The supervisor, in cooperation with appropriate state and local agencies, shall conduct a study of abandoned oil and gas wells located in those areas of the state with substantial potential for methane and other hazardous gas accumulations in order to determine the location, the extent of methane gas and other hazardous gas accumulations, and potential hazards from the abandoned wells.
Oil and Gas ConservationAbandoned Wells
Section § 3240
This law requires a designated supervisor to work with state and local agencies to study abandoned oil and gas wells. The study aims to find where these wells are, measure how much methane and other dangerous gases have built up, and assess any risks they pose.
abandoned oil wells gas wells methane accumulation
Section § 3241
This law requires a plan to safely remove methane and other dangerous gases from abandoned oil and gas wells, especially in risky areas. This plan is developed by the supervisor working with state and local agencies. It also includes measures to manage gases in wells without current gas buildup to prevent future risks.
The supervisor, in cooperation with appropriate state and local agencies, shall develop a strategy for extracting existing accumulations of methane gas and other hazardous gas from abandoned oil and gas wells in high-risk areas identified by the supervisor in order to protect the health and safety of the public. The strategy shall also provide plans for the management of methane gas and other hazardous gas from wells in high-risk areas where no accumulations are discovered in order to prevent future accumulations of methane gas and other hazardous gas.
methane extraction hazardous gas removal abandoned oil wells
Section § 3243
The law requires that by July 1, 2022, a collections unit must be set up within a division. This unit is tasked with finding those who owe charges under this chapter, locating their assets, and making sure they collect what is owed. The division should primarily use its current resources and staff to establish this unit, and this requirement is effective until January 1, 2027.
(a)CA Public Resources Code § 3243(a) On or before July 1, 2022, the supervisor shall establish a collections unit within the division.
(b)CA Public Resources Code § 3243(b) The collections unit shall be responsible for identifying persons responsible for charges under this chapter, locating assets belonging to those persons, and fully implementing all of the division’s authorities for collecting the amounts owed.
(c)Copy CA Public Resources Code § 3243(c)
(1)Copy CA Public Resources Code § 3243(c)(1) To the extent feasible, the division shall use existing resources and personnel in establishing a collections unit.
(2)CA Public Resources Code § 3243(c)(2) The requirement imposed by paragraph (1) shall remain operative until January 1,
2027.
collections unit charges collection asset location
