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Special Service Operations Safety (Part I)

What are wireline operations?

Wireline operations are part of special services during the completion and production of oil and gas wells to serve several purposes like equipment transport, swabbing, reservoir evaluation, logging, well intervention, perforation, pipe recovery, downhole tool setting, and bailing. They include both electric and slickline operations.

What is the difference between electric lines and slicklines?

Electric lines are cables that gather and transmit data about a well; they consist of single or multi-
strands for well intervention and formation evaluation. In contrast, slicklines are single-strand non-
electric cables for placing and recovering wellbore equipment like gauges, plugs, and valves. They can also be utilized for tubing repair in the wellbore and for valve and sleeve adjustment in the downhole.

How to prevent masts or booms from toppling over?

It is always important to install foundations, guying, and outriggers according to the recommendations of the manufacturer.

A co-worker was suddenly exposed to an unexpected release of pressure. What are the possible steps to be done?

Install a pressure-release valve in the lubricator sub before bleeding pressure from it. Break the connections and look out for an unusually tight connection. It may indicate that pressure has not been released.

What are the measures that could be implemented to minimize hand injuries and sprains?

Encourage workers to practice proper hand placement and taglines to prevent pinching hands. If possible, minimize handling lubricators and other equipment manually to avoid overexertion.

What is well logging?

Well logging is the identification and recording of information regarding subsurface geologic formations. It includes well bore properties; mud records; cutting analysis; drill stem tests; core analysis; and electric, acoustic, and radioactivity procedures. Tools utilized for well logging include mechanical, electrical, radioactive, and sonic tools.

What are the potential hazards of well logging and how to prevent them?

As mentioned, some tools can expose a worker to radiation. Injuries could also occur due to unexpected release of pressure. It is very important to ensure that workers wear appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE). Logging personnel who are duly authorized and qualified should only be allowed to handle logging tools. Should any radioactive tools be damaged, report immediately. Keep non-essential workers away from the rig floor and marked-off areas of radiation hazards.

General Information: Cameron County

Permit approval rates in Cameron County have only reached a high of just over 9 permits approved. This happened in 1998. The second highest record of permit approvals in the county happened in 1990 and 1992 when 9 permits were approved on each year. The last year that permits were given out was in 2013 when two permits submitted by the Esenjay Operating, Inc. and Sanchez Oil & Gas Corporation were approved. In the previous years, Waters Eng. & Operating, Inc. AND Western Gulf Oil & Gas, LLC were among the companies that filed permits in the county.

OilTexas

Oil production in Cameron County has gone on a downward spiral since 1993 when more than 1,900 barrels of oil were produced. In fact, in 2002, no oil was produced in the county at all. This has been the case in the past two years as well.

In the county’s history, some 130 operations have entered into its territory. At present, there are no oil leases in the county.

Operator Number
Operator Name
Location
Leases
000195 A & D COGENERATION COMPANY
000202 A & D EXPLORATION COMPANY Rockport, TX 78381
008380 ADOBE OIL & GAS CORP.
008398 ADOBE RESOURCES CORPORATION
015114 ALPHA-OMEGA ENERGY
018890 AMERICAN PENN ENERGY, INC.
019768 AMERICORP PETROLEUM COMPANY
025640 ANSCHUTZ CORPORATION, THE
029340 ARCO OIL & GAS CO.
033860 ASAMERA OIL (U.S.) INC.
035643 ATASCA RESOURCES, INC. Houston, TX 77219
036550 ATLANTIC RICHFIELD CO.
037057 AUSTIN RESOURCES CORPORATION
038889 AWP OPERATING COMPANY San Antonio, TX 78209
057850 BAY ROCK CORP.
057860 BAY ROCK OPERATING COMPANY San Antonio, TX 78212
063265 BELL, KELLY
064084 BENCHMARK LAND & EXPLORATION INC
068468 BEXCO OPERATING, INC. College Sta, TX 77842
072550 BISHOP, R. H.
082993 BORDER EXPLORATION CO.
088569 BRAHMAN ENERGY, INC.
091093 BRIDGE OIL COMPANY, L. P.
108800 BURK ROYALTY COMPANY
125948 CALPINE NATURAL GAS COMPANY
125946 CALPINE NATURAL GAS COMPANY L.P.
125944 CALPINE NATURAL GAS L.P.
131850 CARL OIL & GAS INC.
140588 CAYUGA EXPLORATION, INC.
141023 CENIZA PETROLEUM, INC. Portland, TX 78374
151600 CHRISTIE ENERGY CO., INC.
161397 CNG PRODUCING COMPANY
161639 COASTAL OIL & GAS CORPORATION
161700 COASTAL STATES GAS PROD. CO.
173740 CONTINENTAL OIL COMPANY
173881 CONTRACT ENERGY, L.L.C.
179825 CORPUS CHRISTI OIL & GAS CO.
191660 CRYSTAL OIL COMPANY
192055 CULBERSON WELL SERVICE, INC.
216748 DEWBRE PETROLEUM CORPORATION Corpus Chrsti, TX 78401
220846 DISCORBIS OIL COMPANY San Antonio, TX 78217
220889 DIVERSIFIED O&G PROD. CO., INC. Houston, TX 77257
237926 DYNAMIC PRODUCTION, INC. Fort Worth, TX 76106
251955 ENERGY DEVELOPMENT CORP.
252125 ENGELKE, R. H. San Antonio, TX 78230
254262 ESENJAY OPERATING, INC. Corpus Chrsti, TX 78426
254254 ESENJAY PETROLEUM CORP.
257097 EXXON CORP.
263701 FAULCONER, VERNON E., INC. Tyler, TX 75711 1
273990 FLORIDA GAS EXPLORATION COMPANY

