§ 14-20. Definitions.

All technical industry words or phrases related to the drilling and production of gas wells not specifically defined in this article shall have the meanings customarily attributable thereto by prudent and reasonable gas industry operators. The following words, terms and phrases, when used in this article, shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this section, except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning:

Abandonment means the term as defined by the Texas Railroad Commission and includes the plugging of the well and the restoration of any well site as required by this article.

Blowout preventer means a mechanical, hydraulic, pneumatic or other device or combination of such devices secured to the top of a well casing, including valves, fittings and control mechanisms connected therewith, which can be closed around the drill pipe, or other tubular goods which completely close the top of the casing and are designed for preventing blowouts.

Building means any structure used or intended for supporting or sheltering any use or occupancy. The term "building" shall be construed as if followed by the words "or portions thereof."

Cathodic protection means an electrochemical corrosion control technique accomplished by applying a direct current to the structure that causes the structure potential to change from the corrosion potential to a protective potential in the immunity region. The required cathodic protection current is supplied by sacrificial anode materials or by an impressed current system.

City attorney means the city attorney of the city.

Commission or railroad commission means the Texas Railroad Commission.

Completion of drilling, redrilling and reworking means the date the work is completed for the drilling, redrilling or reworking and the crew is released by completing its work or contract or by its employer.

Daylight hours means the period from 7:00 a.m. to 6:59 p.m.

Derrick means any portable framework, tower, mast and/or structure which is required or used in connection with drilling or reworking a well for the production of gas.

Drill site means the premises used during the drilling or re-working of a well or wells located there and subsequent life of a well or wells or any associated operation.

Drilling means digging or boring a new well for the purpose of exploring for, developing or producing gas or other hydrocarbons, or for the purpose of injecting gas, water or any other fluid or substance into the earth.

Drilling equipment means the derrick, together with all parts of and appurtenances to such structure, every piece of apparatus, machinery or equipment used or erected or maintained for use in connection with drilling.

Exploration means geologic or geophysical activities, including seismic surveys, related to the search for gas or other subsurface hydrocarbons.

Fire department means the fire department of the city.

Freshwater well means a well that produces or is intended to produce water whose bacteriological, physical, and chemical properties are such that it is suitable and feasible for beneficial use.

Gas means any fluid, either combustible or noncombustible, which is produced in a natural state from the earth and which maintains a gaseous or rarefied state at standard temperature and pressure conditions and/or the gaseous components or vapors occurring in or derived from petroleum or natural gas.

Gas well means any well drilled, to be drilled, or used for the intended or actual production of natural gas or oil.

Gas well permit means a permit for the exploration, development and production of gas wells and/or oil wells issued pursuant to the rules and regulations of this article.

Historical site means a historic structure a defined by V.T.C.A. Government Code § 442.001, or a structure or property that is designated as historic by a political subdivision of the state, the state, or the federal government, including the city.

Inspector means the gas well inspector of the city.

Nondaylight hours means the period between 7:00 p.m. and 6:59 a.m.

Oil means crude petroleum oil and other hydrocarbons regardless of gravity which are produced at the wellhead in liquid form.

Oil well means a well capable of producing crude petroleum.

Operation site means the area used for development and production and all operational activities associated with gas after drilling activities are complete.

Operator means, for each well, the person listed on the railroad commission Form W-1 or Form P-4 for a gas well that is, or will be, actually in charge and in control of drilling, maintaining, operating, pumping or controlling any well, including, without limitation, a unit operator. If the operator, as herein defined, is not the lessee under a gas lease of any premises affected by the provisions of this article, then such lessee shall also be deemed to be an operator. In the event that there is no gas lease relating to any premises affected by this article, the owner of the fee mineral estate in the premises shall be deemed an operator.

Person means both the singular and the plural and means a natural person, a corporation, association, guardian, partnership, receiver, trustee, administrator, executor, and fiduciary or representative of any kind.

Public park means any land area dedicated to and/or maintained by the city for traditional park-like recreational purposes but shall not include privately-owned amusement parks.

Redrill means recompletion of an existing well by deepening or sidetrack operations extending more than 150 feet from the existing well bore.

Refracture means the process of restimulating a well after initial completion using high-pressure hydraulic fracture techniques.

Refracture permit means a permit authorizing the refracture of a completed well, issued pursuant to the rules and regulations of this article.

Religious institution means any building in which persons regularly assemble for religious worship and activities intended primarily for purposes connected with such worship or for propagating a particular form of religious belief.

Residence means a house, duplex, apartment, townhouse, condominium, mobile home or other building designed for dwelling purposes, including those for which a building permit has been issued on the date the application for a gas well permit is filed with the inspector.

Reworking means recompletion or reentry of an existing well within the existing bore hole or by deepening or sidetrack operations which do not extend more than 150 feet from the existing well bore, or replacement of well liners or casings.

Right-of-way or rights-of-way means public rights-of-way including streets, easements and other property within the city and which is dedicated to the use and benefit of the public.

School means any public and private, primary and secondary educational facilities providing education up through and including the 12th grade level and any licensed day care centers, meaning a facility licensed by the state or by the city that provides care, training, education, custody, treatment or supervision for more than six children under 14 years of age, and for less than 24 hours per day.

Seismic survey activity means any activity where, for any consideration whatsoever, shock waves, sound waves, or vibrations are generated for the purpose of surveying, mapping, identifying, classifying or otherwise distinguishing subsurface characteristics indicative of the presence or absence of hydrocarbon substances, including, but not limited to, oil and natural gas.

Street means any street, highway, sidewalk, alley, avenue, recessed parking area or other public right-of-way, including the entire right-of-way.

Tank means a container, covered or uncovered, used in conjunction with the drilling or production of gas or other hydrocarbons for holding or storing fluids.

Technical advisor means such person familiar with and educated in the gas industry or the law as it relates to gas matters who may be retained from time to time by the city.

Well means a hole or holes, bore or bores, to any horizon, formation, or strata for the purpose of producing gas, liquid hydrocarbon, brine water or sulphur water, or for use as an injection well for secondary recovery, disposal or production of gas, or other hydrocarbons from the earth.

(Ord. No. 2006-22, § 2, 7-25-2006; Ord. No. B-2008-06, § 2, 6-26-2008)