shall cover all operations of drilling, redrilling, deepening, altering casing, maintaining, or abandoning the well and attendant facilities. The bond shall be executed by the person as the principal, and by an authorized surety company as the surety, and, except for differences in the amount, shall be in substantially the same language and upon the same conditions as provided in Section 3204.
(b) A blanket bond submitted under subdivision (a) of Section 3205 may be used in lieu of the bond required in subdivision (a), except that the termination and cancellation shall be in accordance with subdivision (c) of this section.
(c) Notwithstanding Section 3207, any bond issued in compliance with this section may be terminated and canceled and the surety relieved of all obligations thereunder when the well is properly abandoned or another valid bond has been substituted therefor.
(d) A class II commercial wastewater disposal well is a well that is used to dispose of oilfield wastewater for a fee and that is regulated by the division pursuant to this chapter and Subpart F (commencing with Section 147.250) of Part 147 of Title 40 of the Code of Federal Regulations.
(Amended by Stats. 2013, Ch. 315, Sec. 4. (SB 665) Effective January 1, 2014.)
2023 California Code › Public Resources Code - PRC › DIVISION 3 - OIL AND GAS › CHAPTER 1 - Oil and Gas Conservation › ARTICLE 4 - Regulation of Operations › Section 3205.5.

3205.5. In lieu of the indemnity bond required by Sections 3204, 3205, 3205.1, 3205.2, 3205.8, and 3206, a deposit may, with the written approval of the supervisor, be given pursuant to Article 7 (commencing with Section 995.710) of Chapter 2 of Title 14 of Part 2 of the Code of Civil Procedure, other than a deposit of money or bearer bonds or bearer notes.
(Amended by Stats. 2023, Ch. 359, Sec. 5. (AB 1167) Effective January 1, 2024.)
2023 California Code › Public Resources Code - PRC › DIVISION 3 - OIL AND GAS › CHAPTER 1 - Oil and Gas Conservation › ARTICLE 4 - Regulation of Operations › Section 3205.6.

3205.6. Before July 1, 2020, the supervisor shall do all of the following:
(a) Evaluate and estimate the costs associated with the decommissioning, including plugging and abandonment pursuant to Section 3208, of the offshore oil and gas wells under its jurisdiction.
(b) If necessary, based on the estimates made pursuant to subdivision (a), develop a schedule to increase the bond amounts or other financial surety provided by an operator of an offshore oil or gas well to ensure sufficient moneys are available to the state to decommission the well if no other entity is responsible for those decommissioning costs.
(c) Coordinate with the State Lands Commission to ensure the actions taken pursuant to this section and Section 6829.3 are not duplicative and are consistent with Section 3205.1.
(Added by Stats. 2018, Ch. 607, Sec. 3. (SB 1147) Effective January 1, 2019.)
2023 California Code › Public Resources Code - PRC › DIVISION 3 - OIL AND GAS › CHAPTER 1 - Oil and Gas Conservation › ARTICLE 4 - Regulation of Operations › Section 3206.1.

3206.1. (a) By June 1, 2018, the division shall review, evaluate, and update its regulations pertaining to idle wells. The update shall include idle well testing and management requirements that, at a minimum, include all of the following:
(1) Appropriate testing, as determined by the supervisor, to determine whether the fluid level is above the base of an underground source of drinking water.
(2) Appropriate testing, as determined by the supervisor, to verify the mechanical integrity of the well.
(3) Appropriate remediation, as determined by the supervisor, of idle wells if there is an indication of a lack of mechanical integrity.
(4) For a well that has been an idle well for 15 years or more, an engineering analysis demonstrating to the division’s satisfaction that it is viable to return the idle well to operation in the future.
(b) If the operator demonstrates to the division’s satisfaction that the well is not within one-half mile of an underground source of drinking water, testing required under the regulations implementing this section shall not be required until at least two years after the well becomes an idle well. This subdivision shall not be construed to prohibit or limit any other testing required under this chapter.
(c) At the discretion of the supervisor, the regulations implementing this section may provide an option for temporary or partial well abandonment in lieu of compliance with the requirements of the regulations implementing this section.
(d) If the operator does not remediate an idle well as required by the regulations implementing this section, or the operator does not demonstrate that an idle well is economically viable as required by the regulations implementing this section, then the operator shall plug and abandon the idle well in accordance with Section 3208.
(e) Failure to file to comply with the requirements of the regulations implementing this section shall be conclusive evidence of desertion of the well, permitting the supervisor to order the well abandoned pursuant to Section 3237.
(f) For purposes of this section, an “underground source of drinking water” has the same meaning as in the federal Safe Drinking Water Act (42 U.S.C. Sec. 300f).
(Added by Stats. 2016, Ch. 272, Sec. 11. (AB 2729) Effective January 1, 2017.)
2023 California Code › Public Resources Code - PRC › DIVISION 3 - OIL AND GAS › CHAPTER 1 - Oil and Gas Conservation › ARTICLE 4 - Regulation of Operations › Section 3206.5.