General Information: Carson County

The peak of Carson County’s permit approval occurred in 1997 when over 40 permits were approved for that year alone. Only the spike in permit approvals that occurred in 2014 has come close to this record. For last year, just 10 permits were approved. For this year, over 35 permits were approved.

As for oil production, it peaked in 1993 when the county produced more than 574,300 barrels of oil. Ever since, the production in the county has gone down to an average of around 344,580 barrels of oil. For this year, the production went down to just over 114,860 barrels.

Since the start of the county’s operations, around 489 operators have gone into its territory. The top leases include the Bednorz “B” Oil Lease #005031; Burnett –K- Oil Lease #003804; Dawkins Oil Lease #005578; Fee -244- Oil Lease #000106; and Schafer Ranch Oil Lease #000142.

Top Leases in Carson County, TX
Bednorz “B” Oil Lease #005031
Burnett Gas Lease #270243
Burnett Gas Lease #157010
Burnett Gas Lease #023147
Burnett Gas Lease #023142
Burnett Oil Lease #000112
Burnett Gas Lease #273498
Burnett -K- Oil Lease #003804
Burnett Ad Unit Gas Lease #272857
Burnett D Gas Lease #272155
Burnett Estate A Gas Lease #136047
Burnett, Estate Gas Lease #024499
Crutchfield Gas Lease #024066
Dawkins Oil Lease #005578
Fee -244- Oil Lease #000106
Schafer Ranch Oil Lease #000142
Schafer Ranch East Oil Lease #006568
Two Bar Ranch Oil Lease #005158
Wab-Evelyn Oil Lease #005586
Ware, R. C. Et Al Oil Lease #006857

Operator Number
Operator Name
Location
Leases
953678 3 W OIL, INC.
953729 3-G OIL & GAS, INC.
953592 3TEC ENERGY CORPORATION
000139 A & B WELL SERVICE INC.
003537 ACE PLUGGING
005920 ADAMS, K. S. JR.
008391 ADOBE OPERATING COMPANY Pampa, TX 79066
008394 ADOBE OPERATING, INC.
008710 AGGIE OIL
012467 ALIBATES OPERATORS
014162 ALLIANCE RESOURCES CORPORATION Dallas, TX 75367
015057 ALMAC OIL COMPANY
016544 AMACAN EXPLORATIONS, INC.
016549 AMACAN PRODUCTIONS, INC.
016830 AMARILLO OIL CO.
017000 AMERADA PETROLEUM CORP.
020425 AMOCO PRODUCTION COMPANY
020512 AMROSERVICE, INC.
020572 ANADARKO PETROLEUM CORPORATION Houston, TX 77251
020582 ANADARKO PRODUCTION COMPANY
020573 ANANDA ENERGY INC. Pampa, TX 79066
020588 ANCHOR ENERGY COMPANY
025518 ANISMAN, S.
028650 APX CORPORATION
028710 ARAPAHOE PROD. CO.
029340 ARCO OIL & GAS CO.
030804 ARKOMA, SANDRA
031620 ARMOUR PROPERTIES
033130 ARRINGTON BROTHERS
033147 ARRINGTON PRODUCTION COMPANY Pampa, TX 79065 3
033732 ARTEX RESOURCES Borger, TX 79008 1
035447 ASPEN PETROLEUM, INC.
036550 ATLANTIC RICHFIELD CO.
038960 AXELROD, KENNETH M.
039780 B & B FARM INDUSTRIES, INC.
041155 B & R OIL & GAS
040708 B-J OPERATING COMPANY Pampa, TX 79066
040772 B.M.L., INC.
048540 BANNON ENERGY INCORPORATED
049250 BARGO ENERGY COMPANY
061609 BEDSTONE OPERATING CO.
065846 BENSON-MCCOWN & COMPANY Amarillo, TX 79114 1
068426 BEVO PRODUCTION CO.
068580 BHB OPERATING INC. Fort Worth, TX 76137
040668 BHI ENERGY CORPORATION
069762 BIG OIL Borger, TX 79007 1
072639 BLACK GOLD ENERGY CO.
074001 BLAIR ENERGY, INC.
074167 BLAIR OIL COMPANY
077571 BMX CORPORATION, INC.

