This law states that California is deeply invested in how geothermal resources are developed. The State Oil and Gas Supervisor has the authority to ensure that wells used for finding and producing geothermal energy are managed safely to protect people, property, and the environment. The aim is to also encourage getting the most economic benefit from these resources.

This section defines "geothermal resources" by referring to another part of the law, specifically Section 6903, which contains the detailed definition.

This law defines a "geothermal resources area" as a surface area believed to be over geothermal resources, meaning heat or hot water from the Earth.

This law defines what is considered a 'well' in the context of geothermal resources. It includes wells used for finding geothermal resources, those on lands that produce or are believed to contain these resources, and specialized wells used for reinjecting such resources or their byproducts.

This law defines 'low-temperature geothermal resources' as fluids that are valuable due to the heat they contain. These fluids must not exceed the boiling point of water, given the altitude where they are found.

This section defines the term "Department" specifically as the Department of Conservation when referring to governmental matters in California.

This law section defines the term “Division” specifically as the Geologic Energy Management Division within the Department of Conservation when it’s mentioned in governmental contexts in California.

This law defines the term "Director" as referring to the Director of Conservation.

This law defines the term "person" to include not just individual humans, but also firms, associations, corporations, and other groups acting together as one unit.

This law defines an 'operator' as anyone who drills, maintains, operates, pumps, or has control over a well.

This law section means that when someone other than the owner is running a well, the term 'owner' includes that operator too.

This law section clarifies that the term "operator" also refers to the "owner" of a well if the owner is responsible for running it or has plans to do so soon.

This law section emphasizes that the chapter should be interpreted in a way that best achieves its goals. The director and the supervisor, with the director's approval, have all the necessary power to fulfill the chapter's objectives. This includes the ability to create rules and regulations needed to implement these goals.

This law requires the State Oil and Gas Supervisor to oversee geothermal wells in California. The goal is to ensure these wells operate safely and efficiently to maximize resource recovery, prevent harm to people, property, or the environment, and protect water sources from contamination.

This law allows a supervisor to define specific areas as containing geothermal resources. The supervisor can also decide that certain wells in these areas be exempt from the rules of this chapter if there is no chance of finding geothermal resources.

This law ensures that supervisors oversee the drilling and operation of geothermal wells to use the best industry practices for maximizing resource recovery. It emphasizes that leases or contracts for geothermal resources in California inherently allow operators to act as prudent operators, focusing on everyone's best interests, unless the contract explicitly says otherwise. However, this law does not impose a legal requirement to perform these operations.

This section outlines how geothermal exploratory projects are managed under California environmental law. Normally, a specified division acts as the lead agency for these projects, but it can delegate this responsibility to a county if the county has a geothermal component in its general plan. Furthermore, if a project applicant requests it, the county where the project is located can take over as the lead agency, even if it doesn't have a geothermal element in its plan. If a county accepts this role, it must work with the division to ensure the environmental review includes all necessary information. These rules do not apply to projects where environmental reports started or were required before January 1, 1979.

In each district, a district deputy is responsible for gathering all necessary information about wells to properly supervise them. They create maps and tools to understand underground conditions in geothermal areas and the location of water-bearing layers and surface water that can be used for irrigation or domestic purposes. This helps advise operators on protecting geothermal resources and water supplies, and assists with decisions about testing or repairing wells. The collected data is stored in the district deputy's office and can be accessed by certain state officials, following specific regulations.

This section makes it clear that the rules in this chapter do not override or replace any existing rules in certain parts of the Water Code and the Fish and Game Code. Basically, if there's anything in those sections of the code, they still apply and nothing here changes that.

The supervisor is responsible for creating and distributing materials like publications and reports about geothermal resources if people want them. If these materials are sold, they should be sold for just the cost of production, and the money made should go into the Oil, Gas, and Geothermal Administrative Fund.

This law allows for the state to be split into different areas called districts, and the director has the authority to decide where the boundaries of these districts will be.

If you own or run a well in California, you must pick someone who lives in the state to act as your representative. This person will handle any communications or legal documents from the state supervisor or courts. If this person's role ends, you have to tell the supervisor in writing within five days and choose a new representative unless you stop operations.