3206.5. (a) Any city or county may request from the supervisor a list of all idle wells, as defined in subdivision (d) of Section 3008, within its jurisdiction.
(b) After receiving the list from the supervisor, the city or county may identify idle wells identified pursuant to subdivision (a) within its jurisdiction which it has determined, based on a competent, professional evaluation, have no reasonable expectation of being reactivated, and formally request the supervisor to make a determination whether the wells should be plugged and abandoned.
(c) Upon receiving the written request of a city or county, as specified in subdivision (b):
(1) The supervisor may, within 60 days of receiving a written request from a city or county, require the operator or operators to file a statement for each well outlining those reasons why the wells should not be plugged and abandoned.
(2) The supervisor shall, within 120 days of receiving a written request, make a determination as to whether any of these wells should be plugged and abandoned, pursuant to the criteria contained in this chapter.
(d) Failure of the operator to file, for any well, the statement required under this section shall be conclusive evidence of desertion of the well, thereby permitting the supervisor to order the well abandoned.
(Amended by Stats. 2017, Ch. 652, Sec. 3. (SB 724) Effective January 1, 2018.)
2023 California Code › Public Resources Code - PRC › DIVISION 3 - OIL AND GAS › CHAPTER 1 - Oil and Gas Conservation › ARTICLE 4 - Regulation of Operations › Section 3207.

3207. (a) Any individual or blanket indemnity bond issued in compliance with this chapter may be terminated and canceled and the surety relieved of all obligations thereunder when the well or wells covered by such bond have been properly abandoned pursuant to Section 3208, or another valid bond has been substituted therefor. Should the person who has filed a blanket bond properly abandon a portion of his or her wells covered by the bond, the bond may be terminated and canceled and the surety relieved of all obligations thereunder upon the filing by such person of an individual bond for each well that is still not abandoned. Liability as to individual wells that have been properly abandoned under a blanket bond may also be terminated.
(b) This section shall become operative on January 1, 2018.
(Repealed (in Sec. 13) and added by Stats. 2016, Ch. 272, Sec. 4. (AB 2729) Effective January 1, 2017. Section operative January 1, 2018, by its own provisions.)
2023 California Code › Public Resources Code - PRC › DIVISION 3 - OIL AND GAS › CHAPTER 1 - Oil and Gas Conservation › ARTICLE 4 - Regulation of Operations › Section 3208.

3208. (a) For the purposes of Sections 3206 and 3207, a well is properly abandoned when it has been shown, to the satisfaction of the supervisor, that all proper steps have been taken to isolate all oil-bearing or gas-bearing strata encountered in the well, and to protect underground or surface water suitable for irrigation or farm or domestic purposes from the infiltration or addition of any detrimental substance and to prevent subsequent damage to life, health, property, and other resources. For purposes of this subdivision, proper steps include the plugging of the well, decommissioning the attendant production facilities of the well, or both, if determined necessary by the supervisor.
(b) This section shall become operative on January 1, 2018.
(Repealed (in Sec. 15) and added by Stats. 2016, Ch. 272, Sec. 4. (AB 2729) Effective January 1, 2017. Section operative January 1, 2018, by its own provisions.)
2023 California Code › Public Resources Code - PRC › DIVISION 3 - OIL AND GAS › CHAPTER 1 - Oil and Gas Conservation › ARTICLE 4 - Regulation of Operations › Section 3209.