General Information: Chambers County

Permit approval in Chambers County has been erratic at best since the start of its operations in 1990. The highest permit approval rate came in 1997 when more than 100 permits were approved. The lowest permit approval that has been recorded with only 20 permits approved was in 2009. This year, permit approval soared to more than 60 permits. The top companies that have filed permits in the county for approval are Samson Exploration, LLC; Linc Gulf Coast Petroleum, Inc.; and Denbury Onshore, LLC.

Meanwhile, the highest oil production recorded in the county occurred in 2013 when more than 2,577,175 barrels of oil were produced. The lowest recorded production occurred in 2009 when only around 515,435 barrels of oil were produced. In its entire history of operations, some 766 operators have gone into the county’s territory. The top leases in the county include the Chambers County Agr. Co. Oil Lease #000170; Fitzgerald, L. E. Unit # 1 Oil Lease #000191; Gallo Oil Lease #026272; Kirby Per Co. Oil Lease #000156; and Kirby Pet. Co. –B- Oil Lease #000194.

Operator Number
Operator Name
Location
Leases
403070 403070 – NAME UNKNOWN
000555 A.O.E. OPERATORS, INC. Fulshear, TX 77441
000894 ABACO OPERATING, LLC San Antonio, TX 78209 1
003399 ACCIDIE EXPLORATION AND DEV.,INC Plano, TX 75023
003539 ACE PRODUCTIONS Beaumont, TX 77707
003594 ACOCK ENGINEERING & ASSOC., INC.
003596 ACOCK OPERATING LIMITED San Antonio, TX 78217 2
003598 ACOCK/ANAQUA OPERATING CO., LC
003599 ACOCK/ANAQUA OPERATING CO., LP Corpus Chrsti, TX 78401
000222 ADS OPERATING, INC. Houston, TX 77257
009105 AIKMAN OIL CORP. Oklahoma City, OK 73157
009115 AIKMAN PETROLEUM, INC.
011445 ALEGRE ENERGY OPERATING, LP
011441 ALEGRE ENERGY, INC. San Antonio, TX 78216
015058 ALLYDAR OIL AND GAS CO., INC. Park City, UT 84060
015721 ALTA MESA SERVICES, LP Houston, TX 77094
016859 AMAX OIL & GAS INC.
016860 AMAX PETROLEUM CORPORATION
016870 AMAZON ROYALTIES, INC. Fulshear, TX 77441
016886 AMBRIT ENERGY CORP.
016980 AMERADA HESS CORPORATION
018007 AMERICAN COASTAL ENERGY, INC.
018023 AMERICAN EXPLORATION COMPANY
018870 AMERICAN OPERATING COMPANY
018900 AMERICAN PETROFINA CO. OF TEX.
020445 AMOCO PRODUCTION CO.-ALVIN
020425 AMOCO PRODUCTION COMPANY
020449 AMORAH, L.L.C.
020572 ANADARKO PETROLEUM CORPORATION Houston, TX 77251
020582 ANADARKO PRODUCTION COMPANY
024124 ANDRESS PETROLEUM, INC.
025514 ANICO SIX SIXTY SIX
025691 ANTARA RESOURCES, INC.
027200 APACHE CORPORATION Houston, TX 77056
027344 APB OIL CORPORATION
027466 APEXCO EXPLORATION & PROD., INC.
029340 ARCO OIL & GAS CO.
029348 ARCO OIL & GAS CO.-SILSBEE
030300 ARISTA NOVELTY, INC.
034380 ASHFORD OIL & GAS COMPANY
035453 ASPECT ENERGY, LLC Denver, CO 80203
035452 ASPECT RESOURCES LLC
036548 ATLANTIC & GULF-WESTERN PET CORP Houston, TX 77036
036550 ATLANTIC RICHFIELD CO.
036551 ATLANTIC RICHFIELD CO.-CORPUS
039661 AZIMUTH ENERGY, LLC
042685 BAGLEY, ROY Magnolia, TX 77354
043300 BAILEY, DONALD RAY
048169 BALLARD EXPLORATION COMPANY,INC. Houston, TX 77002 1
049170 BARCO OIL & GAS CO. Houston, TX 77098

