Video & Transcript Research : 'well plugging'
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TX
Transcript Highlights:
- But in trying to get the abandoned wells and inactive wells, you know, so I see the same parallel in
- and active wells.
- Well, there's no reapplication of electrical support structure to turn the well back on, but at the 10
- A lot of these wells, that field was discovered in the 20s and they continued to drill wells in the 50s
- well, and if they want to choose gas.
Keywords:
occupational licenses, renewal, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, registration, license expiration, HB 2663, inactive well, plugging extension, Railroad Commission of Texas, RRC, oil and gas, orphan wells, well cleanup, well plugging, abandoned wells, surface equipment removal, electric service termination, administrative penalty, Natural Resources Code, Section 89.029
Summary:
The Senate Committee on Natural Resources heard several House bills dealing with environmental regulation, oil and gas safety, landfill permits, and utility cost recovery. HB 1237, by Rep. Geren and sponsored by Sen. Zaffirini, would extend TCEQ occupational license renewal deadlines from 30 days to 90 days, allow renewal up to one year with higher fees, and require a new application after longer expiration; the committee substitute clarified that applicants may continue working only until renewal is approved or denied and set a 180-day cutoff for renewal. HB 3071, sponsored by Sen. Hancock, would require TCEQ to cancel certain long-dormant municipal solid waste permits; members discussed concerns about precedent, ownership changes, and whether the bill should be narrowed, and the bill was left pending with a committee substitute expected.
The committee also heard HB 2663, sponsored by Sen. Birdwell, which would require operators of inactive oil and gas wells to remove or de-energize electrical equipment after 10 years and authorize Railroad Commission penalties for false compliance. Testimony from landowners, cattle raisers, and the Sierra Club supported the bill as a wildfire-prevention measure, and the bill was left pending. HB 4384, also by Rep. Darby and sponsored by Sen. Birdwell, would let natural gas utilities defer certain infrastructure costs for later recovery through the GRIP process; utility representatives supported it as credit-positive and consistent with existing accounting, while consumer advocates opposed it as increasing rates without enough oversight. The committee discussed possible amendments to add more cost controls, and the bill was left pending.
Later, the committee voted HB 2563, the companion to SB 2510, favorably to the full Senate by a 5-0 vote and ordered it certified for the local and uncontested calendar. The committee then took up HB 143, which would codify interagency procedures for addressing electrical power line safety at well sites and related facilities after wildfire concerns; members said a committee substitute had been negotiated with agencies and stakeholders to clarify responsibilities, timelines, and inspection authority while reducing fiscal impact. No final vote was taken on HB 143, and the committee recessed with several bills still pending.
TX
Keywords:
occupational licenses, renewal, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, registration, license expiration, HB 2663, inactive well, plugging extension, Railroad Commission of Texas, RRC, oil and gas, orphan wells, well cleanup, well plugging, abandoned wells, surface equipment removal, electric service termination, administrative penalty, Natural Resources Code, Section 89.029
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- going to use that well.
- In trying to get the abandoned wells and inactive wells, I see the same parallel in what you're trying
- Well, de-electrified...
- to drill wells from that time.
- So, well, in that sense, yes, it allows.
Keywords:
occupational licenses, renewal, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, registration, license expiration, HB 2663, inactive well, plugging extension, Railroad Commission of Texas, RRC, oil and gas, orphan wells, well cleanup, well plugging, abandoned wells, surface equipment removal, electric service termination, administrative penalty, Natural Resources Code, Section 89.029
AL
Alabama 2026 1st Special Session
Alabama Senate Transportation and Energy Committee Jan 22nd, 2026
Transportation and Energy
Transcript Highlights:
- [clears throat] Well, we'll talk privately about it. >> Not necessarily.
- [clears throat] Well, we'll talk privately about it. >> We'll we'll talk but but I will say this a well
- Um how many wells is in the Gulf? That's the first question.
- is in the Um how many how many wells is in the Gulf?