3209. The provisions of Section 3207 as to termination and cancellation shall also apply to all bonds which have been heretofore filed with the supervisor as then provided by law.
(Amended by Stats. 1976, Ch. 794.)
2023 California Code › Public Resources Code - PRC › DIVISION 3 - OIL AND GAS › CHAPTER 1 - Oil and Gas Conservation › ARTICLE 4 - Regulation of Operations › Section 3210.

3210. The owner or operator of any well shall keep, or cause to be kept, a careful and accurate log, core record, and history of the drilling of the well.
(Enacted by Stats. 1939, Ch. 93.)
2023 California Code › Public Resources Code - PRC › DIVISION 3 - OIL AND GAS › CHAPTER 1 - Oil and Gas Conservation › ARTICLE 4 - Regulation of Operations › Section 3211.

3211. The log shall show the character and depth of the formation passed through or encountered in the drilling of the well. The log shall show completely the amounts, kinds, and size of casing used, the depth at which oil-bearing or gas-bearing strata are encountered, the depth and character of the strata, and whether all water overlying and underlying the oil-bearing or gas-bearing strata was successfully and permanently shut off so as to prevent the percolation or penetration of water into the oil-bearing or gas-bearing strata; and whether strata bearing water that might be suitable for irrigation or domestic purposes are properly protected from the infiltration or addition of detrimental substances from the well.
(Amended by Stats. 1984, Ch. 278, Sec. 6.)
2023 California Code › Public Resources Code - PRC › DIVISION 3 - OIL AND GAS › CHAPTER 1 - Oil and Gas Conservation › ARTICLE 4 - Regulation of Operations › Section 3213.

3213. (a) The history shall show the location and amount of sidetracked casings, tools, or other material, the depth and quantity of cement in cement plugs, the shots of dynamite or other explosives, all acid treatment data of any amount, and the results of production and other tests during drilling operations. All data on well stimulation treatments pursuant to Section 3160 shall be recorded in the history.
(b) Acid treatment data reported in a well history where the acid treatment occurred before December 31, 2021, and that complies with the requirements of Section 1777.4 of Title 14 of the California Code of Regulations, as it read on December 31, 2021, satisfies the well history acid treatment data reporting requirement in subdivision (a).
(Amended by Stats. 2021, Ch. 727, Sec. 6. (SB 406) Effective January 1, 2022.)
2023 California Code › Public Resources Code - PRC › DIVISION 3 - OIL AND GAS › CHAPTER 1 - Oil and Gas Conservation › ARTICLE 4 - Regulation of Operations › Section 3214.

3214. The log shall be kept in the local office of the owner or operator, and, together with the tour reports of the owner or operator, shall be subject, during business hours, to the inspection of the supervisor, the district deputy, or the director.
(Amended by Stats. 1976, Ch. 1073.)
2023 California Code › Public Resources Code - PRC › DIVISION 3 - OIL AND GAS › CHAPTER 1 - Oil and Gas Conservation › ARTICLE 4 - Regulation of Operations › Section 3216.

3216. The owner or operator of any well, or his local agent, shall file with the supervisor a copy of the log, history, and core record, or any portion thereof, at any time after the commencement of the work of drilling any well upon written request of the supervisor, or the district deputy. The request shall be signed by the supervisor, or the district deputy, and served either personally, or by mailing a copy of the request, by registered mail, to the last known post office address of the owner or operator, or his agent.
(Amended by Stats. 1976, Ch. 1073.)
2023 California Code › Public Resources Code - PRC › DIVISION 3 - OIL AND GAS › CHAPTER 1 - Oil and Gas Conservation › ARTICLE 4 - Regulation of Operations › Section 3219.

3219. Any person engaged in operating any oil or gas well wherein high pressure gas is known to exist, and any person drilling for oil or gas in any district where the pressure of oil or gas is unknown shall equip the well with casings of sufficient strength, and with such other safety devices as may be necessary, in accordance with methods approved by the supervisor, and shall use every effort and endeavor effectually to prevent blowouts, explosions, and fires.
(Enacted by Stats. 1939, Ch. 93.)
2023 California Code › Public Resources Code - PRC › DIVISION 3 - OIL AND GAS › CHAPTER 1 - Oil and Gas Conservation › ARTICLE 4 - Regulation of Operations › Section 3219.5.