If you own or run a well and you sell, transfer, or exchange it (and the land it's on), you need to notify the appropriate authority within 30 days in writing. This notice must include who you sold it to, the well's name and location, the date of the transaction, when you gave up possession, and a description of the land.

If you take over owning or running a well in any way, you have to tell the state within 30 days. You need to write to the supervisor or local deputy with details like who you got the well from, its name and address, when you got it, when you started operating it, and a description of the land it sits on.

If you buy or take over a well or multiple wells, you need to file a bond with the supervisor within 30 days. You can either pay $25,000 for each well or a $100,000 blanket bond for any number of wells. The bond should be worded similar to what's described in Section 3725.

Before anyone can start drilling a new well or drilling again at an abandoned one, they must send a written notice and a fee to the relevant authorities. This written notice needs to include details like where the well will be, how deep it will go, and other necessary info.

You can't start drilling until you get the okay. If the authorities don't reply within 10 working days, you can go ahead as if you got approval.

Once a well is finished, if you want to deepen, re-drill, or change it in any significant way, similar rules apply, except for the fee. Also, if you want to change the well's name or number, you need approval.

The fees for drilling range from $25 to $1,000 depending on what you're doing and are outlined in another section (3724.6).

If you're an owner or operator wanting to drill shallow wells for checking temperature differences underground, you can submit a program for approval. Your program can cover up to 25 wells and each well can't be deeper than 250 feet. The submission must list the well numbers, their locations, the area's geologic info, and any additional data the supervisor asks for. You’ll pay a fee of $25 per well or $200 per program, whichever is less, and the payment process follows Section 3724.6 guidelines.

This law says that if a supervisor studies a proposed well and decides it needs more oversight, they can ask for a new plan to be submitted that follows specific rules outlined in another section.

This law states that drilling new wells, as previously described in Section 3724.1, can't start without approval from a supervisor or district deputy. If they don't respond in writing within 10 working days, it's treated as if they've approved the project, and the non-response counts as a written report from the supervisor.

If an operator doesn't pay certain penalties, follow a supervisor's order, or pay specific charges, their plans for well operations can be put on hold until they take care of these issues.

This law gives the supervisor the authority to make rules about wells drilled for checking underground temperature changes. The rules can state what needs to be included in a written plan to be approved, any fees to be charged, and other important details concerning these wells.

This section mandates that any proposals and data submitted under specific sections must be kept confidential, following the guidelines in another section, Section 3752.

This law establishes that there will be an annual fee and penalties for late payment of that fee for all geothermal resource wells. These fees help fund the supervision of such wells. The annual fee applies to all producing, service, and idle wells that existed during the previous calendar year but does not cover certain wells like temperature-gradient wells or low-temperature wells.

The amount collected in fees, including permits, should equal the amount allocated in the state budget for overseeing these wells. The supervisor of geothermal resources is responsible for setting the fee, considering past expenditures, and must allow geothermal operators to review any budget changes. Rules for setting the fee and collecting associated penalties must be established through a public process.

If you're applying for a permit related to geothermal resources in California, you'll need to pay a fee. This fee goes to the Department of Conservation. Additionally, there's an annual fee that needs to be paid to the Treasurer. Money from these fees is put into a specific fund called the Oil, Gas, and Geothermal Administrative Fund. This fund is then used solely for overseeing geothermal resource wells.

If you're involved in activities like drilling or abandoning a well (excluding low-temperature geothermal wells), you must provide a $25,000 bond for each well. This bond has to be submitted when you notify authorities of your intent to work on the well, ensuring you'll follow the law and cover potential state costs if you don't comply.

The bond ensures you'll adhere to regulations and cover expenses or penalties if you're required by the State Oil and Gas Supervisor. If you comply, the bond is void; otherwise, it stays active.

If you're involved in drilling or working on a low-temperature well in California, you must provide a financial guarantee called an indemnity bond. The amount of the bond depends on the depth of the well: $2,000 for wells less than 2,000 feet deep; $10,000 for wells 2,000 to under 5,000 feet deep; $15,000 for wells between 5,000 and under 10,000 feet deep; and $25,000 for wells 10,000 feet deep or more. This bond ensures funds are available to address any issues that may arise from the drilling activities.

