HomeMy WebLinkAbout04542 ORD - 05/31/1956TAP:MEM:5 /3X/56
AN ORDINANCE 454--
AMENDING AN ORDINANCE PASSED AND APPROVED ON THE
ELEVENTH DAY OF JULY, 1950, BEING ORDINANCE NO. 2818,
ENTITLED THE "CORPUS CHRISTI OIL AND GAS ORDINANCE" BY
AMENDING SUB - SECTION (A) AND (8) OF SECTION 4, THEREOF,
SO AS TO AMEND THE DRILLING BLOCK MAP; AND BY AMENDING
SECTION 20 THEREOF SO AS TO ENABLE THE CITY COUNCIL TO
VARY THE TERMS OF SECTIONS 21, 26y AND 28 OF SAID
ORDINANCE WHEN A PROPOSED WELL IS TO BE LOCATED IN AN
UNIMPROVED AREA BY ALLOWING A PERMITTEE TO PROCURE PUBLIC
LIABILITY INSURANCE IN LIEU OF BOND BY ALLOWING A PERMITTEE
TO USE EARTHEN SLUSH PITS AND BY REQUIRING A PERMITTEE TO
SET SURFACE CASING TO SUCH DEPTHS AS THE COUNCIL MAY
DETERMINE, BUT IN NO EVENT LESS THAN 1,000 FEET; AND
DECLARING AN EMERGENCY.
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CORPUS CHRISTI,
TEXAS:
SECTION 1. THAT ORDINANCE No. 2818, PASSED AND APPROVED BY
THE CITY COUNCIL ON THE 11TH DAY OF JULY, 1950, ENTITLED THE CORPUS CHRISTI
OIL AND GAS ORDINANCE," AS AMENDED, BE, AND THE SAME IS HEREBY AMENDED BY
AMENDING SUB- SECTIONS (A) AND (B) OF SECTION 4, THEREOF. WHICH SUB - SECTIONS
OF SECTION 4 SHALL HENCEFORTH READ AS FOLLOWS, TO -WIT:
(A) THE CORPORATE AREA EMBRACED WITHIN THE CITY LIMITS OF THE
CITY OF CORPUS CHRISTI, TEXAS 15 HEREBY SUB- DIVIDED INTO DRILLING
BLOCKS AS SHOWN BY A MAP OF THE CITY OF CORPUS CHRISTI, DESIGNATED
"CORPUS CHRISTI DRILLING BLOCKS," May 31, 1956, WHICH HAS BEEN
SIGNED BY THE MAYOR AND THE CITY SECRETARY OF THE CITY OF CORPUS
CHRISTI, AND WHICH MAP 15 ATTACHED HERETO AND BY REFERENCE MADE
A PART OF THIS ORDINANCE, AS AMENDED. ALL SUCH DRILLING BLOCKS
ARE NUMBERED FROM ONE TO 526 , INCLUSIVE, AS SHOWN ON SUCH
MAP, WITH EACH DRILLING BLOCK, EXCEPT THE AIRPORT, BEING FOR
PRACTICAL PURPOSES OF APPROXIMATELY EQUIVALENT AREA AND BEING OF
APPROXIMATELY COMPACT FORM, WITH THE EXTERIOR BOUNDARIES OF EACH
OF SUCH DRILLING BLOCKS BEING THE CENTER LINE OF THE EXTERIOR
ADJOINING AND ABUTTING STREETS AND ALLEYS OF SUCH DRILLING BLOCKS,
EXCEPT AS OTHERWISE SHOWN ON SAID MAP.
(B) WITH REFERENCE TO ANY LANDS WHICH AT THE DATE OF THE PASSAGE
OF THIS ORDINANCE, OR ANY AMENDMENTS THERETO, ARE SITUATED OUT-
SIDE THE CITY LIMITS OF THE CITY OF CORPUS CHRISTI AND WHICH LANDS
SUBSEQUENTLY BECOME PART OF, ARE ANNEXED TO, OR BROUGHT INTO THE
CORPORATE AREA EMBRACED WITHIN THE CITY LIMITS OF THE CITY OF
CORPUS CHRISTI, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CORPUS CHRISTI
SHALL HAVE THE POWER, AND RESERVES THE AUTHORITY , TO PLACE THE
SAME OR TO SUBDIVIDE THE SAME INTO ADDITIONAL DRILLING BLOCKS,
WITH EACH SUCH DRILLING BLOCK TO CONTAIN FOR PRACTICAL PURPOSES
APPROXIMATELY THE EQUIVALENT AREA OF THE AVERAGE DRILLING IN
BLOCK SHOWN ON THE MAP ATTACHED HERETO, WITH EACH TO BE NUMBERED,
AND WITH EACH TO BE AS SHOWN BY A MAP THEREOF SIGNED BY THE MAYOR
AND THE CITY SECRETARY OF THE CITY OF CORPUS CHRISTI AND FILED
IN THE OFFICE OF THE SAID CITY SECRETARY, AND WHEN 50 FILED, TO
BECOME A PART OF THIS ORDINANCE. ALL LAND 50 ANNEXED AND NOT SO
DIVIDED INTO DRILLING BLOCKS, SHALL, AS TO EACH SEPARATE AREA 50
ANNEXED, BE CONSIDERED AS ONE DRILLING BLOCK.