3219.5. (a) On or before July 1, 2001, the Department of Conservation shall report to the Governor and the Legislature on options for ensuring the existence of blowout insurance for persons engaged in drilling or redrilling exploratory oil and gas wells in areas where abnormally high or unknown subsurface pressure gradients exist. The report shall consider all of the following:
(1) Types of insurance policies, which include control of well policies and policies that cover personal injury and property damage resulting from a catastrophic well blowout occurrence.
(2) Methods of setting insurance policy amounts.
(3) Forms of insurance, including third-party insurance, provision of an operator’s proof of ability to respond in damages, a combination thereof, or other options.
(4) Areas of the state where abnormally high pressure gradients exist, or where insufficient data exists to draw conclusions regarding the subsurface pressure gradient.
(5) Any other factors the department deems appropriate to include in the report.
(b) The Department of Conservation shall consult with representatives of the oil industry and insurers in developing the report’s recommendations.
(Added by Stats. 2000, Ch. 737, Sec. 5. Effective January 1, 2001.)
2023 California Code › Public Resources Code - PRC › DIVISION 3 - OIL AND GAS › CHAPTER 1 - Oil and Gas Conservation › ARTICLE 4 - Regulation of Operations › Section 3220.

3220. The owner or operator of any well on lands producing or reasonably presumed to contain oil or gas shall properly case it with water-tight and adequate casing, in accordance with methods approved by the supervisor or the district deputy, and shall, under his direction, shut off all water overlying and underlying oil-bearing or gas-bearing strata and prevent any water from penetrating such strata. The owner or operator shall also use every effort and endeavor to prevent damage to life, health, property, and natural resources; to shut out detrimental substances from strata containing water suitable for irrigation or domestic purposes and from surface water suitable for such purposes; and to prevent the infiltration of detrimental substances into such strata and into such surface water.
(Amended by Stats. 1976, Ch. 795.)
2023 California Code › Public Resources Code - PRC › DIVISION 3 - OIL AND GAS › CHAPTER 1 - Oil and Gas Conservation › ARTICLE 4 - Regulation of Operations › Section 3222.

3222. The owner or operator of any well shall, at the request of the supervisor, demonstrate that water from any well is not penetrating oil-bearing or gas-bearing strata or that detrimental substances are not infiltrating into underground or surface water suitable for irrigation or domestic purposes. The owner or operator shall give the district deputy adequate notice of the time at which he will demonstrate the test for shutoff in the well.
(Amended by Stats. 1976, Ch. 795.)
2023 California Code › Public Resources Code - PRC › DIVISION 3 - OIL AND GAS › CHAPTER 1 - Oil and Gas Conservation › ARTICLE 4 - Regulation of Operations › Section 3223.

3223. The district deputy or an inspector designated by the supervisor may be present at the test for shutoff. If the test is personally witnessed by the district deputy or an inspector at the site of the well, such district deputy or inspector shall make a report in writing of the result to the supervisor. A duplicate of the report shall be delivered to the owner.
If any test is unsatisfactory to the supervisor, he shall so notify the owner or operator and shall within five days after the completion of the test, order any additional work and tests necessary to properly shut off the well. In the order the supervisor shall designate a day upon which the owner or operator shall again test for shutoff, which day may, upon the application of the owner or operator, be changed from time to time at the discretion of the district deputy.
(Amended by Stats. 1976, Ch. 795.)
2023 California Code › Public Resources Code - PRC › DIVISION 3 - OIL AND GAS › CHAPTER 1 - Oil and Gas Conservation › ARTICLE 4 - Regulation of Operations › Section 3224.

