Corona Municipal Code Ch. 14.16 Drilling and Operation

(A) Prior to the commencement of drilling, each drill site shall be prepared as required by the regulations and in accordance with the plot plan submitted to and approved by the Agency.

(B) The well location shall be clearly marked by a stake or other suitable means and identified as the "well location."

(C) The drill site shall be of such size as to provide for the safe erection of the mast or derrick and all structures appurtenant thereto as indicated on the approved plot plan.

(D) Any private road used for ingress or egress of equipment to the drill site shall be constructed as required by these regulations.

(E) The proposed well shall be located in conformity with these regulations as to distances from streets, outer boundaries, public buildings and dwellings.

(`78 Code, § 14.16.010.)

(A) Prior to the commencement of drilling operations, the drill site shall be enclosed on all sides by a fence of solid wood or equivalent, not less than eight feet in height except for those sides on which there exists a natural or artificial barrier of equal or greater solidity and height. Solid wood board gates shall be installed in the fencing and shall be equipped with keyed locks. The gates shall be kept locked at all times when the drill site is unattended. Any and all supporting members of the fence shall be on the interior of such fence. The fence or wall shall be in lieu of any other fencing requirements.

(B) If by reason of location it is impractical to provide such fencing, the Agency may grant an exception to the requirements of this section; provided the Agency first finds that compliance with such fencing requirement is impractical or unnecessary and that the integrity of the neighborhood or area will not be adversely affected if such exception is granted.

(`78 Code, § 14.16.020.)

Encroachment provisions are as follows.

(A) New wells. All operations concerned with drilling, redrilling, servicing or the production of wells shall be conducted within the property lines of the leasehold.

(B) Directional surveys on certain wells required. If at the time of application for a permit the Agency determines that the applicant intends to drill, re-drill or deepen any well or wellhole whose location at the surface or at any point below the surface of the ground is within 330 feet of any exterior boundary line of any publicly owned property, the applicant shall make available to the Agency at his or her expense directional surveys of such well or wellhole.

(C) Duplicate notices and reports for the State Oil and Gas Supervisor to be filed with the Agency. The operator shall file with the Agency an executed duplicate of any "Notice of Intention to Deepen, Re-drill, Plug or Alter Casing in Well" or any other notice required to be filed by the operator with the State Oil and Gas Supervisor relating to or in connection with any work upon any existing well and an executed duplicate of the "Report on Proposed Operations" or any other report issued and delivered by the supervisor to the operator concerning the operator’s proposed operations as set forth in any of the notices. The duplicate notices and reports shall be filed by the operator on the same date the original or originals thereof are filed with the supervisor.

(D) Wells existing as of the effective date of this title. No operator or person who re-drills, services or maintains a well drilled prior to the effective date of this title shall encroach with oil production equipment on any public property, sidewalks, parkways, alleys, streets or rights-of-way until a permit therefor has been granted by the Agency. Before issuing such an encroachment permit, the Agency shall impose on the permit reasonable requirements for the safety of persons and property. The permit shall not be issued until the applicant installs temporary sidewalk enclosures sufficient to protect pedestrians and files the necessary certificates of insurance pursuant to Chapter 14.12. The temporary sidewalk enclosures shall be maintained until the oil-operating equipment has been removed from the leasehold. The operator thereof shall be liable for any damages to public property resulting from such encroachment.

(`78 Code, § 14.16.030.)

(A) No oil well shall be drilled or re-drilled within 150 feet of an existing or planned right-of-way, unless the Secretary determines, due to the degree or slope or other topographical features, that a lesser distance than one-half of the existing right-of-way in addition to the 150 feet would be safe for the traveling public and in conformity with the purpose and intent of this title. If the Secretary so finds, the distance established by the Secretary shall control.

(B) No oil well shall be drilled within 150 feet of the nearest rail of a railway which carries passengers for hire.

(C) Except as elsewhere provided in this title, no oil well shall be drilled within 150 feet of any building used for human occupancy, nor shall such a building be erected within 150 feet of any producing oil well.