SECTION 2. THAT ORDINANCE No. 2818, PASSED AND APPROVED BY
THE CITY COUNCIL ON THE 11TH DAY OF JULY, 1950, AND ENTITLED "THE CITY OIL
AND GAS ORDINANCE," BE, AND THE SAME 15 HEREBY FURTHER AMENDED BY AMENDING
SECTION 20 THEREOF, AND SAID SECTION 20 SHALL HEREAFTER READ AS FOLLOWS,
TO-WIT:
SECTION 20 - ISSUANCE OR REFUSAL OF PERMIT:
(A) IF AFTER SUCH HEARING AN APPLICATION FILED PURSUANT
TO THIS ORDINANCE BE FOUND BY THE CITY COUNCIL TO COMPLY IN ALL
RESPECTS WITH THE TERMS OF THIS ORDINANCE, AND THE DRILLING AND
OPERATION OF A WELL ON SUCH DRILLING BLOCK 1S NOT PROHIBITED BY
THE TERMS OF THIS ORDINANCE, AND THE CITY COUNCIL DOES NOT ELECT
TO REFUSE THE APPLICATION AS AUTHORIZED BY SECTION 10 HEREOF,
THEN THE CITY COUNCIL SHALL DETERMINE THE AMOUNT OF THE PRINCIPAL
OF THE BOND PROVIDED FOR IN SECTION 21 HEREOF. OR THE LIMITS OF
THE POLICY OF PUBLIC LIABILITY INSURANCE AS PROVIDED IN SUBSEC-
TION (C) OF THIS SECTION, WHICH SHALL BE NOT LESS THAN ONE HUN-
DRED THOUSAND DOLLARS ($100.000), AND AFTER SUCH DETERMINATION
SHALL ISSUE A PERMIT FOR THE DRILLING AND OPERATION OF THE WELL
APPLIED FOR, PROVIDED. HOWEVER, THE CITY COUNCIL NAY, PURSUANT TO
THE PROVISIONS OF SECTION 9 HEREOF, REFUSE TO ISSUE A PERMIT FOR
THE PARTICULAR DRILLING LOCATION ON THE DRILLING BLOCK AS APPLIED
FOR BY THE APPLICANT AND IN LIEU THEREOF DESIGNATE AS THE DRILLING
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LOCATION ON THE DRILLING BLOCK AS APPLIED FOR BY THE APPLICANT
AND IN LIEU THEREOF DESIGNATE AS THE DRILLING LOCATION A DIFFERENT
DRILLING SITE ON THE SAID DRILLING BLOCK SUBJECT TO THE APPLICANT
OBTAINING ALL REQUISITE LEASES, CONTRACTS, AND SURFACE PERMISSIONS,
FOR THE DESIGNATED SUBSTITUTED DRILLING SITE; OR THE CITY COUNCIL
MAY ISSUE A PERMIT UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF SUB- SECTION (C) OF
THIS SECTION 20, HEREOF.