3224. The supervisor shall order those tests or remedial work as in the supervisor’s judgment are necessary to prevent damage to life, health, property, and natural resources; to protect oil and gas deposits from damage by underground water; or to prevent the escape of water into underground formations, or to prevent the infiltration of detrimental substances into underground or surface water suitable for irrigation or domestic purposes, to the best interests of the neighboring property owners and the public. In addition to any cessation requirements or other limitations contained in applicable regulations or conditions of approval, an order to undertake remedial work under this section may include an order to cease and desist specified activities that threaten to damage life, health, property, or natural resources, including waters suitable for irrigation or domestic purposes, or that violate the requirements of this chapter or a regulation implementing this chapter. The order shall be in writing, signed by the supervisor. It shall be served upon the owner of the well, or the owner’s local agent, either personally or by mailing a copy of the order to the post office address given at the time the local agent is designated. If a local agent has not been designated, the order shall be served by mailing a copy to the last known post office address of the owner, or if the owner is unknown, by posting a copy in a conspicuous place upon the property, and publishing it once a week for two successive weeks in some newspaper of general circulation throughout the county in which the well is located. The order shall specify the conditions sought to be remedied and the work necessary to protect the deposits from damage from underground water.
(Amended by Stats. 2023, Ch. 337, Sec. 2. (AB 631) Effective January 1, 2024.)
2023 California Code › Public Resources Code - PRC › DIVISION 3 - OIL AND GAS › CHAPTER 1 - Oil and Gas Conservation › ARTICLE 4 - Regulation of Operations › Section 3225.

3225. (a) An order of the supervisor or a district deputy issued pursuant to this chapter shall provide a clear and concise recitation of the acts or omissions with which the operator is charged. The order shall state all penalties and requirements imposed on the operator in connection with the acts or omissions charged and the order shall provide references to the provisions of this code and the regulations that support the imposition of the penalties and requirements.
(b) An order requiring an operator to cease and desist operations pursuant to Section 3270.3 shall specify the operations that the operator is required to cease and desist and shall provide a detailed explanation of the steps that the operator shall take before the supervisor will permit the operations to resume.
(c) An order of the supervisor or a district deputy shall be in writing and shall be served on the operator by personal service or by certified mail.
(d) When the supervisor or a district deputy issues a written order concerning an operation, an appeal may be made from the order pursuant to the procedures contained in Article 6 (commencing with Section 3350). The order shall inform the operator of its right to appeal the order.
(Amended by Stats. 2010, Ch. 264, Sec. 1. (AB 2453) Effective January 1, 2011.)
2023 California Code › Public Resources Code - PRC › DIVISION 3 - OIL AND GAS › CHAPTER 1 - Oil and Gas Conservation › ARTICLE 4 - Regulation of Operations › Section 3226.

3226. (a) Within 30 days after service of an order pursuant to Sections 3224 and 3225, or Section 3237, or if there has been an appeal from the order to the director, within 30 days after service of the decision of the director, or if a review has been taken of the order of the director, within 10 days after affirmance of the order, the owner or operator shall commence in good faith the work ordered and continue it until completion. If the work has not been commenced and continued to completion, the supervisor may appoint necessary agents to enter the premises and perform the work. An accurate account of the expenditures shall be kept. Any amount so expended shall constitute a lien against real or personal property of the operator pursuant to the provisions of Section 3423. Before performing such work, the division may impose a lien against the real or personal property of the operator pursuant to Section 3423 in an amount equal to an estimate of the cost of the work based on a bid from a contractor or previous costs to perform comparable work.
(b) Notwithstanding any other provisions of Section 3224, 3225, or 3237, if the supervisor determines that an emergency exists, the supervisor may order or undertake the actions the supervisor deems necessary to protect life, health, property, or natural resources.
(c) The division’s accounting of actual or estimated costs to perform work ordered shall be served upon the operator by personal service or certified mail. For purposes of Section 3420, charges to an operator pursuant to this section for actual or estimated costs to perform work ordered are delinquent if not paid within 30 days after service of the accounting of costs.
(Amended by Stats. 2021, Ch. 707, Sec. 3. (AB 896) Effective January 1, 2022.)
2023 California Code › Public Resources Code - PRC › DIVISION 3 - OIL AND GAS › CHAPTER 1 - Oil and Gas Conservation › ARTICLE 4 - Regulation of Operations › Section 3226.3.

