Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Dion Warr, CPL on March 26, 2018 at 13:27

(Apologies everyone for the prior link snafu.)

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Permalink Reply by Skip Peel - Mineral Consultant on March 26, 2018 at 13:44

Thanks, Dion.  Is it possible that we are seeing more wide spread interest in compelling common sense compliance from the industry?

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Permalink Reply by Dion Warr, CPL on March 26, 2018 at 16:03

Skip:

It is possible - the public appears to have asserted itself such that DNR and other legislators have begun to take notice of certain longstanding issues. Backlog on orphan wells is still a problem which will likely have to wait until a collection mechanism is put into place to facilitate the work necessary and to eliminate some of the more problematic wells and fields.

The other issue is that in areas where lease wells are located, there is no current mechanism requiring the P&A of wells, as contractually all such wells are connected to the lease - literally any well can be brought back online at any time as long as one well continues to operate. The legislation appears to attempt to redress such issues - but the state will likely to continue to be loathe to enforce regulations where such may be in conflict with the law between the parties and/or anything that may impede lessee / operator's rights under the lease.

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Permalink Reply by Andrew on April 8, 2018 at 23:59

Plugging orphaned wells will continue to be a challenge for the reasons Dion mentioned. But I think the proposed legislation can make some progress on that front. If an operator has listed a well's status as "Shut in-future utility" for 10 years without doing anything with the well, I think it's only reasonable to require the operator to demonstrate that the well does in fact have some "future utility," or else plug and abandon it. 

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Permalink Reply by Dion Warr, CPL on April 25, 2018 at 11:57

Legislative update: SB 377 has cleared the Senate by 32-0 (7 absent) and is currently in committee in the House.  The bill was recently deferred but should be picked up on committee docket next week, per source.

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Permalink Reply by Skip Peel - Mineral Consultant on April 25, 2018 at 12:23

Thanks, Dion.  Which house committee will consider the bill?  I would encourage GHS members to communicate their support of the legislation to their local representative and the committee members.  I can ensure them that the industry will be lobbying against this bill.

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Permalink Reply by Dion Warr, CPL on April 25, 2018 at 12:44

Skip - Natural Resources and Environment.

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Permalink Reply by Skip Peel - Mineral Consultant on April 25, 2018 at 13:13

Thank you.

Committee Members   

Click names for full Member Information

Bishop, Stuart J.                    Chairman                    District   43               R                    Leopold, Christopher J.                    Vice Chair                    District   105               R                    Armes, James K.                    Member                    District   30               D                    Billiot, Robert E.                    Member                    District   83               D                    Brown, Terry R.                    Member                    District   22               I                    Connick, Patrick                    Member                    District   84               R                    Coussan, Jean-Paul                    Member                    District   45               R                    DeVillier, Phillip                    Member                    District   41               R                    Foil, Franklin J.                    Member                    District   70               R                    Gisclair, Jerry                    Member                    District   54               D                    Guinn, John E.                    Member                    District   37               R                    Lyons, Rodney                    Member                    District   87               D                    Magee, Tanner                    Member                    District   53               R                    McFarland, Jack                    Member                    District   13               R                    Miguez, Blake                    Member                    District   49               R                    Morris, James "Jim"                    Member                    District   1               R                    Reynolds, Eugene                    Member                    District   10               D                    White, Malinda                    Member                    District   75               D                    Zeringue, Jerome                    Member                    District   52               R                    Barras, Taylor F.                    Ex Officio                    District   48               R                    Leger, Walt III                    Ex Officio                    District   91               D

 

http://house.louisiana.gov/H_Cmtes/NaturalResources.aspx

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Permalink Reply by Dion Warr, CPL on April 26, 2018 at 3:12

Wow Jay...  pass the salt!  Lol...

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