- We would like to have some information on how many wells in the Gulf and how many of those wells are
Keywords:
business taxes, annual reports, Alabama Tax Tribunal, tax appeals, local government, SB174, alternative energy, alternative energy wells, alternative energy facility, geothermal, geothermal energy, subsurface energy, energy storage, energy capture, energy generation, hydropower, solar energy, oil and gas well conversion, well conversion, plugging and abandonment
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- The plugging of orphan oil and gas wells in Texas.
- plugger to plug an orphan well.
- Can you tell me the cost of plugging a well today?
- true limit to well plugging extensions.
- Well plugging extensions should only be permitted for operators with a history of plugging older wells
Keywords:
inactive wells, oil and gas regulation, environmental protection, Railroad Commission of Texas, well plugging, Railroad Commission, penalties, violations, pipeline safety, civil penalties, criminal penalties, wildfire prevention, oil and gas, safety inspections, administrative penalties, excavation, notification, utilities, underground facilities, regulatory compliance
OK
Oklahoma 2026 Regular Session
Appropriations and Budget REVISED: SB1403 - ADDED TO AGENDA Apr 14th, 2026 at 04:30 pm
Appropriations and Budget
Transcript Highlights:
- other situations that are happening in Oklahoma, they would also be eligible to qualify or apply as well
- There was no oil and gas wells in that development. There's no past history.
- There was no oil and gas wells in that development. There's no past history.
- So— ...that there was ever an oil and gas well under that house.
- destroy it to go find the well.
Keywords:
SB1319, Corporation Commission, Oklahoma, remediation, environmental emergency, brine contamination, oil contamination, oilfield pollution, residential property, home buyout, property acquisition, fair market value, revolving fund, remediation fund, state plugging funds, well plugging, abandoned well, natural breakout, Department of Environmental Quality, DEQ
OK
Oklahoma 2026 Regular Session
Senate Legislative Session Feb 5th, 2026 at 09:30 am
Oklahoma Senate Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- Leader, President, I ask that Senator Bullard be allowed to bring an entourage onto the floor as well
- acts of kindness to just be kind to people, just do it Randomly, what we need to be teaching them as well
- And we have other heroes as well. Would you all stand if you're in law enforcement?
- Would you guys stand in recognition as well, and with the Senate, please give them a warm Senate welcome
Keywords:
water infrastructure, Oklahoma Water Resources Board, revolving fund, grants, environmental compliance, SB1191, Oklahoma Energy Initiative Act, Oklahoma Low Carbon Energy Initiative Board, low carbon energy, clean energy, energy policy, renewable energy, board repeal, statutory repeal, administrative board, energy committee, natural resources, Oklahoma statutes, 17 O.S. 802.3, fossil fuels
OK
Transcript Highlights:
- to potentially plug a well.
- list, and there's about 19,000 wells out there to be plugged.
- We do know that they don't address remediation until the well is plugged.
- Anything that reduces the orphan well list. So, some of them may not need to be plugged.
- But we could refer an orphan well that's plugged to the OERB. Well, I've just seen some of.
Keywords:
SB1191, Oklahoma Energy Initiative Act, Oklahoma Low Carbon Energy Initiative Board, low carbon energy, clean energy, energy policy, renewable energy, board repeal, statutory repeal, administrative board, energy committee, natural resources, Oklahoma statutes, 17 O.S. 802.3, groundwater, indemnity fund, well drilling, pollution prevention, regulatory compliance, SB1319
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- electric infrastructure, thereby reducing fire risks and improving compliance with well-plugging regulations
- active... for 10 or more years as part of the application process for a well plugging extension.
- It usually costs, you know, $50,000 to $75,000 to plug a well.
- So if you seek an extension to plug your inactive well under current law, this strengthens that language
- Out of a water well. Out of a water well. On gas wells, right?