3226.3. The division shall annually provide to the State Water Resources Control Board and the California regional water quality control boards an inventory of all unlined oil and gas field sumps.
(Added by Stats. 2014, Ch. 561, Sec. 1. (SB 1281) Effective January 1, 2015.)
2023 California Code › Public Resources Code - PRC › DIVISION 3 - OIL AND GAS › CHAPTER 1 - Oil and Gas Conservation › ARTICLE 4 - Regulation of Operations › Section 3227.5.

3227.5. The supervisor shall compile from statements filed pursuant to Section 3227 and publish monthly statistics, within 90 days of the end of each calendar month, showing the amount of oil and gas produced in the state by field and pool, together with the number of wells producing or idle, all separately stated as to field and pool, with any other information that the supervisor deems proper.
(Added by Stats. 1981, Ch. 741, Sec. 8.)
2023 California Code › Public Resources Code - PRC › DIVISION 3 - OIL AND GAS › CHAPTER 1 - Oil and Gas Conservation › ARTICLE 4 - Regulation of Operations › Section 3227.6.

3227.6. As used in Sections 3227 and 3227.5, the following terms have the following meaning:
(a) “Field” means the same general surface area which is underlain, or reasonably appears to be underlain, by one or more pools.
(b) “Pool” means an underground reservoir containing, or appearing at the time of determination to contain, a common accumulation of crude petroleum oil or natural gas or both. Each zone of a general structure which is separated from any other zone in the structure is a separate pool.
(Added by Stats. 1981, Ch. 741, Sec. 9.)
2023 California Code › Public Resources Code - PRC › DIVISION 3 - OIL AND GAS › CHAPTER 1 - Oil and Gas Conservation › ARTICLE 4 - Regulation of Operations › Section 3228.

3228. Before abandoning any well in accordance with methods approved by the supervisor or the district deputy, and under his or her direction, the owner or operator shall isolate all oil-bearing or gas-bearing strata encountered in the well and shall use every effort and endeavor to protect any underground or surface water suitable for irrigation or domestic purposes from the infiltration or addition of any detrimental substances.
(Amended by Stats. 1984, Ch. 278, Sec. 8.)
2023 California Code › Public Resources Code - PRC › DIVISION 3 - OIL AND GAS › CHAPTER 1 - Oil and Gas Conservation › ARTICLE 4 - Regulation of Operations › Section 3229.

3229. Before commencing any work to abandon a well, the owner or operator shall file with the supervisor or the district deputy a written notice of intention to abandon the well. Abandonment shall not proceed until approval is given by the supervisor or the district deputy. If the supervisor or the district deputy does not give the owner or operator a written response to the notice of intention within 10 working days, the proposed abandonment shall be deemed to have been approved and the notice of intention shall for the purposes of this chapter be deemed a written report of the supervisor. If abandonment operations have not commenced within 24 months of receipt of the notice of intention, the notice of intention shall be deemed canceled.
(Amended by Stats. 2019, Ch. 772, Sec. 3. (AB 1328) Effective January 1, 2020.)
2023 California Code › Public Resources Code - PRC › DIVISION 3 - OIL AND GAS › CHAPTER 1 - Oil and Gas Conservation › ARTICLE 4 - Regulation of Operations › Section 3230.

3230. The notice of intention to abandon shall contain the following information:
(a) The total depth of the well to be abandoned.
(b) The complete casing record of the well, including plugs.
(c) Such other pertinent data as the supervisor may require on printed forms supplied by the division or on other forms acceptable to the supervisor.
(Repealed and added by Stats. 1973, Ch. 743.)
2023 California Code › Public Resources Code - PRC › DIVISION 3 - OIL AND GAS › CHAPTER 1 - Oil and Gas Conservation › ARTICLE 4 - Regulation of Operations › Section 3232.