General Information: Childress County

The highest recorded permit approval rate in Childress was in 1997 when more than 4 permits were approved. In 2005 and 2008, just 4 permits were filed. In 2014, one permit was filed and disapproved. This was filed by LMH Energy. Other companies that filed permits in the county were Corlena Oil Company and Annavas Development Co., LTD.

In 2009, the county listed its highest production at more than 36,900 barrels of oil for that year alone. For this year, production has gone down to just 7,380 barrels of oil. This is almost at the same level as the county’s worse production years on 1993 to 1999.

childress

Since the start of its operations, around 50 operators have gone into Childress County’s territory. The top leases in the county include the Coats Oil Lease #007190; Jouett Oil Lease #007866; Key, A. Oil Lease #007355; Lock Unit Oil Lease #007093; Perkins Oil Lease #007045; and Sharp Oil Lease #007456.

Top Leases in Childress County, TX

  • Coats Oil Lease #007190
  • Jouett Oil Lease #007866
  • Key, A. Oil Lease #007355
  • Lock Unit Oil Lease #007093
  • Perkins Oil Lease #007045
  • Sharp Oil Lease #007456
Operator Number
Operator Name
Location
Leases
025626 ANNAVAS DEVELOPMENT CO., LTD.
029870 ARGONAUT ENERGY CORPORATION
048943 BARBEE, INC.
074110 BLAIR, JACK N.
092480 BRIDWELL OIL CO. Wichita Falls, TX 76307
126775 CAMBRIDGE & NAIL
129932 CANYON EXPLORATION CO. Amarillo, TX 79105
148113 CHEVRON U. S. A. INC. Houston, TX 77252
178450 CORLENA OIL COMPANY Amarillo, TX 79101 4
179445 CORPENING ENTERPRISES
209380 DECLEVA, PAUL Wichita Falls, TX 76302
217955 DICKINSON, ROY
253080 ENRE CORP.
256931 EXCO RESOURCES, INC. Dallas, TX 75251
270635 FISHER-WEBB, INC.
275710 FOREE, R. L.
338130 GULF OIL CORP.
339493 GUNN OIL COMPANY Wichita Falls, TX 76307
341553 H & S PRODUCTION, INC.
427858 J.P. OIL COMPANY, INC. Lafayette, LA 70505
450030 KADANE OIL COMPANY
483600 LAKEWOOD & FULTON
483615 LAKEWOOD OPERATING, LTD. Midland, TX 79702
486385 LARANCE ENGINEERING COMPANY
487320 LARSON, PERRY E.
496670 LEONARD BROTHERS OPERATING CO. Fort Worth, TX 76101
496740 LEONARD, O. P.
504673 LMH ENERGY Wichita Falls, TX 76308
542351 MCCOUN CO., INC., THE
561130 MERIDIAN OIL CORPORATION
569618 MINERAL DEVELOPMENT, INC.
589955 MORTIMER EXPLORATION COMPANY
612870 NORDAN OIL & GAS CORPORATION Abilene, TX 79604
628500 OUTLINE OIL CORP. San Antonio, TX 78217
634185 PAGE PETROLEUM INC.
664600 PICKENS, W. L.
677225 PRIDE PIPELINE COMPANY
694857 RAW ENERGY CORPORATION
739835 RYDER SCOTT OIL COMPANY
744600 SAMEDAN OIL CORPORATION
745020 SAMSON RESOURCES COMPANY
749600 SAXON OIL COMPANY
750183 SCANDRILL, INC.
800750 SOJOURNER DRILLING CORPORATION Abilene, TX 79604
806184 SOUTHWEST GAS EXPLORATION CO.
809960 SPITFIRE PARTNERS, LLC Dallas, TX 75225 2
846950 TEXAS-PETROTECH, INC.
895235 WALTER EXPLORATION INC.
908833 WEST BAY EXPLORATION COMPANY Muenster, TX 76252
919515 WHITEHEAD PROD. CO., INC.