Keywords:
HB 48, oilfield theft, organized theft, petroleum products, oil and gas equipment, DPS, Department of Public Safety, Texas, Railroad Commission, criminal justice, energy resources, theft prevention, organized crime, border region, El Paso, law enforcement task force, asset recovery, pipeline theft, drilling equipment, equipment theft
KY
Kentucky 2026 Regular Session
Interim Joint Committee on Natural Resources and Energy (10-19-23)
Keywords:
KY LRC YouTube, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w9NoLfE1zVY, 2026-06-21T07:17:05+00:00, 2.2.24, Data collected via generic collector engine, Meeting Start 00:00:00
Attendance Roll Call 00:00:15
Approval of Minutes 00:02:41
Update from the Energy and Environment Cabinet on the Orphan Oil and Gas Well Plugging Program 00:02:54
The Kentucky GRANT Program Established by 2023 House Bill 9 00:19:00, 958, all, 2.2.42, 2.1.47
TX
Texas 89th Regular
Water, Agriculture, and Rural Affairs May 5th, 2025
Water, Agriculture and Rural Affairs
Transcript Highlights:
- My wife and I built a new home on the property in 2009, and we dug a well, and in 2021 the well started
- And they replaced the water well, but we were out of water on our place for about almost a year, well
- My wife and I built a new home on the property in 2009, and we dug a well, um, and in 2021, uh, the well
- And they replaced the water well, but we were out of water on our place for about almost a year, well
- We have over 450 monitor wells now.
Keywords:
agricultural conservation, land preservation, environmental protection, wildlife habitat, Texas Farm and Ranch, groundwater conservation district, Texas Water Code, water permit, permit amendment, groundwater permit, water rights, aquifer, well registration, exempt wells, beneficial use, water conservation, groundwater quality, well plugging, Hill Country Priority Groundwater Management Area, surface water resources
Summary:
The Senate Water, Agriculture, Rural Affairs Committee heard several bills focused on groundwater management, water infrastructure, and agricultural land conservation. SB 612 would limit certain water districts in Hidalgo, Cameron, and Willacy counties from charging developers pipeline construction fees above actual, documented costs; the committee substitute removed a developer challenge mechanism to preserve district discretion over construction standards. HB 1633 would require groundwater conservation districts to consider registered exempt wells when reviewing or amending permits, and testimony from landowners, district representatives, and advocacy groups largely supported the bill as a way to protect domestic and livestock wells from drawdown caused by large export projects. HB 1689 would clarify that export fee revenues may be used for well operability, alternative water supplies, and aquifer monitoring, including through interlocal cooperation, and HB 3058 would give the Post Oak Savannah Groundwater Conservation District authority to use export fees for county road improvements and environmental programs tied to well inspection and groundwater management. HB 2018 would clarify that the Texas Farm and Ranchland Conservation Program is intended to purchase conservation easements only on working agricultural lands, with support from cattle raisers and Farm Bureau representatives. The committee also considered HB 29, which would require large water systems to validate water loss audits and submit mitigation plans; a committee substitute removed the water-loss threshold and adjusted the timeline for more detailed validation. Public testimony on the bills was generally supportive, with several witnesses describing declining well levels, road damage from export projects, and the need to preserve agricultural land and local water supplies. The committee adopted committee substitutes and voted favorably on HB 29, HB 1689, HB 2018, SB 612, and SB 3058, recommending several of them for the local and uncontested calendar; HB 1633 was left pending awaiting a committee substitute.
LA
Transcript Highlights:
- Well, good.
- Well, let me say this.
- Well, no one's offered up the amendment. Okay, well, then I'm—let's not... is it offered?
- Well, y'all famine and me.
- , well, the successor is FDIC.
Bills:
HB387, HB673, HB947, HB975, HB1102, HB1228, HB1229, HCR66, SB102, SB165, SB280, SB291, SB326, SB521
Keywords:
engineering, land surveying, construction, state fire marshal, plan review, security cameras, abandoned property, blighted structures, property management, digital assets, abandonment, custodian, escheatment, blockchain, cryptocurrency, unclaimed property, state treasurer, Department of Public Service, statutory entities, public administration
OK
Transcript Highlights:
- So that's the intent is To try to make it more well known of whatever process is being discussed or program
- These people are plugging these cars in every night, drawing on the power.