3232. The supervisor or the district deputy shall, within 10 days after the receipt of a written report of abandonment, furnish the owner or operator with a written final approval of abandonment, or a written disapproval of abandonment, setting forth the conditions upon which the disapproval is based.
Failure to abandon in accordance with the approved method of abandonment, or failure to notify the supervisor or the district deputy of any test required by the final approval of abandonment to be witnessed by the supervisor, the district deputy, or his or her inspector, or failure to furnish the supervisor or the district deputy, at his or her request, with any information regarding the condition of the well, shall constitute sufficient grounds for disapproval of the abandonment.
(Amended by Stats. 1988, Ch. 1077, Sec. 8.)
2023 California Code › Public Resources Code - PRC › DIVISION 3 - OIL AND GAS › CHAPTER 1 - Oil and Gas Conservation › ARTICLE 4 - Regulation of Operations › Section 3235.

3235. (a) The supervisor may upon their own initiative or shall upon receipt of a written complaint from a person owning land, residing, or operating wells within a radius of one mile of any well or group of wells complained against make an investigation of the well or wells involved. The supervisor shall make a written report and order, stating the work required to repair the damage complained of, or stating that no work is required.
(b) A copy of the order shall be delivered to the complainant, or if more than one, to each complainant, and, if the supervisor orders the damage repaired, a copy of the order shall be delivered to each of the owners, operators, or agents having in charge the well or wells upon which the work is to be done.
(c) The order shall contain a statement of the conditions sought to be remedied or repaired and a statement of the work required by the supervisor to repair the condition.
(d) Service shall be made by mailing copies to the persons required under this section at the post office address given.
(Amended by Stats. 2021, Ch. 727, Sec. 8. (SB 406) Effective January 1, 2022.)
2023 California Code › Public Resources Code - PRC › DIVISION 3 - OIL AND GAS › CHAPTER 1 - Oil and Gas Conservation › ARTICLE 4 - Regulation of Operations › Section 3236.

3236. (a) An owner or operator, or employee thereof, who refuses to permit the supervisor or the district deputy, or the district deputy’s inspector, to inspect a well, or who willfully hinders or delays the enforcement of this chapter, and every person, whether as principal, agent, servant, employee, or otherwise, who violates, fails, neglects, or refuses to comply with this chapter, or who fails, neglects, or refuses to furnish any report or record required pursuant to this chapter, or who willfully renders a false or fraudulent report, is guilty of a misdemeanor, which upon conviction is punishable by a fine of not less than five hundred dollars ($500), nor more than five thousand dollars ($5,000), or by imprisonment for not exceeding six months, or by both such fine and imprisonment, for each offense.
(b) The supervisor may refer violations of this chapter to a public prosecutor or the Attorney General for prosecution. Upon agreement of any prosecutors, a court may consider consolidating multiple actions relating to the same violation that occurred in different jurisdictions.
(c) As used in this article, “public prosecutor” means a district attorney, a city attorney, a county counsel, or any other city or county prosecutor.
(Amended by Stats. 2023, Ch. 337, Sec. 4. (AB 631) Effective January 1, 2024.)
2023 California Code › Public Resources Code - PRC › DIVISION 3 - OIL AND GAS › CHAPTER 1 - Oil and Gas Conservation › ARTICLE 4 - Regulation of Operations › Section 3236.3.

3236.3. (a) When the supervisor determines that a person has engaged in, is engaged in, or is about to engage in any acts or practices that constitute or will constitute a violation of this chapter, or any regulation, condition of approval, order, or other requirement issued, promulgated, or executed thereunder, the supervisor may apply to a superior court for an order enjoining those acts or practices, or for an order directing compliance. Upon a showing by the supervisor that the person has engaged in or is about to engage in those acts or practices, the court may grant a permanent or temporary injunction, restraining order, or other injunctive order appropriate to the circumstances.
(b) At the request of the supervisor, an application for an injunctive order may be applied for under this section by a public prosecutor or the Attorney General.
(c) In any civil action brought pursuant to this section in which a temporary restraining order, preliminary injunction, or permanent injunction is sought, it shall not be necessary to allege or prove at any stage of the proceeding that irreparable damage will occur should the temporary restraining order, preliminary injunction, or permanent injunction not be issued; or that the remedy at law is inadequate, and the temporary restraining order, preliminary injunction, or permanent injunction shall issue without those allegations and without that proof.
(Added by Stats. 2023, Ch. 337, Sec. 6. (AB 631) Effective January 1, 2024.)