(B) EACH PERMIT ISSUED UNDER THIS ORDINANCE SHALL (I) BY
REFERENCE HAVE INCORPORATED THEREIN ALL PROVISIONS OF THIS ORD-
INANCE WITH THE SAME FORCE AND EFFECT AS IF THIS ORDINANCE WERE
COPIED VERBATIM IN SAID PERMIT; (II) SPECIFY THE WELL LOCATION
WITH PARTICULARITY TO LOT NUMBER, BLOCK NUMBER, NAME OF ADDITION
OR SUBDIVISION, OR OTHER AVAILABLE CORRECT LEGAL DESCRIPTION;
(111) CONTAIN AND SPECIFY THAT THE TERM OF SUCH PERMIT SHALL BE
FOR A PERIOD OF ONE YEAR FROM THE DATE OF THE PERMIT AND AS LONG
THEREAFTER AS THE PERMITTEE IS ENGAGED IN CONTINUOUS DRILLING
OPERATIONS OR OIL OR GAS IS PRODUCED IN COMMERCIAL QUANTITIES
FROM THE WELL DRILLED PURSUANT TO SUCH PERMIT, PROVIDED THAT IF
AT ANY TIME AFTER DISCOVERY OF OIL OR GAS THE PRODUCTION THEREOF
IN COMMERCIAL QUANTITIES SHOULD CEASE THE TERM SHALL NOT TERMINATE
IF THE PERMITTEE COMMENCES ADDITIONAL REWORKING OPERATIONS WITHIN
NINETY (90) DAYS THEREAFTER, AND IF THEY RESULT IN THE PRODUCTION
OF OIL OR GAS, SO LONG THEREAFTER AS OIL OR GAS I5 PRODUCED IN
COMMERCIAL QUANTITIES FROM SAID WELL; (IV) CONTAIN AND SPECIFY
SUCH CONDITIONS AS ARE BY THIS ORDINANCE AUTHORIZED; (V) SPECIFY
THE TOTAL DEPTH TO WHICH THE WELL MAY BE DRILLED, NOT EXCEEDING
THE PROJECTED DEPTH; AND (VI) CONTAIN AND SPECIFY THAT NO ACTUAL
DRILLING OPERATIONS SHALL BE COMMENCED UNTIL THE PERMITTEE SHALL
FILE AND HAVE APPROVED AN INDEMNITY BOND IN THE DESIGNATED PRINCI-
PAL AMOUNT AS 50 DETERMINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL AND CONDITIONED
AS SPECIFIED IN SECTION 21 HEREOF, OR A PUBLIC LIABILITY INSURANCE
POLICY AS PROVIDED IN SUB - SECTION (C) HEREOF.
(C) WHEN ANY PERSON FILING AN APPLICATION FOR A PERMIT TO DRILL
AND OPERATE A WELL WITHIN THE CORPORATE LIMITS OF THE CITY OF
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4 ; <i
CORPUS CHRISTI SHALL SET FORTH IN SUCH APPLICATION, AND
EgTABLISH TO THE SATISFACTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL, THAT THE
PROPOSED WELL WILL NOT BE SITUATED NEARER THAN 330 FEET OF ANY
RESIDENCE, BUILDING OR OTHER PERMANENT STRUCTURE; THAT SUCH WELL
WILL NOT BE SITUATED NEARER THAN 330 FEET OF ANY PUBLIC STREET,
ROAD OR ALLEY; THAT SUCH WELL WILL NOT BE SITUATED NEARER THAN
350 FEET OF THE EXTERIOR OF BOUNDARIES OF LANDS UTILIZED FOR A
PUBLIC OR PAROCHIAL SCHOOL, A COLLEGE, A UNIVERSITY, A HOSPITAL.
A CHURCH, OR A PUBLIC BUILDING, AND THAT THE APPLICANT OWNS A
LEASE OR LEASES COVERING ALL MINERAL INTERESTS WITHIN THE DRILL-
ING BLOCK IN WHICH SUCH WELL 15 TO BE LOCATED, THEN THE CITY
COUNCIL SHALL DETERMINE WHETHER OR NOT THE LOCATION OF THE PRO-
POSED WELL I5 IN SUCH AN UNIMPROVED AREA THAT THE PROVISIONS OF
SECTIONS 21, 26 AND 28 OF THIS ORDINANCE MAY BE VARIED TO THE
EXTENT NECESSARY FOR THE PROTECTION OF THE SAFETY, HEALTH AND
WELFARE OF THE PUBLIC. UPON DETERMINATION THAT THE SAID PROTEC-
TIONS OF THE PUBLIC DOES NOT REQUIRE THAT FULL ENFORCEMENT OF
THE PROVISIONS OF SECTION 21, 26 AND 28 OF THIS ORDINANCE, THE
CITY COUNCIL MAY, IN ITS DISCRETION, IN GRANTING ANY PERMIT,
SPECIFY IN SUCH PERMIT THAT IN LIEU OF THE PROVISIONS OF SEC-
TIONS 21, 26 AND 28 OF THIS ORDINANCE THE FOLLOWING REQUIREMENTS
SHALL APPLY IN THE DRILLING AND OPERATION OF SUCH WELL:
(I) BEFORE ACTUAL DRILLING OPERATIONS SHALL BE COMMENCED
THE PERMITTEE SHALL FILE WITH THE CITY SECRETARY OF THE CITY
OF CORPUS CHRISTI EVIDENCE THAT THE PERMITTEE HAS IN FORCE A
POLICY OF PUBLIC LIABILITY AND PROPERTY DAMAGE INSURANCE
ISSUED BY A RELIABLE INSURANCE COMPANY AUTHORIZED TO DO
BUSINESS IN THE STATE OF TEXAS, WHICH INSURANCE POLICY SHALL
INSURE THE PERMITTEE AGAINST BODILY INJURY OR PROPERTY DAMAGE
WHICH MIGHT BE SUSTAINED BY ANY MEMBER CF THE PUBLIC BY REASON
OF THE DRILLING AND OPERATION OF SUCH WELL, SUCH POLICY HAVING
LIMITS OF ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS ($100,000) TO ANY ONE
PERSON AND $100,000 FOR ANY ONE ACCIDENT.