(D) No oil well shall be drilled within 150 feet from the outer boundary line of the district.

(E) No oil well shall be drilled within 300 feet of any building used as a place of public assemblage, public institution or school, nor shall any such buildings be erected within 300 feet of any producing oil well.

(F) No controlled drill site location shall be closer than 1,300 feet from any other drill site. The Agency may suspend, in whole or in part, any provisions of this chapter and/or impose less restrictive requirements if the provisions of this chapter are rendered unnecessary or unreasonable due to existing special features, such as topography, use and occupancy of and the proximity of buildings on adjoining property, the height, character and structure of such buildings and the type and character of oil field development. The Agency may also impose, as a result of such special features, such additional safety requirements as it deems necessary.

(`78 Code, § 14.16.040.)

(A) All derricks and masts erected for drilling or redrilling shall meet the specifications of the American Petroleum Institute Standards 4A, 14th Edition and Redrill, 3 years Edition.

(B) Any derrick or pulling mast operating within 150 feet of any structure or public right-of-way shall be securely guyed or braced at all times the mast is in use, or, if it be a self-braced derrick or mast, it shall meet the American Petroleum Institute Standards 4A, 14th Edition and Redrill, 3 years Edition.

(C) Drilling equipment and all derricks shall be removed from the premises within 30 days following the abandonment or desertion of any well. If the well is a producing well, then only that drilling equipment and those portions of the derrick used as support for the equipment lowered into the well shall be removed within 60 days following the completion of such well. Once a well is producing, it shall be serviced only by a portable derrick. Drilling operations shall be diligently prosecuted until a well is completed or abandoned.

(D) Derricks and those portions of the derrick which were used in the drilling of a well as support for the equipment lowered into the well exist above the surface of the ground and were erected prior to the effective date of this title shall be dismantled and every part thereof removed from the drill site on or before the effective date of these regulations.

(E) All well servicing or portable pulling masts shall be removed from the leasehold or property and returned to a service yard within seven days after completion of a well-servicing operation.

(`78 Code, § 14.16.050)

(A) If a well is to be drilled or redrilled within 150 feet of any structure or street right-of-way, the operator shall notify the Agency after the operating equipment is securely in place and prior to commencement of drilling. If the operator anticipates an inspection to be made during the night on a weekend or holiday, he or she shall notify the Agency during a working day as to the approximate time and date the operator will be ready for the inspection. An operator shall not commence drilling until the Agency has made an inspection and given approval to so commence. The Secretary shall make the Agency’s inspection within a reasonable time after receiving notice from the operator and shall not give his or her approval until the applicant has complied with all the applicable provisions of the city’s code.

(B) The operator shall notify the Agency after the completion of drilling operations, and the Agency shall make a final inspection of the drill site.

(C) The Agency shall make an annual inspection of each well within the city and shall keep a record of the wells inspected and its findings as to each well. The Agency shall furnish a report of the inspection to the operator of the well or wells.

(`78 Code, § 14.16.060.)

Rotary mud, drill cuttings, oil field waste, oil or liquid hydrocarbons and all other oil field wastes derived or resulting from or connected with the drilling of any well shall be discharged into a sump hole or into a steel tank if an operator is so directed by the Agency. The drill cuttings, rotary mud and drilling waste materials shall be removed from the drill site upon completion of drilling operations. Tanks used as and for sump purposes shall be removed from the drill site. Sump holes shall be drained, backfilled and compacted to 90% compaction with earth to the level of the surrounding terrain within 30 days from and after completion of drilling. When required by the Agency, an operator shall make compaction tests and submit the results thereof to the Agency.

(`78 Code, § 14.16.070.)

(A) Prior to the commencement of any drilling operations, the drill site and all private roads used for access thereto shall be surfaced by clean, crushed rock, gravel or decomposed granite or oiled and maintained to prevent dust and mud. In particular cases, the requirements of this chapter may be modified by the Secretary after his or her consideration of circumstances surrounding the particular site and/or road in question. The circumstances include but are not limited to the distance from public streets and highways; distance from adjoining and nearby property owners, whose surface rights are not leased by the operator, the use of the adjoining and nearby property; topographical features, nature of the soil and wind exposure.

