PRINTER'S NO. 3459
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No.
2304
Session of
2018
INTRODUCED BY FRITZ, WHEELAND, JAMES, DOWLING, BENNINGHOFF AND
ZIMMERMAN, APRIL 30, 2018
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES AND ENERGY,
APRIL 30, 2018
AN ACT
Amending Title 58 (Oil and Gas) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated
Statutes, in development, further providing for well permits.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Section 3211(i) of Title 58 of the Pennsylvania
Consolidated Statutes is amended and the section is amended by
adding subsections to read:
ยง 3211. Well permits.
* * *
(a.1) Multi-well pad permit.--An unconventional well
operator may apply to the department for a multi-well pad permit
under subsections (b), (c) and (e) for the development of oil or
natural gas. A person who receives a multi-well pad permit under
this subsection shall not be required to obtain a separate well
permit under subsection (a) for any unconventional wells drilled
or altered within the permitted area that are spud prior to the
expiration of the permit. A copy of the permit shall be kept at
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the well site during preparation and construction of the well
site or access road during drilling or alteration of the well.
The following apply:
(1) For any well drilled under a permit issued under
this subsection, the area of review survey required by the
department identifying any wells which penetrate within 1,500
feet of planned hydraulic fracturing perforations shall be
submitted concurrent with the well record required under
section 3222(b)(2) (relating to well reporting requirements).
(2) Each application for a permit shall be accompanied
by a permit fee of $2,000.
(3) An operator shall pay a fee for each well spud under
authorization of a permit issued under this subsection. The
fee shall be equal to the fee charged by the department under
subsection (d).
(4) A permit issued under this subsection shall expire
five years after issuance unless operations for drilling a
well under the permit are commenced within the period and are
pursued with due diligence or unless the permit is renewed in
accordance with regulations of the department.
* * *
(e.2) Well deviation.--The department shall not require a
permittee to repermit a well unless the surface hole location of
the well deviates by more than 50 feet from the original
proposed surface hole location contained on the plat that
accompanies the well permit application. Deviation of the final
subterranean well bore path from the proposed subterranean well
bore path, if indicated, on the plat that accompanies the well
permit application due to geologic, safety, environmental
protection, optimal resource extraction or other reasonable
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consideration shall not constitute a violation.
* * *
(i) Expiration.--
(1) Well permits issued for drilling wells under this
chapter shall expire one year after issuance unless
operations for drilling the well are commenced within the
period and pursued with due diligence or unless the permit is
renewed in accordance with regulations of the department. If
drilling is commenced during the one-year period, the well
permit shall remain in force until the well is plugged in
accordance with section 3220 (relating to plugging
requirements) or the permit is revoked. A drilling permit
issued prior to April 18, 1985, for a well which is an
operating well on April 18, 1985, shall remain in force as a
well permit until the well is plugged in accordance with
section 3220.
(2) The department may establish, by regulation, a
multi-year well permit. The well permit application fee
charged by the department shall be prorated according to the
duration of the multi-year well permit.
* * *
Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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