97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2011 and 2012
SB2058
 
Introduced 2/10/2011, by Sen. Michael W. Frerichs
 
SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:



765 ILCS 530/6.5 new

 Amends the Drilling Operations Act. Requires the Department of Natural Resource to approve certain well stimulation activities before they are undertaken. Requires the owners and operators of the affected wells to provide the Department with specific information concerning, among other things: the geological names, geological description, and the depth of the formation into which well stimulation fluids are to be injected; each stimulation fluid identified by additive type; the chemical compound name and Chemical
Abstracts Service (CAS) number for each additive used; and a copy of the contractor's proposed well stimulation program design. Requires the owner or operator to provide a detailed description of the proposed well stimulation design. Prohibits the use of volatile organic compounds, such as benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene, or any petroleum distillates for the specified types of well stimulation. Requires the owners and operators of the affected wells to provide certain information about the reuse and disposal of well stimulation fluids.



LRB097 10134 JDS 50318 b


FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY
 
 
A BILL FOR
 


SB2058LRB097 10134 JDS 50318 b



1 AN ACT concerning civil law.


2 Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,

3represented in the General Assembly:



4 Section 5. The Drilling Operations Act is amended by adding 
5Section 6.5 as follows:

6 (765 ILCS 530/6.5 new)
7 Sec. 6.5. Extraction of natural gas using hydraulic 
8fracturing.
9 (a) An application for a permit to extract natural gas from 
10shale using well stimulation fluids must be approved by the 
11Department of Natural Resources prior to the initiation of any 
12such extraction activity. The Director of Natural Resources 
13shall require, prior to such extraction, the owner or operator 
14to perform a suitable mechanical integrity test of the casing 
15or of the casing-tubing annulus or other mechanical integrity 
16test methods using procedures approved by the Department of 
17Natural Resources.
18 (b) The owner or operator shall provide geological names, 
19geological description, and the depth of the formation into 
20which well stimulation fluids are to be injected.
21 (c) The owner or operator shall provide detailed 
22information to the Director of Natural Resources concerning the 
23base stimulation fluid source. The owner, operator, or service 
 
 
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1company shall also provide to the Director, for each stage of 
2the well stimulation program, the following:
3  (1) each stimulation fluid identified by additive 
4 type;
5  (2) the chemical compound name and Chemical
Abstracts 
6 Service (CAS) number for each additive used;
7  (3) the proposed rate or concentration for each

8 additive;
9  (4) a copy of the contractor's proposed well 
10 stimulation program design; and
11  (5) any other information requested by the Director of 
12 the Environmental Protection Agency.
13 (d) The owner or operator shall also provide a detailed 
14description of the proposed well stimulation design, which 
15shall include:
16  (1) the anticipated surface treating pressure range;
17  (2) the maximum injection treating pressure; and
18  (3) the estimated or calculated fracture length and 
19 fracture height.
20 (e) The Department of Natural Resources shall post the 
21information that it receives under subsections (c) and (d) on 
22its Internet website for a period of not less than 5 years. In 
23the interest of public health and safety, such information may 
24not be claimed as a trade secret under this or any other Act.
25 (f) The injection of volatile organic compounds, such as 
26benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene, also known as BTEX 
 
 
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1compounds, or any petroleum distillates, is prohibited without 
2exception.
3 (g) In addition to any other information that it must 
4provide, the owner, operator, or service company shall provide 
5the Director of Natural Resources the following post well 
6stimulation detail:
7  (1) the actual total well stimulation treatment volume 
8 pumped;
9  (2) detail as to each fluid stage pumped, including 
10 actual volume by fluid stage, proppant rate or 
11 concentration, actual chemical additive name, type, 
12 concentration or rate, and amounts;
13  (3) the actual surface pressure and rate at the end of

14 each fluid stage and the actual flush volume, rate, and 
15 final pump pressure; and
16  (4) the instantaneous shut-in pressure, and the actual

17 15-minute and 30-minute shut-in pressures when these 
18 pressure measurements are available. 
19 (h) During the well stimulation operation, the owner or 
20operator shall monitor and record the annulus pressure at the 
21bradenhead. If intermediate casing has been set on the well 
22being stimulated, the pressure in the annulus between the 
23intermediate casing and the production casing shall also be 
24monitored and recorded. A continuous record of the annulus 
25pressure during the well stimulation shall be submitted.
26 (i) If, during the stimulation, the annulus pressure

 
 
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1increases by more than 500 pounds per square inch gauge (psig) 
2compared to the pressure immediately preceding the 
3stimulation, the owner or operator shall verbally notify the 
4Director of Natural Resources as soon as practical but no later 
5than 24 hours following the incident. The owner or operator 
6shall include a report containing all details pertaining to the 
7incident, including corrective actions taken.
8 (j) The owner or operator shall provide information to the 
9Director of Natural Resources as to the amounts, handling, and, 
10if necessary, disposal at an identified appropriate disposal 
11facility, or reuse of the well stimulation fluid load recovered 
12during flow back, swabbing, or recovery from production 
13facility vessels. Storage of that fluid shall be protective of 
14groundwater as demonstrated by the use of either tanks or lined 
15pits.