Oil and Gas Waste Haulers

Who is an oil and gas waste hauler?

Any person who transports oil and gas waste for hire by any method other than pipeline, such as hauling flowback water via truck.

What is oil and gas waste?

Waste resulting from activities associated with the exploration, development, or production of oil or gas. Oil and gas waste includes salt water, brine, sludge, and drilling mud. It also includes waste materials generated during drilling, operation and plugging of wells such as domestic septage and trash.

What permits are needed for oil and gas waste haulers?

Oil and gas waste haulers must file Form WH-1: Application for Oil and Gas Waste Hauler’s Permit with the Railroad Commission of Texas (RRC). The application must be approved and a permit application fee must be paid. Haulers must register and properly mark their vehicles. Each vehicle must be operated and maintained in such a manner to prevent spills, leaks and other discharges during transportation. A copy of the permit must be kept in each vehicle as identified in the permit application. Oil and gas waste haulers must keep waste manifests to document proper disposal of wastes. You can download the application form (WH-1) and other applications from the RRC website. Based on the waste hauler FAQ guidance at http://www.rrc.state.tx.us/media/8672/waste-hauler-2012-faqs.pdf, forms WH-2 and WH-3 are also required.

Where is disposal of oil and gas waste allowed?

Oil and gas waste haulers must ensure the waste is disposed of at an authorized facility. The disposal facility used by the hauler must be documented in the waste hauler’s permit. Waste generated from oil and gas operations may be disposed of at authorized RRC facilities or certain TCEQ regulated landfills. In order to dispose of oil and gas waste at TCEQ Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) landfills, the waste generator must obtain a special waste authorization by completing and submitting Form 00152 to the TCEQ. Contact your local TCEQ regulated landfills for specific information on types of waste they are permitted to accept. Transporters and generators must keep manifests to document proper disposal of waste. More information regarding disposal regulations is available in TCEQ’s publications titled Disposal of Special Wastes Associated with the Development of Oil, Gas, and Geothermal Resources (RG-003) and Common Environmental Requirements for Regulated Oil and Gas Operations (RG-482).

Who enforces the rules?

State and local agencies are authorized to ensure compliance with applicable waste hauler regulations. State agencies with jurisdiction include: Texas Department of Public Safety, TCEQ, and RRC. County sheriffs and city police departments may request compliance documentation from waste haulers and are authorized to issue civil and criminal penalties, which may include monetary fines, and may impound unauthorized or improperly operated vehicles.

How are truck wash facilities regulated?

RRC has jurisdiction over wastes such as vacuum truck rinsate and tank rinsate generated from:

  • oil and gas exploration, development, or production sites
  • a facility operated by an oil and gas waste hauler permitted by the RRC
  • a facility such as a warehouse, pipeyard, or equipment storage facility belonging to an oil and gas operator and used solely to support that operator’s oil and gas exploration, development, or production activities

The TCEQ regulates rinsate from vacuum trucks generated at commercial service company facilities such as truck washing operations, or companies that provide equipment, materials, or services to the oil and gas industry if the facility is not operated by an RRC-permitted waste hauler. Examples of commercial service company facilities include facilities that provide drilling and work over rig rental and tank rental services, equipment repair services, drilling fluid supply services, and acidizing, fracturing, and cementing services.

General Information: Bowie County

Permit approval rates in Bowie County have only reached a high of just over 9 permits approved. This happened in 1990 when permits were first handed out. The second highest record of permit approvals in the county happened in 1997 when 9 permits were approved.  The last year that permits were given out was in 2012 when two permits submitted by the SDG Operating Company, Inc were approved. In the previous years, Carr Resources, Inc.; Sunray Operating Company LLC; Hamman Oil & Refining Company; and Smith Operating & Management Co were among the companies that filed permits in the county.

bowie

Oil production peaked at two points in the county’s history. First was in 1993 and the second was in 1997 with a production of over 250,875 barrels of oil for each year. Since then the production has trickled down to below 50,175 barrels of oil a year.

In the county’s history, some 108 operations have entered into its territory. The top leases include Adams Oil Lease #012070, Ashford Oil Lease #012102, Bentley Oil Lease #012687, and Langley Unit Oil Lease #012341.

