§ 32-20. Definitions.

All technical industry words or phrases related to the drilling and production of gas wells not specifically defined in this article shall have the meanings customarily attributable thereto by prudent and reasonable gas industry operators. The following words, terms and phrases, when used in this article, shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this section, except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning:

Abandonment , as defined by the state railroad commission, means and includes the plugging of the well and the restoration of any well site as required by this article.

Blowout preventer means a mechanical, hydraulic, pneumatic or other device or combination of such devices secured to the top of a well casing, including valves, fittings and control mechanisms connected therewith, which can be closed around the drill pipe, or other tubular goods which completely close the top of the casing and are designed for preventing blowouts.

Building means any structure which is built for the support, shelter, or enclosure or partial enclosure of persons, animals, chattels, or movable property of any kind including pools.

Building official means the officer or other designated authority charged with administration and enforcement of this article, or the building official's duly authorized representative.

Cathodic protection means an electrochemical corrosion control technique accomplished by applying a direct current to the structure that causes the structure potential to change from the corrosion potential to a protective potential in the immunity region. The required cathodic protection current is supplied by sacrificial anode materials or by an impressed current system.

Church means a facility or area for people to gather together for public worship, religious training, or other religious activities including a temple, mosque, synagogue, convent, monastery or other structure, together with its accessory structures, including a parsonage or rectory. This use does not include home meetings or other religious activities conducted in a privately occupied residence.

Completion of drilling, redrilling and reworking means the date the work is completed for the drilling, redrilling or reworking and the crew is released by completing their work or contract or by their employer.

Derrick means any portable framework, tower, mast and/or structure which is required or used in connection with drilling or reworking a well for the production of gas.

Drilling means digging or boring a new well for the purpose of exploring for, developing or producing gas or other hydrocarbons, or for the purpose of injecting gas, water or any other fluid or substance into the earth.

Drilling equipment means the derrick, together with all parts of and appurtenances to such structure, every piece of apparatus, machinery or equipment used or erected or maintained for use in connection with drilling.

Drill site means the premises used during the drilling or reworking of a well or wells located there and subsequent life of a well or wells or any associated operation.

Exploration means geologic or geophysical activities, including seismic surveys, related to the search for gas or other subsurface hydrocarbons.

Fire department means the fire department of the city.

Gas means any fluid, either combustible or noncombustible, which is produced in a natural state from the earth and which maintains a gaseous or rarefied state at standard temperature and pressure conditions and/or the gaseous components or vapors occurring in or derived from petroleum or natural gas.

Gas well means any well drilled, to be drilled, or used for the intended or actual production of natural gas.

Hospital means a facility or area for providing health services primarily for human in-patient medical or surgical care for the sick or injured and including related facilities such as laboratories, out-patient departments, training facilities, central services facilities and staff offices that are an integral part of the facilities.

Inspection services provider means the city administrator's designee to provide gas well inspection services.

Operation site means the area used for development and production and all operational activities associated with gas after drilling activities are complete.

Operator means, for each well, the person listed on the appropriate state railroad commission forms for a gas well that is, or will be, actually in charge and in control of drilling, maintaining, operating, pumping or controlling any well, including, without limitation, a unit operator. If the operator, as herein defined, is not the lessee under a gas lease of any premises affected by the provisions of this article, then such lessee shall also be deemed to be an operator. In the event that there is no gas lease relating to any premises affected by this article, the owner of the fee mineral estate in the premises shall be deemed an operator.

Public or private school means an educational institution, attendance at which satisfies the compulsory education laws of the state. A facility or area for prekindergartens, kindergartens, elementary or secondary education supported by a public, church or parish organization. The term "public or private school" may include public or private after school and summer programs which coincide with the age brackets for public or private schools.

Public parks, playground, or golf course means a facility or area for recreational, cultural or aesthetic use owned or operated by a public agency and available to the general public. This definition may include, but is not limited to, lawns, decorative planting, walkways, active and passive recreation areas, playgrounds, fountains, swimming pools, wooded areas, and water courses.

Railroad commission means the state railroad commission.

Redrill means recompletion of an existing well by deepening or sidetrack operations extending more than 150 feet from the existing well bore.

Residence means a house, duplex, apartment, townhouse, condominium, mobile home or other building designed for dwelling purposes, including those for which a building permit has been issued on the date the application for a gas well permit is filed with the inspector.

Reworking means recompletion or reentry of existing well within the existing bore hole or by deepening or sidetrack operations which do not extend more than 150 feet from the existing well bore, or replacement of well liners or casings.

Right-of-way means any area of land within the city that is acquired by, dedicated to, or claimed by the city in fee simple, by easement, by prescriptive right or other interest and that is expressly or impliedly accepted or used in fact or by operation of law as a public roadway, sidewalk, alley, utility, drainage, or public access easement or used for the provision of governmental services or functions. The term "right-of-way" includes the area on, below, and above the surface of the public right-of-way. The term "right of way" applies regardless of whether the public right-of-way is paved or unpaved.

Street means any public thoroughfare dedicated to the public use and not designated as an alley or private access easement.

Tank means a container, covered or uncovered, used in conjunction with the drilling or production of gas or other hydrocarbons for holding or storing fluids.

Technical advisor means such person familiar with and educated in the gas industry or the law as it relates to gas matters who may be retained from time to time by the city.

Well means a hole or holes, bore or bores, to any horizon, formation, or strata for the purpose of producing gas, liquid hydrocarbon, brine water or sulphur water, or for use as an injection well for secondary recovery, disposal or production of gas, or other hydrocarbons from the earth.

(Code 1994, § 4.702; Ord. No. 496, § 1, 8-18-2010)