(B) Sanitary facilities shall be installed in a manner approved by the city’s Health Officer.

(`78 Code, § 14.16.080.)

(A) The drilling and redrilling of any well shall be conducted in such a manner as not to cause excessive noise, odor or vibration.

(B) It shall conform to the following standards.

(1) Where drilling and redrilling operations are conducted at a distance of 300 feet or more from occupied residential areas, no sound-deadening will be required unless the Agency finds the precaution is necessary to minimize excessive disturbance to such areas.

(2) Where the Agency finds such drilling is being conducted in areas in which disturbance to residential areas could reasonably be anticipated, the operator of the drilling operation shall enclose the entire derrick and/or portable drilling mast at least on three sides to a height of 20 feet and all machinery used in connection with drilling of any well with fire-resistant sound-deadening material which shall be maintained in a serviceable condition. No operations, except for well logging, shall be conducted outside of the enclosures.

(3) The Agency may waive the sound-deadening requirements under subsection (2) at a height of 30 feet and above, if in its opinion the sound-deadening is not required at such height. The Secretary may waive any of the sound- deadening requirements under subsection (2) if in his or her opinion they are unnecessary in a particular case and no reasonable complaints have been made against a particular well.

(`78 Code, § 14.16.090.)

In addition to the provisions of § 14.16.090, the following conditions shall apply.

(A) No drilling operations or any work in connection with such drilling operation shall be conducted between the hours of 10:00 p.m. of one day and 6:00 a.m. of the following day, except that circulation of fluids and well logging may be continued during such time.

(B) The Secretary may, notwithstanding the provisions of this section, allow operations connected with drilling or redrilling during hours other than prescribed in this section, if, in his or her opinion, such operations do not create excessive noise, odor or vibration, such as cementing and gravel packing; or, in the case of an emergency; provided, that notice of such emergency is given to the Agency, such permission shall extend only as long as the emergency exists.

(`78 Code, § 14.16.100.)

Except in cases of emergency where it is necessary to maintain circulation in the well or the well would be endangered if the pulling work were not done immediately, no well servicing or any work in connection with pulling a well shall be done between the hours of 10:00 p.m. of one day and 6:00 a.m. of the following day, if at the time of well servicing or maintenance any of the following conditions exist:

(A) 25 or more dwellings are located within 1,320 feet of the location of the well;

(B) Six or more dwellings are located within 660 feet of the location of the well;

(C) Any structure used for housing mentally or physically ill or aged persons, having five or more beds, is located within 660 feet of the location of the well.

(`78 Code, § 14.16.110.)

The following requirements shall apply to the installation and operation of oil field recovery heaters.

(A) Each and every oil field recovery heater shall have a valid state permit to operate. It shall be equipped with and operated by safety controls which monitor certain essential operating conditions of the automatically controlled fire boiler; shut down the boiler automatically and require manual restart when any of the essential safety elements vary from certain prescribed limits. An emergency shut down switch shall be installed a minimum of 50 feet from the oil field recovery heater and shall be identified as such by a sign bearing letters not less than three inches in height.

(B) The following distances shall separate oil field recovery heaters from residential, commercial and public assemblage buildings:

(1) An oil or gas fired recovery heater shall be 300 feet distant. If it is enclosed by a six foot high and six inch wide block wall, the distance may be reduced to 50 feet;

(2) All oil field recovery heaters shall be located not less than 50 feet from any oil storage tank, well head or public right-of-way.

(C) (1) If the Fire Chief or his or her duly authorized representative so requires, every steam boiler located within 100 feet of an oil well or oil storage tank shall be equipped with an emergency quick acting valve so located as to complete shut off all fuel feed lines to each and every boiler. The location may be required outside the retaining wall. The valve shall be located not more than two feet from the valve controlling the stream or waterline to the fire box and shall have a metal tag not less than three by six inches attached thereto upon which shall be printed "Emergency Valve to Boilers (Fuel Line)."

