Chapter 16.16 — DRILLING STANDARDS

Sections:

• 16.16.010 Drilling prohibited.
• 16.16.020 Drilling permitted in specific zones.
• 16.16.030 Setbacks and minimum drill site dimensions.
• 16.16.040 Drill site grading, drainage, and surfacing.
• 16.16.050 Off-street parking.
• 16.16.060 Sanitary facilities.
• 16.16.070 Derricks.
• 16.16.080 Signs.
• 16.16.090 Blow-out prevention.
• 16.16.100 Cellars.
• 16.16.110 Soundproofing.
• 16.16.120 Sound materials and construction.
• 16.16.130 Noise control--General.
• 16.16.140 Drill site fencing and walls.
• 16.16.150 Off-site public improvements.
• 16.16.160 Landscaping.
• 16.16.170 Waste and refuse removal and control.
• 16.16.180 Special conditions--All petroleum operations.
• 16.16.190 Well completion or abandonment.

No person, firm, or corporation shall drill any new well or wells with the surface location in any residential zoning district within the city. The provisions of this section shall not apply to establish drill sites with a conditional use permit approved by

the city council prior to the effective date of the ordinance codified in this chapter, to redrilling, and to future well consolidation projects which may be approved subject to a conditional use permit approved by the city council. (Ord. 90-08-1074 § 4 (part))

A. A well(s) may be drilled in any zoning district, with the exception of a residential zoning district, subject to approval of a conditional use permit pursuant to Section 20.08.060 and Chapter 20.64 of this code and compliance with all requirements contained in this title. B. Redrilling shall be permitted in any zoning district subject to written approval from the director verifying compliance with all requirements contained in this title and the following conditions:

1. Written verification from the operator that the well is bottomed within the boundaries of the leased properties or outer boundary;
2. Approval from D.O.G. that the well is in compliance with all state requirements;
3. Neighborhood noticing requirements have been completed in accordance with Section 16.20.210. (Ord. 99-08-1261 § 1; Ord. 90-08-1074 § 4 (part))

A. No new drill site shall have a dimension less than two hundred feet in any direction unless the minimum dimension is reduced by the director. Upon a written request from the operator, the oil services coordinator may reduce the minimum dimension to not less than the height of the proposed drilling derrick, and may impose additional conditions he may deem necessary to protect the public health, safety, and general welfare, upon finding that both of the following conditions are met:

1. That the reduced minimum dimension will not be materially detrimental to the public welfare or injurious to adjacent property.
2. Because of special circumstances applicable to the property, including size, shape, topography, location, or surrounding buildings, the strict application of the two hundred foot dimension would deprive such property of privilege enjoyed by other property in the vicinity. B. No well shall be drilled where the center of the well bore, at ground surface, will be less than the following prescribed distances:
3. Fifty feet to any adjacent interior property line not part of an oil and gas surface leasehold;
4. One hundred feet from a non-oil-related building for human occupancy;
5. One hundred feet from existing tanks, tank farms, or tank batteries used for storage of flammable materials;
6. Seventy-five feet from any public right-of-way shown on the city's official plan lines map, general plan, or any specific plan;
7. Three hundred feet from any place of public assemblage, institution, hospital, or school;
8. Two hundred feet from any public park. C. The oil services coordinator may suspend any provision contained in subsections (A) or (B) of this section for a redrill in whole or part, if the oil services coordinator deems such provisions or requirements unnecessary; provided; that in such event the oil services coordinator may impose additional conditions on a redrill as he deems necessary to protect the public health, safety, and general welfare. Such conditions may include, but shall not be limited to, the following:
9. Installation of special guy wire supports during the redrilling operation;
10. Installation of acoustical blankets or panels around drilling equipment. D. No structures shall be constructed closer than fifty feet to the center of a well other than buildings necessary for oil production, except that the distance of separation between a building and a well may be reduced to thirty-five feet if all walls of the building are of two-hour fire resistive construction and have no openings. E. With the exception of engines used in the drilling or servicing of wells no internal combustion engine, storage, tank or boiler, fired heater, open flame device, or other source of ignition, except welding supervised by the operator, shall be located within twenty-five feet of any well. (Ord. 90-08-1074 § 4 (part))

Unless otherwise indicated on an approved grading plan, all drill site grading, drainage, and surfacing shall conform to the following: A. Access roads and other excavations related to the drill site shall be designed, planned, and maintained so as to minimize erosion, provide stability or fill, minimize disfigurement of the landscape, and maintain natural drainage. B. No slope of cut or fill shall have a gradient steeper than a one foot rise in a two foot horizontal measurement. C. There shall be erosion control of all slopes, and on banks which are creased by any drill site construction, so that no mud or other substances are washed onto public streets or surrounding property. This control may consist of effective planting and irrigation, check dams, cribbing, riprap, sand bagging, netting, berms, or other devices or methods to control erosion previously approved for the oil operation site by the oil services coordinator pursuant to a landscape and irrigation plan submitted and approved pursuant to this title and Chapter 20.52 of this code. D. Drainage facilities, including but not limited to concrete catchbasins, swales, interceptor drains, or clarifiers shall be designed and installed as necessary to contain all mud or other substances on the drill site. E. Prior to any drilling equipment, sub-bases, derricks, or pertinent equipment being placed on any drill site, all private roads used for access to the drill site and the drill site itself shall be temporarily surfaced and maintained with crushed rock, gravel, or decomposed granite or other materials approved by the city to control dust, mud, erosion, and drainage. (Ord. 90-08-1074 § 4 (part))