 

Top Leases in Bowie County, TX
• Adams Oil Lease #012070
• Ashford Oil Lease #012102
• Ashford, H. Gas Unit Gas Lease #072957
• Bentley Oil Lease #012687
• Bentley Unit Oil Lease #012226
• Langley Unit Oil Lease #012341
• Liberty-Eylau Isd Oil Lease #013260
• Owen, J.D. Gas Unit Gas Lease #086181
• Redwater Smackover Unit Oil Lease #013801
• Sorsby Oil Lease #011793
• Southern Mineral Corp. Oil Lease #012376
• Stuart Unit Oil Lease #012042
• Wilson, Loyd Gas Unit Gas Lease #059057

 

Oil & Gas Exploration and Surface Ownership

Questions and concerns frequently arise when owners of residential property in suburban and rural areas discover that oil and gas operations are being conducted in the vicinity. Although the Railroad Commission of Texas generally lacks jurisdiction over these issues, the information below is intended to provide general answers to some of the most common questions.

Mineral & Surface Estates

Under Texas law, land ownership includes two distinct sets of rights, or “estates”: the surface estate and the mineral estate. Initially, these two estates were owned by the same person and they may continue to be owned together by one person. However, in many areas of Texas, especially those where there has been extensive historical oil and gas development, it is common for the mineral estate and surface estate to be owned by different people. The division, or “severance,” of the mineral estate and surface estate occurs when an owner sells the surface and retains all or part of the minerals (or, less commonly, an owner sells the minerals and retains the surface). If an owner does not expressly retain the minerals when selling the surface, the mineral estate he owns automatically is included in the sale.

Dominance of Mineral Estate

Regardless of whether the mineral estate and surface estate are held by one owner or have been severed, Texas law holds that the mineral estate is dominant. This means that the owner of the mineral estate has the right to freely use the surface estate to the extent reasonably necessary for the exploration, development, and production of the oil and gas under the property. This right to freely use the surface estate for the benefit of the mineral estate may be exercised by a company or individual that has taken a mineral lease from the actual owner of the mineral estate. The company that takes a lease and actually operates the property is frequently referred to as the “lessee” and the mineral interest owner who granted the lease is the “lessor.”

Lessees have broad rights to use the surface for the purpose of exploring for and producing oil and gas. These rights include the right to: conduct seismic testing; drill wells at locations they select; enter and exit well sites and other facilities; build, maintain and use roads for access to and from well sites and facilities; build and use pipelines to serve wells and facilities on the property; use surface and subsurface water on the leased premises for drilling and production operations; and drill and operate injection wells to enhance lease recovery and dispose of lease-produced water.

With the limited exceptions discussed below, the lessee has the right to conduct the activities set out above and otherwise reasonably use the surface without getting permission from the surface owner and without restoring the surface or paying for any non-negligent damages it causes. However, if a lessee’s use of the surface is found to be negligent, unreasonable or excessive, the lessee may be liable to pay damages to the surface owner for the resulting injury.

Exceptions and Limitations

The general rules regarding free use of the surface to benefit the mineral estate may be changed by the specific terms of the mineral lease covering the property or of the deed that severed the mineral estate from the surface estate. In addition, many cities have municipal ordinances restricting oil and gas activities on property within city jurisdiction. The rights of the lessee may also be limited by the “accommodation doctrine.” This legal doctrine applies in limited circumstances to require the lessee to modify its operations to accommodate an existing surface use when reasonable alternatives are available. In specific circumstances in counties in or near large metropolitan areas, developers can impose restrictions on drilling and operation sites by creation of a qualified subdivision as provided by Chapter 92 [http://www.statutes.legis.state.tx.us/Docs/NR/htm/NR.92.htm] of the Texas Natural Resources Code.

Control by Surface Owner

The best method of controlling oil and gas development by a surface owner is the purchase of all or a significant portion of an undivided interest in the mineral estate. This allows the surface owner to control the timing and terms of any future leases. However, purchase of the mineral estate is not always possible or practical. In the alternative, although under no obligation to do so, a mineral interest owner may be willing to agree to include surface use and surface damages clauses in future leases.

If the mineral estate is already under lease, the surface owner may wish to contact the lessee company to attempt to negotiate an agreement restricting use of the surface or agreeing to set damages for surface use. Although there is no legal requirement to do so, a lessee may be willing to enter into a reasonable surface use/damages agreement to avoid potential disputes.

This document is provided for general information purposes only as a service by the Railroad Commission of Texas. It is not legal advice and is not a substitute for legal advice. For specific questions and situations, it is strongly recommended that you consult with an experienced oil and gas or real estate attorney.