- Well, with that need, we've got to push these electrons to.
- Well, what I'm trying to do here is something that is good for the people.
- Well, how about this: Did they own the property before the houses were built in 1983?
Keywords:
environmental permitting, Oklahoma, Department of Environmental Quality, public participation, regulatory framework, administered applications, energy, wind energy, financial assurance, property restoration, environmental regulation, mining, blasting, residential protection, buffer zone, Department of Mines, public utilities, electric transmission lines, landowner rights, payment regulations
TX
Texas 89th Regular
Senate Committee on Water, Agriculture, and Rural Affairs May 5th, 2025
Water, Agriculture and Rural Affairs
Transcript Highlights:
- In 2021, the well started sucking air.
- Well, a little over a year, actually.
- We'll see their wells go dry.
- , and a lot of these monitor wells are...
- You heard the previous bill about exempt wells and how we handle exempt wells, and so all of that is
Keywords:
agricultural conservation, land preservation, environmental protection, wildlife habitat, Texas Farm and Ranch, groundwater conservation district, Texas Water Code, water permit, permit amendment, groundwater permit, water rights, aquifer, well registration, exempt wells, beneficial use, water conservation, groundwater quality, well plugging, Hill Country Priority Groundwater Management Area, surface water resources
OK
Oklahoma 2026 Regular Session
Appropriations and Budget Natural Resources Subcommittee Apr 6th, 2026 at 10:30 am
A&B Natural Resources Subcommittee
Transcript Highlights:
- Well, I know that we reduced them to an advisory committee does that still that still fall within their
- that that was to be honest with you one of my very first concerns when looking at current process as well
- which is something that maybe this committee would want to look at moving forward as well but as is
- question chairman Representativetownwnley you're recognized for a question on the bill thank you sir. well
- If you guys would be willing to take that up as well, we want to adopt the PCS first. Mr.
Keywords:
tourism, revolving fund, Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Department, real property, fund management, Oklahoma Local Food for Schools, school meals, local food procurement, farm to school, school districts, Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry, local producers, meat processors, reimbursement program, agriculture, nutrition, farmers, ranchers, local sourcing
TX
Bills:
SB 3074, HB 49, HB 2440, HB 3556, HB 3619, HB 3866, HB 4042, HB 4112, HB 4271, HB 4413, HB 4426, HB 5033
Keywords:
oil waste, gas waste, liability, treatment processes, environmental safety, beneficial use, motor vehicle, air quality, energy source, engine, state implementation plan, construction, wildlife impact, height restrictions, national wildlife refuge, environmental regulations, surface estate, well plugging, Railroad Commission, landowner rights
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- Well, Ms. Gibbons is just with the agency. as a resource. OK. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
- Well, we'll do the whole panel. Catherine, thank you, Chairman.
- as well as some of the corporate restructuring initiatives.
- HPA Capital Management is a well-respected investment firm based in Dallas.
- Well, that gets confusing. A bump...
Bills:
SB483, SB522, SB783, SB1239, SB1254, SB1255, SB1259, SB1341, SB1664, SB1762, SB1856, SB1877, SB1977
Keywords:
utility, proprietary information, customer data, data protection, electric service, customer information, emergency communication, electric utility, privacy, certification, public accountants, interstate licensing, accounting, regulatory amendment, energy efficiency, construction regulations, building codes, Texas, sustainability, cost-effectiveness
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- Members, this is a bill we heard previously that deals with voluntary plugging of orphan wells by operators
- As we know, when orphan wells are plugged by the Railroad Commission, there is no operator.
- If we're going to send a contractor into a property to plug a well, they have to leave the property like
- Back in 2022, the Railroad Commission came to plug a couple of wells on the ranch.
