Bill > HB3911

This bill modifies Texas law regarding the plugging of orphaned wells (abandoned oil and gas wells) by allowing operators in good standing or landowners to contract with approved well pluggers to close inactive wells. Under the new provisions, an operator or landowner can hire a commission-approved well plugger to plug or replug an orphaned well, with the requirement that they provide 30 days' notice to the well's current operator or surface owner and follow Railroad Commission rules. Importantly, the bill protects these parties from assuming legal responsibility for the well's condition or potential damages related to the plugging process, and explicitly states that paying for or contracting well plugging is not an admission of legal obligation to do so. The bill also allows the Railroad Commission to supervise such plugging operations and requires commission approval before considering the well officially plugged. The law specifically excludes surface owners who originally abandoned the well from these protections and requires the Railroad Commission to develop rules for implementing these new provisions. The bill will take effect on September 1, 2025, and aims to provide a mechanism for addressing inactive wells while protecting parties who voluntarily assist in their closure.

Agriculture and Natural Resources

https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=89R&Bill=HB3911