General Information: Calhoun County

Permit approval in Calhoun County peaked in 1990 when more than 50 permits were approved for that year alone. The lowest recorded approval rate in the count occurred in 2010 when just under 10 permits were approved. The approval rate this year is just a little better with an approval of 6 permits out of the 11 filed. The companies that filed the most number of permits in the area include Bopco, L.P.; Taos Resources Operating Co LLC; Magnum Operating, LLC; and Formation Resources LLC.

The highest production in the company occurred in 1993 when more than 567,450 barrels of oil were produced. This number, however, has been on a decline ever since, with the worst performance in terms of oil production occurring this year with a production of only 113,490 barrels of oil.

 

Since the start of its operations, some 543 operators have gone into its territory.  The top leases in the county include the Bennet, W.H. Oil Leases #007419 and #000703; Dunwoody, Charles Oil Lease #000691; Hahn Oil Lease #008795; and P.W.L.R. Oil Lease #008703.


Top Leases in Calhoun County, TX

• Aluminum Company Of America Fee Gas Lease #113423
• Bennett, W. H. Oil Lease #007419
• Bennett, W. H. Oil Lease #000703
• Brooking, M. T. #2 Gas Lease #269676
• Bull Redfish Unit Gas Lease #266900
• Dunwoody, Charles Oil Lease #000691
• Hahn Oil Lease #008795
• Mag. Beach-Kellers Bay St. G. U. Gas Lease #002948
• MM Brooking #3 Gas Lease #272724
• P.W.L.R. Oil Lease #008703
• Quail Ridge/State Unit Gas Lease #267712
• State Tract 209 Gas Lease #263470
• State Tract 216 Oil Lease #006058
• State Tract 216 Oil Lease #006506
• State Tract 216 Oil Lease #006568
• State Tract 26 Gas Lease #153920
• State Tract 86 Gas Lease #168365
• State Tract 99 Oil Lease #004219
• Traylor, Maude B. Oil Lease #003004
• Welder, Patrick H. Gas Lease #265973

Operator Number
Operator Name
Location
Leases
000555 A.O.E. OPERATORS, INC. Fulshear, TX 77441
003399 ACCIDIE EXPLORATION AND DEV.,INC Plano, TX 75023
008264 ADOBE ENERGY, INC.
008725 AGOIL, INC. Victoria, TX 77901
010074 ALAMO OPERATING COMPANY, L. C. San Antonio, TX 78217
011160 ALBRECHT, PHIL A., JR.
012360 ALEXANDER PET. CONSULTANTS, INC.
012214 ALEXANDER, HERBERT R. INC.
013305 ALLEGRO INVESTMENTS, INC. Victoria, TX 77903
015721 ALTA MESA SERVICES, LP Houston, TX 77094
016150 ALUMINUM CO. OF AMERICA
016975 AMERADA DIV., ARERADA HESS CORP.
017000 AMERADA PETROLEUM CORP.
018008 AMERICAN COMETRA, INC.
018023 AMERICAN EXPLORATION COMPANY
018900 AMERICAN PETROFINA CO. OF TEX.
018966 AMERICAN PUMPING & TRUCKING New Braunfels, TX 78131
019720 AMERICAN TRADING & PROD. CORP.
019780 AMES OIL & GAS
020582 ANADARKO PRODUCTION COMPANY
020760 ANCON OIL & GAS, INC.
022499 ANDERSON OIL LTD. Corpus Chrsti, TX 78401
027200 APACHE CORPORATION Houston, TX 77056
027210 APD COMPANY
028656 API OPERATING CO. Houston, TX 77036
028671 ARANSAS DRLG & WORKOVER CO INC Corpus Chrsti, TX 78409
028726 ARBOL RESOURCES, INC. Houston, TX 77042
029340 ARCO OIL & GAS CO.
030840 ARMADA RESOURCES, INC.
033049 AROC (TEXAS) INC.
035643 ATASCA RESOURCES, INC. Houston, TX 77219
036550 ATLANTIC RICHFIELD CO.
036931 AURORA RESOURCES CORPORATION Corpus Chrsti, TX 78401
037680 AUSTRAL OIL COMPANY INCORPORATED
048169 BALLARD EXPLORATION COMPANY,INC. Houston, TX 77002
049150 BARBER OIL EXPLORATION, INC.
050200 BARNES, J. C., OIL COMPANY
052210 BARNHART CO. Houston, TX 77056
054700 BASS ENTERPRISES PRODUCTION CO.
055500 BATEMAN, THOMAS G.
056580 BAXTER, MURPHY H.
061150 BECKER, B. A.
063265 BELL, KELLY
063270 BELL, KELLY INC.
066700 BENZ, CLAIRE-STODDARD
066718 BEP OPERATING, LLC Houston, TX 77056 3
068454 BEX, INC.
068620 BHP PETROLEUM (USA) INC.
070210 BIG -6- DRILLING COMPANY
072523 BISON ENERGY PARTNERS, INC.