(I1) EARTHEN SLUSH, MUD OR RESERVE PITS MAY BE USED IN CON-
NECTION WITH DRILLING OR RE- WORKING OPERATIONS IN LIEU OF
a
STEEL PITS, PROVIDED, HOWEVER, THAT PERMITTEE SHALL OBLIGATE
HIMSELF, THAT HE WILL, UPON COMPLETION OF DRILLING OPERATIONS
OR UPON THE ABANDONMENT OF ANY WELL, REMOVE ALL DRILLING MUD
AND SHALL CLEAN, GRADE AND RESTORE THE PREMISES AS NEAR AS
POSSIBLE TO THE CONDITION THAT EXISTED WHEN OPERATIONS WERE
FIRST COMMENCED.
(III) SURFACE CASING SHALL BE PROPERLY SET TO SUCH DEPTHS
AS THE COUNCIL MAY DETERMINE BUT IN NO EVENT LESS THAN AS
SPECIFIED IN THE RULES AND REGULATIONS OF THE RAILROAD COM-
MISSION OF THE STATE OF TEXAS, AND SHALL BE CEMENTED BY THE
PUMP AND PLUG METHOD WITH SUFFICIENT CEMENT TO COMPLETELY
FILL ALL OF THE ANNULAR SPACE BEHIND SUCH CASING TO THE SUR-
FACE OF THE GROUND; PROVIDED, THAT IN ANY EVENT SURFACE CAS-
ING SHALL BE PROPERLY SET TO A MINIMUM DEPTH OF ONE THOUSAND
FEET (1,000). PRODUCTION STRING SHALL BE CEMENTED BY THE PUMP
AND PLUG METHOD WITH SUFFICIENT CEMENT TO COMPLETELY FILL ALL
THE ANNULAR SPACE BEHIND THE PRODUCTION STRING TO AT LEAST
SIX HUNDRED (600) FEET ABOVE EACH OIL AND /OR GAS HORIZON
CAPABLE OF COMMERCIAL PRODUCTION, AND IN THE EVENT A PROTECTION
STRING OF CASING BE REQUIRED BY ORDINANCE No. 2818, THEN SUCH
PROTECTION STRING SHALL BE CEMENTED BY THE PUMP AND PLUG
METHOD WITH SUFFICIENT CEMENT TO COMPLETELY FILL ALL THE
ANNULAR SPACE BEHIND THE PROTECTION STRING TO AT LEAST SIX
HUNDRED (600) FEET ABOVE THE HIGHEST OIL AND /OR GAS PRODUCING
HORIZON.
SECTION 3, THAT ORDINANCE No. 2818, PASSED AND APPROVED BY THE
CITY COUNCIL ON THE 11TH DAY OF JULY, 1950, AND ENTITLED "THE CITY OIL AND
GAS ORDINANCE," BE, AND THE SAME IS HEREBY FURTHER AMENDED BY AMENDING SEC-
TION 11 THEREOF, BY ADDING TO SAID SECTION 11 THE FOLLOWING:
WHENEVER THE COUNCIL HAS DETERMINED THAT THE DRILLING BLOCK I5 IN
AN UNDEVELOPED AREA AS DEFINED IN SECTION 20 AS HEREIN AMENDED, THE
COUNCIL MAY CONSIDER THE ISSUANCE OF MORE THAN ONE PERMIT WITHIN
SUCH DRILLING BLOCK WHEN SUCH ADDITIONAL PERMIT 15 AUTHORIZED
UNDER THE SPACING RULES AND REGULATIONS PROVIDED BY THE RAILROAD
COMMISSION OF TEXAS, THE ISSUANCE OF SUCH ADDITIONAL PERMIT BEING
A MATTER TO BE DETERMINED BY SAID COUNCIL UNDER ALL THE RULES OF
PROCEDURE HEREIN PROVIDED FOR THE ISSUANCE OF DRILLING PERMITS.