Before starting any work, you need to file this bond, along with your intention notice, with the supervisor responsible for overseeing compliance. The bond must be backed by an authorized company, ensuring there's financial support available if needed.

In California, if you're involved in drilling or maintaining wells, you can choose to file a single $100,000 bond to cover all your well operations. This would be instead of filing separate bonds for each activity as required by other laws. The bond must be issued with an authorized surety company, and its terms should be similar to those in Section 3725, just with a different amount.

In California, if you have an indemnity bond for oil wells, you can cancel it and end your obligations if you get approval from a supervisor. This is possible when your wells have been properly shut down or if you replace the bond with another valid one. If you have a blanket bond covering multiple wells and abandon some of them, you can also cancel the bond for those abandoned wells by filing individual bonds for each remaining active well. Additionally, the liability for wells under a blanket bond that have been drilled and abandoned can end if the supervisor agrees.

This law allows an alternative to the usual bond requirement. Instead of a bond, a deposit can be made if the supervisor gives written approval. The deposit is guided by specific rules from the Code of Civil Procedure, but it cannot be in the form of money or bearer bonds or bearer notes.

This law explains that a well is considered properly abandoned when it has been ensured that no harmful substances can enter underground or surface water used for farming, irrigation, or domestic purposes, and that no fluids can escape to the surface. All necessary steps must be taken to satisfy the supervisor responsible for overseeing this process.

If you own or run a well, you must maintain a detailed and precise record of the drilling process and its history. This includes logging the activities and keeping core samples tracked accurately.

This section requires a detailed record, or log, to be kept when drilling a well. The log must include information about the type and depth of materials drilled through, the casing used, and details about any water-bearing layers. It must also note the temperature, chemical composition, and other characteristics of any fluids found while drilling.

This law section requires that the core record must include details about the depth, type, and any fluid content of the cores that have been collected. These details should be recorded as accurately as they have been determined.

This section requires keeping detailed records during drilling operations. Specifically, it involves documenting where and how much equipment like casings and tools are sidelined, the depth and amount of cement used in plugs, and any explosive actions such as dynamite shots. It also mandates records of production results and any test outcomes conducted during the drilling, along with completion details.

This law requires that a log, along with tour reports, be kept in the local office of the owner or operator. These documents must be available for inspection by certain authorities during business hours.

When a well is completed, abandoned, or when operations are stopped, you have 60 days to submit two copies of records like logs, core records, and test results to the district deputy. This also applies if you rework the well.

If you're the owner or operator of a well, or their local representative, you must provide certain drilling records — like logs, history, and core data — to the supervisor if they request it in writing after you start drilling. This request will be signed by the supervisor or their deputy and can be delivered to you either in person or by sending it to your last known mailing address via registered mail.

According to this law, a well is considered finished 30 days after it starts producing geothermal energy, unless drilling activities restart within that 30-day timeframe.

This law requires that anyone operating or drilling wells with known high pressures, or in areas where pressures are unknown, must equip these wells with strong casings and necessary safety devices. They must follow methods approved by the supervisor and do everything they reasonably can to prevent blowouts, explosions, and fires.

If you own or operate a well that might have geothermal resources, you need to make sure it's properly sealed with casings that keep water protected. The casing must be watertight and meet the approved standards by the relevant authority.

Moreover, you must take all reasonable steps to avoid harming people, property, and the environment. You should prevent harmful substances from getting into water sources good for farming or home use, and keep these substances from mixing with surface water.

This law requires a supervisor to order necessary tests or repair work to avoid harm to life, health, property, and natural resources. This includes protecting geothermal resources, preventing harmful substances from entering water supplies, and ensuring the well-being of neighboring property owners and the public.

If you have drilled a well on state, federal, or private lands that produces geothermal resources, you can apply for a certificate of primary purpose. This certificate states that the well's main job is to produce geothermal resources, not water for drinking or farming use. Having this certificate means you likely own the geothermal resources you extract, unless it's shown that the water can be used for domestic or farming without extra treatment. The certificate doesn't cover water that comes out as a by-product of geothermal production.