General Information: Brooks County

Permit approval in the county has been erratic at best since the start of its operations in 1990. The highest permit approval rate came in 1997 when more than 120 permits were approved. The lowest permit approval that has been recorded is this year with only 12 permits approved out of the 23 that were filed. The top companies that have filed permits in the county for approval are Oxy USA Inc.; EOG Resources, Inc.; Tecpetrol Operating LLC; and Suemar Expl. & Prod., LLC.

Meanwhile, the highest oil production recorded in the county occurred in 2006 when more than 301,625 barrels of oil were produced. The lowest recorded production occurred this year when only around 120,650 barrels of oil were produced.

In its entire history of operations, some 454 operators have gone into the county’s territory. The top leases in the county include the Alexander /400 Ac./ Oil Lease #002046; Bennet, Betsey “B” Oil Lease #013300; Bennet Mills Estate Fee Oil Lease #012672; Betsy, Bennet “D” Oil Lease #013307; and Galindo-Kibbe Unit Oil Lease #013845.

 

Operator Number
Operator Name
Location
Leases
000894 ABACO OPERATING, LLC San Antonio, TX 78209 1
001245 ABCO ENERGY CORPORATION
003594 ACOCK ENGINEERING & ASSOC., INC.
003598 ACOCK/ANAQUA OPERATING CO., LC
000183 ACR EXPLORATION, INC.
008511 ADVANTAGE OIL & GAS, INC. Pinehurst, TX 77362
008532 AEGIS ENERGY, INC.
009765 AL-TX OPERATING INC.
012443 ALFORD PETROLEUM CORP.
015724 ALTA VISTA EXPLORATION, INC.
018900 AMERICAN PETROFINA CO. OF TEX.
019365 AMERICAN SHORELINE, INC. Corpus Chrsti, TX 78401
020425 AMOCO PRODUCTION COMPANY
022497 ANDERSON OIL CORPORATION
022499 ANDERSON OIL LTD. Corpus Chrsti, TX 78401 4
025640 ANSCHUTZ CORPORATION, THE
027200 APACHE CORPORATION Houston, TX 77056 1
029585 ARENA OIL & GAS COMPANY
029710 ARGENT ENERGY (US) HOLDINGS INC. Houston, TX 77010
030575 ARK ENERGY, INC.
033905 ASCENT OPERATING, LP
034680 ASHLAND OIL & REFG. CO.
035530 ASSOCIATED OIL & GAS CO.
035575 ASSOCIATED OPERATING & EXPLOR. Dallas, TX 75243
035643 ATASCA RESOURCES, INC. Houston, TX 77219
036059 ATINUM OPERATING, INC.
036550 ATLANTIC RICHFIELD CO.
036618 ATROPOS EXPLORATION COMPANY Dallas, TX 75225
037680 AUSTRAL OIL COMPANY INCORPORATED
044335 BAJA ENERGY, INC.
048169 BALLARD EXPLORATION COMPANY,INC. Houston, TX 77002 2
048379 BANDERA EXPLORATION COMPANY Dallas, TX 75225
049145 BARBEE, R.L. OPERATING, INC. Corpus Chrsti, TX 78427
054700 BASS ENTERPRISES PRODUCTION CO.
056580 BAXTER, MURPHY H.
057850 BAY ROCK CORP.
057860 BAY ROCK OPERATING COMPANY San Antonio, TX 78212
058896 BDR ENERGY CORPORATION
061150 BECKER, B. A.
061372 BECKHAM RESOURCES, INC.
063857 BELLOWS OPERATING CO., L. C. Goliad, TX 77963
063744 BELLOWS, DEWEY OPER. CO., LTD.
064140 BENDIX FIELD ENGINEERING CORP.
065280 BENNETT, MILLS ESTATE
066716 BEPCO OPERATING CO.
066722 BEPCO, L.P.
040376 BES, ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES,INC. Kingsville, TX 78364
072580 BLACK, AUBREY C.
075475 BLEAKLEY, JACK
075785 BLOCKER ENERGY, INC.