SB0664sam001 97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

Sen. Michael W. Frerichs

Filed: 3/2/2011

09700SB0664sam001 LRB097 04427 CEL 51877 a

AMENDMENT TO SENATE BILL 664

AMENDMENT NO. ______. Amend Senate Bill 664 by replacing everything after the enacting clause with the following:

"Section 5. The Illinois Oil and Gas Act is amended by adding Section 6.5 as follows:

(225 ILCS 725/6.5 new)

Sec. 6.5. Extraction of natural gas using hydraulic fracturing.

(a) The Department shall adopt rules requiring each owner or operator that begins extracting natural gas from shale to report the information specified in subsections (b), (c), and (d) within 30 days after the beginning of extraction. The Director shall adopt rules that require, prior to such extraction, the owner or operator to perform a suitable mechanical integrity test of the casing or of the casing-tubing annulus or other mechanical integrity test methods using procedures that are established by administrative rule.

(b) The owner or operator shall provide geological names, a geological description, and the depth of the formation into which well stimulation fluids are to be injected.

(c) The owner or operator shall provide detailed information to the Director concerning the base stimulation fluid source. The owner, operator, or service company shall also provide to the Director, for each stage of the well stimulation program, the following:

(1) each stimulation fluid identified by additive type;

(2) the chemical compound name and Chemical Abstracts Service (CAS) number for each additive used;

(3) the proposed rate or concentration for each additive;

(4) a copy of the contractor's proposed well stimulation program design; and

(5) any other information requested by the Director.

(d) The owner or operator shall also provide a detailed description of the proposed well stimulation design, which shall include:

(1) the anticipated surface treating pressure range;

(2) the maximum injection treating pressure; and

(3) the estimated or calculated fracture length and fracture height.

(e) The Department shall post the information that it receives under subsections (b), (c), and (d) on its Internet website for a period of not less than 5 years. In the interest of public health and safety, such information may not be claimed as a trade secret under this or any other Act.

(f) The injection of volatile organic compounds, such as benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene, also known as BTEX compounds, or any petroleum distillates, into groundwater is prohibited without exception. The proposed use of volatile organic compounds, such as benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene, also known as BTEX compounds, or any petroleum distillates, for well stimulation into hydrocarbon bearing zones is only authorized with prior written approval of the Director. Produced water containing trace amounts of naturally occurring petroleum distillates may be used as a stimulation fluid in hydrocarbon-bearing zones.

(g) In addition to any other information that it must provide, the owner, operator, or service company shall provide the Director the following post well stimulation detail:

(1) the actual total well stimulation treatment volume pumped;

(2) detail as to each fluid stage pumped, including actual volume by fluid stage, proppant rate or concentration, actual chemical additive name, type, concentration or rate, and amounts;

(3) the actual surface pressure and rate at the end of each fluid stage and the actual flush volume, rate, and final pump pressure; and

(4) the instantaneous shut-in pressure, and the actual 15-minute and 30-minute shut-in pressures when these pressure measurements are available.

(h) During the well stimulation operation, the owner or operator shall monitor and record the annulus pressure at the bradenhead. If intermediate casing has been set on the well being stimulated, the pressure in the annulus between the intermediate casing and the production casing shall also be monitored and recorded. A continuous record of the annulus pressure during the well stimulation shall be submitted.

(i) If, during the stimulation, the annulus pressure increases by more than 500 pounds per square inch gauge (psig) compared to the pressure immediately preceding the stimulation, the owner or operator shall verbally notify the Director as soon as practical but no later than 24 hours following the incident and must complete in a timely manner any corrective action identified by the Department. The owner or operator shall include a report containing all details pertaining to the incident, including corrective actions taken.

(j) The owner or operator shall provide information to the Director as to the amounts, handling, and, if necessary, disposal at an identified appropriate disposal facility, or reuse of the well stimulation fluid load recovered during flow back, swabbing, or recovery from production facility vessels. Storage of that fluid shall be protective of groundwater as demonstrated by the use of either tanks or lined pits.".