Prior to commencement of drilling or redrilling operations, an off-street parking area containing not less than five parking spaces shall be provided on the drill site or leasehold, subject to review and approval of the director for each well being drilled and shall be surfaced and maintained consistent with provisions contained in Section 16.16.040 of this chapter. (Ord. 90-08-1074 § 4 (part))

Prior to commencement of drilling or redrilling operations, sanitary facilities shall be installed at any drill site where personnel will be permanently stationed. Portable sanitary facilities shall be provided wherever crews are temporarily employed in accordance with standards of the Los Angeles County Health Department. (Ord. 90-08-1074 § 4 (part))

A. All derricks and masts used for drilling, redrilling, rework operations, or production operations shall be constructed, maintained and operated consistent with California Division of Industrial Safety and OSHA Standards, and shall be at least equivalent to the standards and specifications of American Petroleum Institute (A.P.I.) as they presently exist or may be amended hereafter. Deviations from A.P.I. standards may be made upon approval by the city engineer of alternate plans. B. All derricks or masts, standard or portable, which are used in either drilling, redrilling, rework operations, or for use in production or servicing operations, within two hundred feet of a public right-of-way, building or residence, shall have derrick crown(s) shrouded to prevent oil and water spraying into the air. C. All derricks and masts hereafter erected for drilling, redrilling or rework operations, shall be removed within thirty days after completion of the work unless otherwise ordered by the Director of D.O.G. (Ord. 90-08-1074 § 4 (part))

A. A legible, permanent sign shall be prominently displayed and maintained at all entrances to the drill site or leasehold. Such signs shall be maintained until drilling equipment is removed or drilling operations are completed. Each sign shall contain the following information:

1. The name of the drilling contractor;
2. The name of the owner or operator;
3. The name of the lease and name and number of the well;
4. A current telephone number of persons on twenty-four hour call for emergencies. B. A readily visible sign of durable material designating the well name and number shall also be posted on or near each and every well within the drill site or leasehold pursuant to provisions contained in Section 16.20.060 of this title. (Ord. 90-08-1074 § 4 (part))

A. Upon cementing of the surface string of casing and prior to drilling out the shoe of said string, blow-out prevention equipment shall be provided, tested, and approved by D.O.G. In accordance with most recent D.O.G. requirements. Such equipment shall be capable of being operated from the driller's station and from another remote station. Redrill and rework operations shall be equipped with blow-out prevention equipment at the onset of operations in accordance with the most recent requirements of D.O.G. B. Blow-out prevention equipment shall be maintained in good condition and shall be required to be tested at intervals as requested by D.O.G. (Ord. 90-08-1074 § 4 (part))

The following requirement shall apply to cellars: A. Every cellar shall be constructed in accordance with Title 15 of this code or with the most current American Petroleum Institute (A.P.I.) and California Division of Industrial Safety Standards, whichever are more restrictive. B. Cellars shall be kept free of all oil, water, or debris at all times. During drilling and redrilling, the cellar shall be kept free of excess fluids by a pump which either discharges into a waste tank, mud pit, vacuum truck, or other approved disposal system. C. Multiwell cellars exceeding three feet in depth and twenty-five feet in length shall have two means of entrance and exit and an additional exit for every fifty feet in length thereafter. At least one means of entrance or exit for all multiwell cellars of twenty-five feet in length shall be a stairway constructed to California Division of Industrial Safety standards. D. Single cellars shall be covered with open grating and have no openings larger than three inches at any point. Covers shall be capable of supporting vehicle weight or be guardrailed to prevent vehicle access. E. Openings for ladders through grating shall be designed to allow exit from underside without obstruction, and shall be kept free of storage of any type. Said opening shall not be less than twenty-four inches on any side. F. All bolts for blow-out prevention flanges and kill valves at casing head shall be kept free of fluids to allow for routine inspection at any time. (Ord. 90-08-1074 § 4 (part))

A. If drilling or redrilling operations are located within six hundred feet of an occupied building, noise sources associated with the operation shall be enclosed with soundproofing sufficient to ensure that expected noise levels do not exceed the noise limits contained in Chapter 9.16 of this code. Such soundproofing shall be installed prior to commencement of operations and may include but shall not be limited to the following:

1. Blanket covering for the first twelve feet above the working platform;
2. Blanket covering of all housing, including but not limited to, engines, pumps, and generators;
3. Additional blanket covering, including the top of rig, crown block, or at ground level when deemed necessary by the inspector. B. Variations in soundproofing may be approved by the inspector if the permittee can demonstrate that the applicable noise standard can be met. C. Nothing shall preclude the inspector from requiring soundproofing where a drilling, redrilling, or rework operation is more than six hundred feet from an occupied building to avoid injury to the use and enjoyment of surrounding or adjacent property or in cases where a noise complaint has verified noise levels in excess of the noise limits contained in Chapter 9.16 of this code. (Ord. 90-08-1074 § 4 (part))