(2) All lines used to furnish fuel to boilers or for the agitation of petroleum products within tanks, holders or containers shall have installed thereon a positive shutoff valve at or near the point of entry to the leasehold or at another suitable location designated by the Fire Chief or his or her duly authorized representative. The valve shall have a metal tag not less than three by six inches attached thereto upon which there shall be printed "Emergency Heater Fuel Valve Line" and the name or number of the leasehold and the name of the operator.

(D) Where an oil field recovery heater is operated within an area occupied by residential structures, the heater shall be shielded with a fire-resistant, sound-deadening material so that the sound level at the nearest residence can be maintained at the average ambient level existing when such heater is not in operation; provided, however, the fire resistant sound- deadening shield shall not be required if the residential ambient level mentioned in this section can be maintained by other means.

(E) Heaters being operated in any residential zone shall be completely fenced, including the well head, with a six foot high chain link or block wall fence complete with two self-closing gates installed on opposite sides of the enclosure. Steam lines from the heater to the well head shall be buried to a depth of one foot or in lieu thereof covered and/or wrapped with a minimum of one inch approved asbestos pipe insulation.

(F) (1) Prior to installing and operating an oil field recovery heater, an application for a permit to do so shall be filed with the Secretary who, prior to issuing a permit to install, shall inspect the proposed site and specify the location, setup and/or standards of the heater, piping, head installation, valves, sound-deadening (if required) and other equipment. Upon completion of such an installation, the Secretary shall inspect it, and if he or she approves such, he or she shall issue a permit to operate the heater pursuant to all provisions of this title applicable to such operation.

(2) Approval by the Secretary does not relieve the applicant of the responsibility of securing additional city and state permits which are required by other provisions of state and city law.

(G) The permit to operate an oil field recovery heater shall show the name of the owner and/or operator of the heater, the well name, the name of the owner and/or operator of the well and two telephone numbers to be called for purposes of emergency related thereto. Names and telephone numbers of individuals available in case of emergency shall be posted by the permittee in a conspicuous place at the drill site.

(H) If in the opinion of the Secretary the proposed location of an oil field recovery heater is deemed to be hazardous or dangerous to life, limb or property, a permit may be denied. The owner or operator may appeal the denial pursuant to the procedures set forth in § 14.32.070.

(`78 Code, § 14.16.120.)

The sign described in this section shall be displayed in a prominent place adjacent to or on the pumping unit or fence and shall be visible at all times and maintained in good condition from the time drilling of a well is started until abandonment of the well. The sign shall be one having a surface area of not less than two square feet bearing the current name and number of the well, the name and/or the insignia of the operator and at least two names and telephone numbers of pumpers or operators of the well who may be contacted during any 24 hour period for emergency reasons.

(`78 Code, § 14.16.130.)

(A) Transferor. An operator shall, upon final transfer of any oil well, immediately notify the Agency in writing requesting its inspection of such well. Within ten days after any such transfer by sale, assignment, conveyance, exchange or otherwise, the transferor shall give written notice of the transfer to the Agency with the following information:

(1) The name and address of the person to whom such well was transferred;

(2) The name and location of the well;

(3) The date of transfer;

(4) The date when possession was relinquished by the former operator;

(5) A description of the properties and equipment transferred.

(B) Transferee. Every person who acquires any oil well, property or equipment relating to oil production, whether by purchase, transfer, assignment, conveyance, exchange or otherwise, shall within ten days after acquiring such well, property or equipment notify the Agency in writing of his or her acquired interest. The notice shall contain the following:

(1) The name and address of the person from whom such well, equipment and property was acquired;

(2) The name and location of the well;

(3) The date of acquisition;

(4) The date when possession was acquired;

(5) The person designated for service of notice and address.

(`78 Code, § 14.16.140.)

The operator of any well shall notify the Agency in writing of any temporary suspension of drilling or redrilling operations. The operator shall notify the Secretary in writing upon its resumption of such operations or abandonment and shall give the date thereof.

(`78 Code, § 14.16.150.)