SECTION 4. EXCEPT AS HEREIN AMENDED, ALL OF THE PROVISONS AND
REQUIREMENTS OF ORDNANCE 2818 ARE CONTINUED Bi FULL FORCE AND EFFECT.
SECTION 5. THIS ORDINANCE SHALL TAKE EFFECT FROM AND AFTER ITS
PUBLICATION ONE TIME IN THE OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE CITY OF CORPUS
CHRISTI, WHICH PUBLICATION SHALL CONTAIN THE CAPTION STATING IN SUMMARY THE
PURPOSE OF THE ORDINANCE AND THE PENALTY FOR VIOLATION THEREOF.
SECTION 6. THE NECESSITY FOR AMENDING THE CORPUS CHRISTI OIL AND
GAS ORDINANCE BY AMENDING THE DRILLING BLOCK MAP AND BY SPECIFYING CERTAIN
REQUIREMENTS FOR DRILLING OF WELLS IN AN UNDEVELOPED AREA CREATES A PUBLIC
EMERGENCY AND PUBLIC IMPERATIVE NECESSITY REQUIRING THE SUSPENSION OF THE
CHARTER RULE THAT NO ORDINANCE OR RESOLUTION SHALL BE PASSED FINALLY OH THE
DATE IT 15 INTRODUCED ANO THAT SUCH ORDINANCE OR RESOLUTION SHALL BE READ
AT THREE SEVERAL MEETINGS OF THE CITY COUNCIL, AND THE MAYOR HAVING DECLARED
THAT SUCH PUBLIC EMERGENCY AND IMPERATIVE PUBLIC NECESSITY EXIST, AND HAVING
REQUESTED THAT SUCH CHARTER RULE BE SUSPENDED. AND THAT THIS ORDINANCE BE
PASSED FINALLY ON THE DATE OF ITS INTRODUCTION AND TAKE EFFECT AND BE IN FULL
FORCE AND EFFECT FROM AND AFTER ITS PASSAGE IT IS ACCORDINGLY SO ORDAINED.
PASSED AND APPROVED THIS ( DAY OF MAY, 1956.
ATTEST.
CITY BEGET
APPROVED AS TO LEGAL fOR
THIS / DAY OF MAY, 1956:
,Eir)
CITY ATTORN
MAYOR
THE CITY OF CORPUS CHRISTI,TEXAS
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•
TO THE MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
CORPUS CHRISTI, TEXAS
GENTLEMEN:
CORPUS RISTI, TEXAS
1956
. FOR THE REASONS SET FORTH IN THE EMERGENCY CLAUSE OF THE FOREGOING
ORDINANCE, A PUBLIC EMERGENCY AND IMPERATIVE NECESSITY EXIST FOR THE SUSPENSION
OF THE CHARTER RULE OR REQUIREMENT THAT NO ORDINANCE OR RESOLUTION SHALL BE PASSED
FINALLY ON THE DATE IT 15 INTRODUCED, AND THAT SUCH ORDINANCE OR RESOLUTION SHALL
5E READ AT THREE MEETINGS OF THE CITY COUNCIL; 1, THEREFORE, HEREBY REQUEST THAT
YOU SUSPEND SAID CHARTER RULE OR REQUIREMENT AND PASS THIS ORDINANCE FINALLY ON
THE DATE IT 15 INTRODUCED, OR AT THE PRESENT MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL.
RESPECTFULLY,
MAYOR
THE CITY OF CORPUS CHRISTI, TEXAS
THE CHARTER RULE WAS SUSPENDED BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE:
FARRELL D. SMITH
MINOR CULLI
W. J. ROBERTS
B. E. BILLER
MANUEL P. MALDONADO
THE ABOVE ORDINANCE WAS PASSED BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE:
FARRELL D. SMITH
MINOR CULLI
W. U. ROBERTS
B. E. BIGLER
MANUEL P. MALDONADO
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