Beaumont Municipal Code Ch. 8.24 Oil and Gas Wells

For the purposes of this Chapter, the words set out in this Section shall have the following meanings:

A. "Derrick" means any structure, improvement, equipment, or facility, whether movable or affixed to the land, and each and every part of any thereof, whether completed or not, and which is or are required, or used or useful for or in connection with drilling and/or operating, and/or maintaining a well for the production of oil, gas or other hydrocarbons from the earth, together with all parts of and appurtenances to such structure, improvement, equipment, or facility, including, but not limited to, any foundations and sills therefore, tower, pump houses, engine houses or housings, boiler, boiler plants, piperacks, postings, walkways, mud ditches, bull-wheels, calf-wheels, band-wheels and crown block.

B. "Erect" means and includes to build, construct, install, assemble, put together, improve, alter, move, reconstruct, restore, renovate, renew or repair any building, structure, improvement or facility, or any part thereof.

C. "Well" or "oil well" means a well or hole' drilled into the earth for the purpose of exploring for or extracting from the earth, oil, gas and/or other hydrocarbon substances, and/or a well or hole in the earth by means of and through which oil, gas and other hydrocarbon substances are extracted or produced from the earth, and in addition to such hole in the earth, the term "well" or "oil well" means and includes all permanent well casing, required to be used or used in connection with drilling, operating and/or maintaining such hole, and extracting or producing oil, gas and/or other hydrocarbon substances from the earth.

(Ord. 264 §1, 1952)

It is unlawful and a nuisance to drill any oil or gas well or well-hole, or to erect any derrick or equipment for such purpose in or upon any real property in the City.

(Ord. 264 §2, 1952)

Every person, whether a principal, agent, servant, employee, or otherwise, violating any of the provisions of this Chapter, shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall be punishable by a fine not exceeding $300.00 or by imprisonment not exceeding three months, in the City or County jail, or by both such fine and imprisonment; and every such person shall be deemed guilty of a separate offense for each day during any portion of which the violation of any of the provisions of this Chapter is committed, continued or permitted.

(Ord. 264 §3, 1952)