This section explains how supervisors or district deputies issue orders to operators of oil and gas wells based on violations or issues with drilling operations. These orders must clearly outline the actions or failures of the operator, specify penalties, and cite the relevant legal provisions. The orders have to be in writing and served personally or by certified mail. If an operator requests a specific directive regarding well operations, the supervisor or deputy must respond with a written order within five days. Operators have the right to appeal these orders, and the orders must inform them of this right.

If a work order is issued under Section 3743, the operator must start the work within 30 days or sooner if directed, and complete it. If not, the supervisor can appoint people to do the work, and the operator will owe the costs, which become a lien on their property, like a legal claim. In emergencies, the supervisor can take any action needed to protect life, health, property, or natural resources immediately, even if it overrides other rules.

If you own a well that produces or injects fluids for geothermal operations, you need to submit a monthly report to the supervisor detailing the previous month's production and injection activities. This report must be filed by the 30th of each month, using the specific format the supervisor requires.

Before an owner or operator can officially abandon a well, they need to follow certain approved methods and directions from the supervisor or district deputy. They must make every reasonable effort to ensure that underground or surface water, which is suitable for irrigation or drinking, is protected from harmful substances.

If you're planning to abandon a well, you need to notify the state supervisor or district deputy in writing at least 10 days before starting the work. This notice should include the well's condition and how you plan to abandon it.

Additionally, be ready to provide any further details about the well or your abandonment plans if requested by the supervisor or deputy during the process from when you notify them until the abandonment is complete.

Before starting the process to abandon a well, the supervisor or district deputy must provide the well's owner or operator with one of the following: a written approval of the abandonment plan, a report detailing the work or tests needed for approval, or a request for specific information required for approval.

If the responsible official doesn’t provide a written report or request to the well owner or operator by the deadline, it’s assumed they agree with the plan to abandon the well, and it will be treated as if they had given an official written report.

When a well is abandoned, the owner or operator has 60 days to submit a detailed report of the abandonment work to the supervisor or district deputy. Within 10 days of receiving this report, the supervisor or deputy must respond with either an approval or disapproval, explaining any issues if they disapprove.

If the well owner doesn’t follow the approved abandonment process, or fails to notify about required tests, or doesn’t provide requested information about the well’s condition, the abandonment can be disapproved.

This law states that if you want to remove the casing from a well, you must notify the supervisor or district deputy in writing at least 10 days before doing so. They must respond with written approval or detail what needs to be done for approval. If they don't respond in time, it's treated as approved.

After removing the casing, a written report detailing all the work done must be submitted within five days in the manner specified by the supervisor or district deputy.

This California law section primarily deals with the confidentiality and public accessibility of well records. Generally, well records are public, unless the owner requests them to be confidential for up to five years after drilling stops. This confidentiality can be extended to seven years with special permission, and possibly longer with public notice. However, once a lease is terminated or expired, records become public. Certain state and tax authorities have access to these records for specific duties. Experimental logs and special interpretive data aren't considered public records. Drilling operations officially stop when the machinery is removed from the site.

This law outlines the process for handling complaints about violations related to wells. When someone files a written complaint detailing a specific issue, the supervisor must investigate and create a report that recommends either repair work or states that no action is needed.

If repairs are required, the report specifies what needs fixing, and all relevant parties, like the well owners or operators, are sent a copy of the order detailing the necessary work. The complainant and those responsible for the well will receive copies of this order through mail.

This law states that if you own, operate, or work at a well and refuse inspection or hinder inspection efforts, you could face legal consequences. Additionally, failing to provide required reports, providing false reports, or not following the rules outlined in this chapter can result in being charged with a misdemeanor. This can lead to a fine between $100 and $1,000, up to six months in jail, or both.

This section states that if a person breaks any rules in this chapter, they can be fined up to $5,000 for each violation. However, if the issue was caused by natural disasters or vandalism that the operator couldn't control, it's not considered a violation.