All acoustical blankets or panels used for required soundproofing shall be of fire-proof materials, shall comply with the fire and building codes of the city and California Industrial Safety Standards, whichever are more restrictive and shall be maintained in good repair. (Ord. 90-08-1074 § 4 (part))

A. All drilling or redrilling operations shall conform to Chapter 9.16 of this code. B. If residents in the vicinity of such operations complain to the inspector or if noise levels exceed the ambient noise levels permitted in Chapter 9.16 of this code, a notice shall be issued to the operator by the inspector. C. Upon receipt of notice, the operator shall submit for the approval of the inspector the procedures the operator will undertake to correct the violation. Corrective measures must be initiated within forty-eight hours of operator's receipt of the notice. The inspector may require a follow-up noise field test by an acoustical engineer to ensure compliance, in which case the operator shall pay the actual costs to the city for such test.

1. Failure to comply shall be reason for the inspector to limit drilling or redrilling to daylight hours (seven a.m. to seven p.m.).
2. Nothing shall preclude the inspector from pursuing other administrative or legal remedies to obtain compliance. D. Internal combustion engines shall only be used during drilling in those applications for which electrical motors are not appropriate and power generation for these motors require diesel or gasoline generators or engines. The inspector shall approve, at the time of issuance of the drilling or redrilling permit, these operations appropriate, in his discretion, for internal combustion engines for the period of drilling or redrilling only. E. Exhaust muffler shall be installed and maintained in good repair on all approved gasoline or diesel engines to prevent excessive or unusual noise. Means shall also be provided on all engines to prevent the escape of flames, sparks, ignited carbon, and soot. F. Pipe tripping and truck deliveries are prohibited except Monday through Friday, inclusive, from seven a.m. to seven p.m., and Saturday from nine a.m. to seven p.m. (See Section 16.20.100 of this title for well servicing or rework). G. The inspector may issue a memorandum to the city manager and police chief authorizing work to be performed at times not otherwise permitted in this section only when a written request has been submitted by the operator and findings are made by the inspector that the activity is necessary to preserve the state of the oil well or to preserve life or property and that the activity will not produce noise which will interfere with the peaceful enjoyment of persons occupying surrounding properties. Findings shall be based on the type of operation proposed including the type of equipment, the type and distance of operation from surrounding uses and the proposed hours of operations. (Ord. 90-08-1074 § 4 (part))

A. Within sixty days of completion of the first well, unless action has been initiated by the operator to abandon the well(s) according to requirements established in this title, all drill sites shall be enclosed with a chain link fence with slates or solid masonry wall eight feet high on all sides, except those sides on which exists a natural or artificial barrier of equal or greater solidity and height. Gates shall be installed and equipped with keyed locks, kept locked at all times when unattended. B. Fencing for redrill and rework sites shall comply with all provisions contained in Section 16.20.120. (Ord. 90-08-1074 § 4 (part))

Within sixty days of completion of drilling for the first drill well on any site, all off-site public works improvements required by the public works department shall be completed. The provisions of this section shall not apply to redrill and rework sites. (Ord. 90-08-1074 § 4 (part))

A. Within sixty days of completion of drilling for the first drill well on any site, a border of landscaping shall be installed along the periphery of the drill site to provide adequate screening for all facilities on the site, unless action has been initiated by the operator to abandon the well(s) according to requirements contained in Chapter 16.24 of this title. B. Landscaping shall be installed and maintained in compliance with a landscape plan submitted and approved pursuant to this title and provisions of Chapter 20.52 of this code. C. The provisions of this section shall not apply to redrill and rework sites, which shall comply with provisions contained in Section 16.20.130. (Ord. 90-08-1074 § 4 (part))

A. Rotary mud, drill cuttings, chemicals, oil or liquid hydrocarbons, and all other oil field wastes derived or resulting from, or connected with the drilling, redrilling or rework of any well shall be discharged into an above ground steel tank, constructed per the American Petroleum Institute (A.P.I.) standards, and removed from the drill site of leasehold within thirty

days from completion of drilling, redrilling or rework. B. Open earth pits for waste disposal are prohibited. C. Cement slurry or dry cement shall not be disposed of on the surface. (Ord. 90-08-1074 § 4 (part))

In addition to any requirements of this chapter, the operator must comply with all requirements contained in Chapter 16.20. (Ord. 90-08-1074 § 4 (part))

Well testing for either production or injection shall be made within thirty days following drilling completion. A copy of production reports supplied to D.O.G. shall be sent to the inspector. A determination of the owner or operator shall be made in writing regarding the immediate future of the well, along with the schedule for construction of all requirements to fulfill the conditional use permit. Abandonment procedures shall proceed in compliance with Chapter 16.24 of this title. In the event the drill site is located in a hillside area, all ground stripped of vegetation shall be seeded with grasses or other ground cover to prevent erosion, as approved by the inspector. (Ord. 90-08-1074 § 4 (part))