97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2011 and 2012
SB2058

 

Introduced 2/10/2011, by Sen. Michael W. Frerichs

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
765 ILCS 530/6.5 new

    Amends the Drilling Operations Act. Requires the Department of Natural Resource to approve certain well stimulation activities before they are undertaken. Requires the owners and operators of the affected wells to provide the Department with specific information concerning, among other things: the geological names, geological description, and the depth of the formation into which well stimulation fluids are to be injected; each stimulation fluid identified by additive type; the chemical compound name and Chemical Abstracts Service (CAS) number for each additive used; and a copy of the contractor's proposed well stimulation program design. Requires the owner or operator to provide a detailed description of the proposed well stimulation design. Prohibits the use of volatile organic compounds, such as benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene, or any petroleum distillates for the specified types of well stimulation. Requires the owners and operators of the affected wells to provide certain information about the reuse and disposal of well stimulation fluids.


LRB097 10134 JDS 50318 b

FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY

 

 

A BILL FOR

 

SB2058LRB097 10134 JDS 50318 b

1    AN ACT concerning civil law.
 
2    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3represented in the General Assembly:
 
4    Section 5. The Drilling Operations Act is amended by adding
5Section 6.5 as follows:
 
6    (765 ILCS 530/6.5 new)
7    Sec. 6.5. Extraction of natural gas using hydraulic
8fracturing.
9    (a) An application for a permit to extract natural gas from
10shale using well stimulation fluids must be approved by the
11Department of Natural Resources prior to the initiation of any
12such extraction activity. The Director of Natural Resources
13shall require, prior to such extraction, the owner or operator
14to perform a suitable mechanical integrity test of the casing
15or of the casing-tubing annulus or other mechanical integrity
16test methods using procedures approved by the Department of
17Natural Resources.
18    (b) The owner or operator shall provide geological names,
19geological description, and the depth of the formation into
20which well stimulation fluids are to be injected.
21    (c) The owner or operator shall provide detailed
22information to the Director of Natural Resources concerning the
23base stimulation fluid source. The owner, operator, or service

 

 

SB2058- 2 -LRB097 10134 JDS 50318 b

1company shall also provide to the Director, for each stage of
2the well stimulation program, the following:
3        (1) each stimulation fluid identified by additive
4    type;
5        (2) the chemical compound name and Chemical Abstracts
6    Service (CAS) number for each additive used;
7        (3) the proposed rate or concentration for each
8    additive;
9        (4) a copy of the contractor's proposed well
10    stimulation program design; and
11        (5) any other information requested by the Director of
12    the Environmental Protection Agency.
13    (d) The owner or operator shall also provide a detailed
14description of the proposed well stimulation design, which
15shall include:
16        (1) the anticipated surface treating pressure range;
17        (2) the maximum injection treating pressure; and
18        (3) the estimated or calculated fracture length and
19    fracture height.
20    (e) The Department of Natural Resources shall post the
21information that it receives under subsections (c) and (d) on
22its Internet website for a period of not less than 5 years. In
23the interest of public health and safety, such information may
24not be claimed as a trade secret under this or any other Act.
25    (f) The injection of volatile organic compounds, such as
26benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene, also known as BTEX

 

 

SB2058- 3 -LRB097 10134 JDS 50318 b

1compounds, or any petroleum distillates, is prohibited without
2exception.
3    (g) In addition to any other information that it must
4provide, the owner, operator, or service company shall provide
5the Director of Natural Resources the following post well
6stimulation detail:
7        (1) the actual total well stimulation treatment volume
8    pumped;
9        (2) detail as to each fluid stage pumped, including
10    actual volume by fluid stage, proppant rate or
11    concentration, actual chemical additive name, type,
12    concentration or rate, and amounts;
13        (3) the actual surface pressure and rate at the end of
14    each fluid stage and the actual flush volume, rate, and
15    final pump pressure; and
16        (4) the instantaneous shut-in pressure, and the actual
17    15-minute and 30-minute shut-in pressures when these
18    pressure measurements are available.
19    (h) During the well stimulation operation, the owner or
20operator shall monitor and record the annulus pressure at the
21bradenhead. If intermediate casing has been set on the well
22being stimulated, the pressure in the annulus between the
23intermediate casing and the production casing shall also be
24monitored and recorded. A continuous record of the annulus
25pressure during the well stimulation shall be submitted.
26    (i) If, during the stimulation, the annulus pressure

 

 

SB2058- 4 -LRB097 10134 JDS 50318 b

1increases by more than 500 pounds per square inch gauge (psig)
2compared to the pressure immediately preceding the
3stimulation, the owner or operator shall verbally notify the
4Director of Natural Resources as soon as practical but no later
5than 24 hours following the incident. The owner or operator
6shall include a report containing all details pertaining to the
7incident, including corrective actions taken.
8    (j) The owner or operator shall provide information to the
9Director of Natural Resources as to the amounts, handling, and,
10if necessary, disposal at an identified appropriate disposal
11facility, or reuse of the well stimulation fluid load recovered
12during flow back, swabbing, or recovery from production
13facility vessels. Storage of that fluid shall be protective of
14groundwater as demonstrated by the use of either tanks or lined
15pits.