Before the penalty is applied, the person must be notified and given a chance to speak. The supervisor will determine the penalty based on factors like the harm caused, how often the violation occurs, and any previous violations by the same person. This penalty is applied on top of any other legal penalties.

If someone wants to challenge the penalty, they can review it according to specific sections (3762-3771). Once the penalty is final, the supervisor can ask the court to enforce payment. Fines collected are put into the Oil, Gas, and Geothermal Administrative Fund.

If a well has been left unattended, the supervisor or their deputy can order it to be abandoned, even if it's not causing immediate harm. If drilling stops and the equipment is removed for six months, it's assumed the well has been deserted unless an extension is requested. The supervisor can extend this period if there's a good reason.

This law allows landowners and operators interested in geothermal resources to make agreements, with supervisory approval, for joint development or operation of a geothermal area. The goal is to prevent wasting these resources. The agreements can cover the timing, location, and methods of drilling. Once approved, these agreements are binding and can be enforced legally. Importantly, they are not considered illegal monopolies or trade restraints.

If a geothermal well is drilled within 100 feet of the edge of the land it is on, or 100 feet from a public road or highway that existed before drilling started, it is considered a public nuisance.

If you own a piece of land that's one acre or more and most of it can't be used for drilling a geothermal well, special rules apply. The supervisor can allow drilling in spots they think are best, but there are limits: you can't drill within 25 feet of the property's edge or a public road. They might also require a detailed directional survey of the drilling, which has to be submitted within 15 days after drilling finishes.

This law allows a supervisor to exempt certain low-temperature geothermal wells from specific regulations if the geothermal energy is used at home or for non-commercial purposes. Additionally, the supervisor can approve where these wells may be drilled, as long as they are not within 15 feet of the land's boundary or close to roads established before drilling starts.

This law section explains that when multiple pieces of land, even if owned by different people, are combined and operated together for geothermal resource extraction, they are treated as one unit. The 'outer boundary line' refers to the boundary around the entire combined area included in the lease or unit. Any roads or alleys within these parcels do not break the continuity of the land.

This law clarifies that an alley, even if it runs through a block or a subdivision, is not considered a public street or road under this chapter.

If you drill a well or extract geothermal resources against the rules of this chapter, every day you continue doing it is considered a separate problem, called a nuisance.

This law states that the rules about where geothermal resource wells can be located do not apply to wells that were already producing geothermal resources when the law was enacted.

If a well operator receives an order from a supervisor or district deputy, they have 10 days to appeal to the director. If they miss this deadline, they lose the right to challenge the order.

Submitting an appeal usually stops the order from being enforced, except in emergency situations. For emergency orders, the operator must address the emergency immediately or allow the authorities to do so.

If an emergency order is overturned or changed, the operator can get a refund for costs of unnecessary work. Refunds are decided after any appeals, and operators must prove their expenses to be eligible. If they disagree with the cost decision, they can appeal that, too.

If an operator thinks doing the required emergency work would cause severe harm while awaiting the appeal, they can ask a superior court to block the order temporarily.

If you want to appeal a decision about plugging and abandoning deserted wells, or stopping an injection project that's already started, you get a specific kind of hearing. This hearing follows certain procedures laid out in the Government Code. For other types of appeals, different hearing rules apply. If there's an urgent situation that needs immediate action, they will deal with it quickly under a separate process, but everything else will be handled at the scheduled hearing.

This law outlines the procedures for hearings conducted by the director when an order is either appealed or issued as an emergency to an operator in charge, such as an oil or gas production operator.

For non-emergency orders, the director must notify the operator of the hearing date and place within 30 days, and the hearing takes place within 30 days of that notice, with a possible 60-day extension for good cause. For emergency orders, the timeframe is shorter: the notice must be given within 10 days, and the hearing occurs within 20 days, with a possible 30-day extension.

Hearings typically occur within the district where most relevant wells are located unless otherwise requested. Operators have the right to submit a written answer and present evidence. They may request a witness's testimony but must show the testimony's importance if the witness isn't otherwise compelled to testify. Lastly, hearings can be converted to formal ones if there are complex issues, or if both the operator and supervisor agree.