- They don't want the public to know what they do when they plug a well because they don't plug them properly
Keywords:
surface estate, well plugging, Railroad Commission, landowner rights, liability, strategic reserve, gas supply, petroleum products, disaster response, Railroad Commission of Texas, energy security, emergency planning, oil and gas waste, environmental regulation, waste management, mining pits, groundwater monitoring, regulation, commercial disposal facilities, environmental standards
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- So that's a new requirement as well.
- So effectively the sediment that's coming up from an exploration well or from production wells.
- Well depths and complexity increased, leading to long-reach horizontal wells with multi-stage fracturing
- Revenues for those wells.
- The Smith family that was only 10 wells and there's suddenly an issue with the 10 wells derived from
Keywords:
surface estate, well plugging, Railroad Commission, landowner rights, liability, strategic reserve, gas supply, petroleum products, disaster response, Railroad Commission of Texas, energy security, emergency planning, oil and gas waste, environmental regulation, waste management, mining pits, groundwater monitoring, regulation, commercial disposal facilities, environmental standards
TX
Texas 89th Regular
Senate Committee on Business and Commerce Mar 25th, 2025 at 08:00 am
Business & Commerce
Transcript Highlights:
- You can move that microphone because I can hear very well.
- Well, it's your expectation. It's your delivery, so you should know. But go ahead.
- This goes along well with bills from last week with Senator Parker and the Texas Stock Exchange, as well
- HBK is a well-respected investment firm.
- Like, well, let's do this and let's do that.
Bills:
SB483, SB522, SB783, SB1239, SB1254, SB1255, SB1259, SB1341, SB1664, SB1762, SB1856, SB1877, SB1977
Keywords:
utility, proprietary information, customer data, data protection, electric service, customer information, emergency communication, electric utility, privacy, certification, public accountants, interstate licensing, accounting, regulatory amendment, energy efficiency, construction regulations, building codes, Texas, sustainability, cost-effectiveness
Summary:
The Senate Business and Commerce Committee met with a quorum and first took up pending business, voting out several bills. Senate Bills 1697, 1569, 1202 as substituted, 1029, 1364, 1185, 924, 1008 as substituted, 264, 1376, and 1358 as substituted were reported favorably, with some sent to the local and uncontested calendar. The committee also adopted a substitute for SB 1202 and later corrected votes on several measures. SB 924 and SB 1376 drew some opposition, while the rest of the pending bills were reported without dissent or with limited nays.
The committee then heard testimony on SB 1856, which would create an annual capacity-cost recovery rider for Entergy Texas customers in the MISO region. The author and Entergy argued the bill would better match rates to actual capacity costs and improve transparency, while the Texas Association of Manufacturers and the Public Utility Commission raised concerns about the short 10-day review period, rider proliferation, and the preference for full rate cases over piecemeal adjustments. The bill was left pending. The committee also heard and left pending SB 522 on CPA reciprocity, SB 1664 requiring TDUs to provide clearer, standalone rate-change disclosures, SB 1877 expanding OPUC’s access to market data, SB 1254 and SB 1255 as TDLR cleanup bills on professional employer organizations and mold assessors, SB 1341 updating manufactured housing rules, SB 1239 on sovereign debt and Texas governing law, and SB 1259 streamlining the surveyor-in-training licensing process.
Additional bills discussed included SB 1977, which would cap recoverable legal expenses in electric, water, and sewer rate cases; OPUC and some consumer advocates supported the idea as a way to reduce ratepayer costs, while utility representatives warned it could discourage participation and increase rate shock. The committee also heard SB 1762 clarifying that geothermal energy conservation wells are not battery resources, and SB 783 allowing SECO to proceed with future energy-code rulemaking for state-funded buildings. Both drew supportive testimony from industry and environmental groups. All remaining bills heard during the meeting were left pending, and the committee recessed subject to the call of the chair.