Signal Hill Municipal Code Ch. 16.08 Definitions

The words, phrases, and terms set forth in this chapter, wherever used in this city of Signal Hill oil code, shall have the meanings set forth in this chapter.

(Ord. 90-08-1074 § 4 (part))

"Abandonment" means the permanent plugging of a well, pipeline, or other facility in accordance with the requirements of the California Division of Oil and Gas, the removal of all equipment related to the well, and includes the restoration of the drill or well operation site as required by these regulations.

(Ord. 90-08-1074 § 4 (part))

"Agency" shall mean the Signal Hill redevelopment agency.

(Ord. 90-08-1074 § 4 (part))

The plural of annulus, which is the space between two concentric objects (objects with a common center), such as between the wellbore and casing or between two different strings of casing, where fluid can flow.

(Ord. 2015-05-1475 § 3 (part))

"Approved" means approved by the authority having jurisdiction as assigned in this code, or by the written designee of such authority.

(Ord. 90-08-1074 § 4 (part))

A. New development. In the case where a structure or structures is/are proposed on a vacant parcel, or in the case where subdivision of a parcel is proposed, or in the case of a phased development proposed to occur on several parcels in phases, the “Area of Development” is the entire proposed site, including the entire area of each and every parcel involved. For purposes of this chapter, this area shall also be referred to as the “Site,” but in no case shall include area outside the property boundaries.

B. Additions to existing development. In the case of an addition to an existing structure, or construction of new structures on a parcel with existing structures, the “Area of Development” is (i) the portion of the Site which is within, or within ten (10) feet of, the area disturbed for grading as shown on a preliminary grading plan; or (ii) the portion of the Site lying under or within ten (10) feet of any addition or new structure built as a part of the project where no grading plan is required.

Ord. 2015-05-1475 § 3 (part)

"Attended" means guarded, monitored, or otherwise observed by a person who is situated close enough to petroleum operating facilities so that he may observe the operation, and activities of other persons in or near such facilities.

(Ord. 90-08-1074 § 4 (part))

"Cellar" means an excavation around or above the top joint of the casing in a well.

(Ord. 90-08-1074 § 4 (part))

"City" means the City of Signal Hill.

(Ord. 90-08-1074 § 4 (part))

"Completion of drilling, redrilling, or reworking" is deemed to occur, for the purpose of this code, sixty days after the drilling crew has been released unless drilling, testing, or remedial operations are resumed before the end of the sixty-day period. The drilling crew is released within the meaning of this section when work at the well is suspended, either temporarily or permanently.

(Ord. 90-08-1074 § 4 (part))

"Department," unless specified otherwise, means the department of planning.

(Ord. 90-08-1074 § 4 (part))

"Derrick" means any framework, tower, or mast together with all parts of and appurtenances to such a structure including any foundations, pumphouse, pipe racks, and each and every party thereof which is or are required or used or useful for the drilling for and the production of oil, gas, or other hydrocarbons from the earth, except tanks used for storage purposes.

(Ord. 90-08-1074 § 4 (part))

"Desertion" means the cessation of operations at a drill site for sixty days or more without compliance with the provision of this title.

(Ord. 90-08-1074 § 4 (part))

"Developed area" means any area with at least three occupied structures located within one hundred feet of each other, and all surrounding property within three hundred feet of the structures.

(Ord. 90-08-1074 § 4 (part))

"Director," unless specified otherwise, means the planning director or his designated representative.

(Ord. 90-08-1074 § 4 (part))

“D.O.G.” means the Division of Oil, Gas, and Geothermal Resources of the Department of Conservation of the state of California, also referred to in this code as “DOGGR”.

(Ord. 2013-07-1459 § 4; Ord. 2013-07-1460 § 4; Ord. 90-08-1074 § 4 (part))

“Drill” or “drilling” means to dig or bore a well for the purpose of exploring for, developing, or producing oil, water, gas, or other hydrocarbons; or for the purpose of injecting water, steam, or other fluid or substance into the earth, but excluding any well drilled solely for the production of drinking water.

(Ord. 2015-05-1475 § 3 (part); Ord. 90-08-1074 § 4 (part))

"Drill site" means that surface area used for drilling a well or wells and the surrounding area for the safe operations thereof.

(Ord. 90-08-1074 § 4 (part))

"Enhanced recovery" means any production method which involves the injection of water, gas, steam, or any other fluid or chemical into the earth for the purpose of producing oil or other hydrocarbons.

(Ord. 90-08-1074 § 4 (part))

"Existing well" means any well that was drilled and capable of operating on the effective date of this ordinance codified in this title.

(Ord. 90-08-1074 § 4 (part))

"Idle well" a well shall be deemed to be an idle well if the well does not produce an average of two barrels of oil per day or one hundred cubic feet of gas per day for a continuous six month period during any consecutive five-year period prior to or after January 1, 1991, except that an active water injection well shall not be classified as an idle well.

(Ord. 90-08-1074 § 4 (part))

"Injection well" means a well or converted producing well used for the purpose of injecting water, wastewater, brines, hydrocarbons, gas, steam, or any other substances for the purpose of enhanced recovery, repressurization, or disposal, whether under pressure, gravity, or vacuum.

(Ord. 90-08-1074 § 4 (part))

"Inspector" means the oil services coordinator or any designated City employee or duly qualified authorized representative assigned responsibility for enforcement of this code.

(Ord. 90-08-1074 § 4 (part))

A positioned casing (steel pipe) string that does not extend to the top of the wellbore, but instead is anchored or suspended from inside the bottom of the previous casing string.

