By: Blanco S.B. No. 1762
(In the Senate - Filed February 28, 2025; March 13, 2025,
read first time and referred to Committee on Business & Commerce;
April 7, 2025, reported adversely, with favorable Committee
Substitute by the following vote: Yeas 11, Nays 0; April 7, 2025,
sent to printer.)
Click here to see the committee vote
COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR S.B. No. 1762 By: Schwertner
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the authority of the Railroad Commission of Texas to
designate certain persons as the operator of an orphaned oil or gas
well.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 89.047(a)(1-a), Natural Resources Code,
is amended to read as follows:
(1-a) "Geothermal energy [Energy] conservation well"
means a well used for the retention of energy that may be used to
provide dispatchable generation of electricity for the power grid.
A geothermal energy conservation well is not a battery energy
storage resource.
SECTION 2. Section 89.047(f), Natural Resources Code, is
amended to read as follows:
(f) The commission shall designate the person as the
operator of the well if the person files with the commission:
(1) a factually supported claim based on a recognized
legal theory to a continuing possessory right in:
(A) the mineral estate accessed by the well, as
established by a current oil and gas lease, a recorded deed
conveying a fee interest in the mineral estate, or any other
documentation of an interest in the mineral estate;
(B) the geothermal energy and associated
resources estate accessed by the well, as established by a current
geothermal lease, a recorded deed conveying a fee interest in the
geothermal estate, or any other documentation of an interest in the
geothermal estate; or
(C) the geologic space accessed by the well for
the purpose of a geothermal [an] energy conservation well, as
established by a recorded deed conveying a fee interest in the space
accessed by the well or any other documentation of an interest in
that space;
(2) a completed certificate of compliance; and
(3) a nonrefundable fee in the amount of $250.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
Act takes effect September 1, 2025.
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