This law outlines the process following an appeal where the director reviewed an order. After the hearing, the director has 30 days to deliver a written decision. This decision might affirm, change, or overturn the initial order, and it is based on the overall weight of the evidence presented.

If both parties agree, this 30-day timeline can be extended. Once the decision is filed and given to the operator, it becomes final and replaces the supervisor's original order. If the decision requires further actions by the operator, the director will continue to oversee the process until the required work is completed.

If an operator disagrees with a decision made by the director after a hearing, they can challenge it in court. They must file a petition in the county where the order was issued within 30 days of receiving the decision.

The process depends on the type of hearing. If it's under the rules of Chapter 5, they follow a specific procedure outlined in the Government Code to seek judicial review.

If an operator wants a court to review a decision made by the director after a hearing, the court will review what happened during the original hearing. They won't consider new information. The court will check if the director acted within their power, if the hearing was fair, and if there were any major mistakes made. A mistake is considered significant if the process wasn't followed correctly, if the decision doesn't match what's been found, or if the evidence doesn't strongly support the findings.

This law states that if an operator doesn't appeal a decision or seek a review in time, or if the court upholds a decision against them, then any charges like penalties and interest that the decision allows the supervisor to impose become a state tax lien. This lien applies to all the operator's real and personal property.

This law allows a supervisor to enforce regulations related to wells by conducting investigations. If there is a suspicion that wells are improperly managed, the supervisor can administer oaths and request subpoenas from a judge to get witnesses, documents, and other evidence. Subpoenas can require witnesses to attend investigations if they are within 100 miles or in the same county.

The law also permits taking depositions from witnesses anywhere, following similar procedures used in civil court cases in California. This ensures the supervisor can gather necessary information and documentation to address any issues with well operations.

Witnesses in proceedings related to oil, gas, and geothermal issues are allowed to receive fees and mileage payments. These payments are determined by standard rates used in civil cases and are paid from a special fund called the Oil, Gas, and Geothermal Administrative Fund.

If someone doesn't comply with orders or subpoenas from a supervisor or director, or refuses to testify, show up for a hearing, or present required documents after proper notice, it's considered a misdemeanor. Each day they don't comply counts as a new offense.

The district attorney in the area where the proceeding is held must continue to prosecute the person until they comply, whether by appearing, testifying, or providing the requested documents.

This law explains that if someone doesn't pay a specified charge or penalty on time, the unpaid amount automatically turns into a state tax lien, which is a legal claim against the person's property. This lien is enforceable under specific government guidelines. The term "due and payable" means either the filing date of the return or when an official determination becomes final, whichever applies.

This law section states that the Controller or their representative can issue a warrant to collect owed charges, interest, and penalties. This warrant can be enforced like a court order called a writ of execution, meaning it allows the sheriff to seize and sell property to cover the debts.

When a sheriff completes services under a warrant, they receive the same fees and expenses as for similar execution tasks. These payments, however, need the Controller's approval, especially for newspaper publications. The individual responsible for these costs must pay, and these can be collected through the warrant or other methods.

If there's a lien on real estate due to unpaid charges, penalties, or interest connected to extracting geothermal energy, and it includes multiple parcels, the Controller can release a specific parcel from the lien. This can happen if the parcel owner pays their fair share of what's owed.

This law requires the Controller to take legal action to collect any unpaid charges, along with any penalties or costs, within 90 days after they become overdue. This action must be filed in the county where the property connected to these charges is located.

This law states that the Attorney General must start and continue any legal action until it reaches a final decision by the court.

This law explains that if someone owes charges to the State of California, a certified record from the Controller showing the unpaid charges acts as initial evidence. It shows that the person owes money, the charges are unpaid, and all legal procedures concerning these charges have been followed.

Also, the usual rules found in the Code of Civil Procedure about how to handle court cases, such as serving court papers and handling trials, apply to these situations.

If there's a fine or court judgment related to this law, the money must be paid to California's State Treasurer. That money will then be placed back into a special fund that helps manage oil, gas, and geothermal resources.