(Ord. 2015-05-1475 § 3 (part))

"Lessee" means a person, company, or corporation that possesses the right to develop and produce petroleum or natural gas resources.

(Ord. 90-08-1074 § 4 (part))

"Lessor" means the owner of the surface or mineral rights subject to a petroleum lease.

(Ord. 90-08-1074 § 4 (part))

"Maintenance" or "maintain" means the repair or replacement of machinery, equipment, apparatus, structure, facilities and parts thereof, used in connection with an oil operation or drill, as well as any other work necessary to reduce fire hazards or hazards to employees or to preserve the appearance of the facilities and to reduce public health and safety hazards including the maintenance of ongoing oil operations and the maintenance of grounds, landscaping, painted structures and appurtenant facilities.

(Ord. 90-08-1074 § 4 (part))

"New well" means a new well bore or well hole established at the ground surface and shall not include redrilling or reworking of an existing well.

(Ord. 90-08-1074 § 4 (part))

"Oil" means crude oil and includes petroleum, oil, gas, or other hydrocarbon liquids or solids.

(Ord. 90-08-1074 § 4 (part))

"Oil operation" means the use or maintenance of any installation, facility, or structure used, either directly or indirectly, to carry out or facilitate one or more of the following functions: drilling, redrilling, reworking and repair, production, enhanced recovery, extraction, stimulation, abandonment, processing, storage, or shipping of oil or gas or other hydrocarbon substances or processing.

(Ord. 90-08-1074 § 4 (part))

"Oil operation site" means the physical location where oil operations consisting of dehydration and storage facilities and pumping units are allowed and conducted.

(Ord. 90-08-1074 § 4 (part))

"Oil services coordinator" means the inspector, or his designated representative.

(Ord. 90-08-1074 § 4 (part))

"Operator" means the person, firm, corporation, partnership, or association, whether proprietor, lessee, or individual contractor actually in charge and in control of the drilling, maintenance, operation of a well, wells, or lease, for producing, refining, or storing petroleum or other hydrocarbons substances.

(Ord. 90-08-1074 § 4 (part))

"Outer boundary line" means the exterior limits of the land included within the lease or unit comprising several contiguous parcels of land in one or different ownerships which are operated as a single petroleum lease or operating unit. In determining the continuity of any such parcels of land, no public right-of-way lying within the lease or unit shall be deemed to interrupt such contiguity.

(Ord. 90-08-1074 § 4 (part))

"Owner" shall mean a person, firm, corporation, partnership, or association who owns mineral rights in land or a legal or equitable title in or right to occupy the surface of a drill or site, well site, or oil operation site.

(Ord. 90-08-1074 § 4 (part))

"Permittee" means the party having a valid permit for oil operations as required under this title.

(Ord. 90-08-1074 § 4 (part))

"Petroleum" means and includes any and all hydrocarbon substances including but not limited to crude oil, natural gas, natural gasoline, and other related substances.

(Ord. 90-08-1074 § 4 (part))

"Premises" means the area within the outer boundary line of any oil operation site.

(Ord. 90-08-1074 § 4 (part))

"Redrilling" means any drilling operation, including horizontal deviation from original well bore more than five hundred feet, to recomplete the well in the same or different zone.

(Ord. 90-08-1074 § 4 (part))

"Rework" means any work that causes a significant change to the existing casing of a well bore. This includes any work which results in a mechanical change to the well, as determined and requiring approval by D.O.G., including but not limited to sidetracking of existing liners, liner removal, under-reaming, deepening, reperforating present producing zones, perforating new zones, milling, and sleeving of existing casings and water shutoff. Rework does not include abandonment, reabandonment well servicing, bailing, swedging, washing, scratching, or acidizing existing liners, rolling, or squeeze jobs in producing intervals.

(Ord. 90-08-1074 § 4 (part))

"Reabandonment" means the same as abandonment.

(Ord. 90-08-1074 § 4 (part))

"Servicing" includes routine maintenance and operation of any facility which does not involve reworking or redrilling.

(Ord. 90-08-1074 § 4 (part))

"Structure" means anything constructed or built, a tank, any edifice, or building of any kind, as regulated by Title 15 of this code.

(Ord. 90-08-1074 § 4 (part))

"Sump" or "shaker pit" shall mean any lined pit or tank used for the collection and separation of production streams or wastes.

(Ord. 90-08-1074 § 4 (part)).

"Tank" means any container, used or designed to be used in conjunction with drilling, production, processing, refining, or storing oil, gas, or other hydrocarbon liquids or solids.

(Ord. 90-08-1074 § 4 (part))

"Tank battery" means a collection of production-related tank facilities. "Tank battery" includes the area around the tanks enclosed by a berm, dike, fence or wall and a ten foot wide setback on the exterior side of the berm, dike, fence or wall. Also means tank farm.

(Ord. 90-08-1074 § 4 (part))

"Tank farm" means a collection of tanks.

(Ord. 90-08-1074 § 4 (part))

"Well" means a hole drilled into the earth for the purpose of exploring for and producing oil or gas, for the purpose of injecting liquids or gas for stimulating oil or gas recovery, repressurizing, or pressure maintenance of oil or gas reservoirs, or disposing of oil field waste fluids.

(Ord. 90-08-1074 § 4 (part))

"Well servicing" means and includes the remedial or maintenance work performed within an existing well which does not involve redrilling or reworking.

(Ord. 90-08-1074 § 4 (part))

"Well site" means that surface area used for oil or gas extraction operations or for injection purposes after drilling is completed. "Well site" includes the area around a well enclosed by protective fence or wall and a ten foot wide setback on the exterior side of the fence or wall.

(Ord. 90-08-1074 § 4 (part))