Town of Flower Mound, Texas - Environmental Resources

2121 Cross Timbers Road
Flower Mound, Texas 75028
972.874.6000

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townhall@flower-mound.com
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Environmental Resources

Oil and Natural Gas Well Drilling

Restricted Gas Well Drilling Areas

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Flower Mound Oil and Gas Well Drilling History

Flower Mound’s first Oil and Gas Well Drilling ordinance was adopted in May 2003. The ordinance included provisions addressing safety, noise levels, setbacks, and environmental impacts. A gas well ordinance must take into account the rights of all property owners, including mineral owners and land owners, relative to establishing surface setbacks and providing balanced regulations for responsible gas well drilling. Considered one of the most stringent in North Texas, the ordinance was used by several cities as a template in the creation of other municipal Oil and Gas Well Drilling ordinances.

The Oil and Gas Well Ordinance timeline provides a chronological overview of the ordinance adoption process and history.

Current Ordinance

A stakeholder group was appointed in May 2005 to review the ordinance and recommend revisions. The group held several public meetings and made a proposal to the Town Council in May 2007. In order to expand the community input process, the Town hosted several additional public forums after receipt of the stakeholder group recommendation. The Town Council accepted public feedback through a dedicated email account and held two work sessions, two public comment meetings, and a public hearing prior to adopting Flower Mound's current ordinance in March 2007.

The Flower Mound Oil and Gas Well Ordinance Amendments Summary describes many of the more prominent revisions that were included in the current ordinance.

The Flower Mound Oil and Gas Drilling Ordinance Comparison Chart contrasts the Town’s initial ordinance and the current ordinance in relation to a variety of setback, mitigation, and environmental factors.

Typical Completion Method for Groundwater Protection

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Current Drilling Environment

The Gas Well Status Report provides a timely overview of the current drilling environment in Flower Mound including case numbers and names, project descriptions, and meeting dates. The Restricted Gas Well Drilling Areas map illustrates setback requirements in various locations throughout Flower Mound.

Oil and Gas Well General Information

The Oil and Gas Well Fact Sheet and Frequently Asked Questions document provide basic information regarding oil and gas well drilling.

Oil and Gas Board of Appeals

The Oil and Gas Board of Appeals has the authority to hear and determine appeals where it is alleged there is error or abuse of discretion regarding the issuance of an oil, gas, or combined well permit or the revocation or suspension of any permit issued. Any person or entity whose application is denied by the oil and gas inspector, whose permit is suspended or revoked, or whose well or equipment is deemed by the oil and gas inspector to be abandoned may file an appeal to the Oil and Gas Board of Appeals. The Oil and Gas Board of Appeals shall review the appeal and any other related information. The Oil and Gas Board of Appeals is a quasi-judicial board and not a legislative body with the authority to amend ordinances or create new laws. The only appeal to a decision rendered by the Oil and Gas Board of Appeals is to a legal court of record. The appeal must be filed with the Court within ten days of the board’s decision. State law prohibits the Town Council from hearing an appeal. Visit Flower Mound’s Boards and Commissions page for Oil and Gas Board of Appeals meeting times, member lists, and contact information. Visit the Agendas and Minutes page for current meeting information.

Oil and Gas Well Ordinance Timeline

2003

May 19

Town Council adopts ordinance amending Chapter 34 "Environment" of the Code of Ordinances and establishing Article VII entitled "Oil and Natural Gas Well Drilling and Operations"

December 15

Ordinance amended to clarify floodplain definition and delineation

2005

February 17

At a Town Council Work Session, Council requested that a stakeholder group consisting of all interested parties, including residents, land owners, and well operators, be formed to gain more information from the participants on proposed amendments

March 7

Ordinance amended by including language relative to floodplain and Environmentally Sensitive Area variance requests, site plan criteria, “outer boundary line” setback and “building used for human occupancy” clarification, general contractor registration, incident reports, and clarifying the basis of appeals

March-May

Stakeholder group identified: (4)Residents, (4)Landowners, (3)Operators, (1)Developer, (1)Noise Expert

June 8

First Stakeholder meeting to identify aspects of the ordinance that may need amending. Total of eight meetings were held to develop the proposal

2006

June 29

First public comment meeting, dedicated email account created to receive public input

August 17

First Town Council Work Session

November

Two public comment meetings

2007

January 25

Second Town Council Work Session

March 15

Ordinance Amendments Adopted

Ordinances and Reports

Files requires Adobe Acrobat .

Gas Well Drilling Frequently Asked Questions

DISCLAIMER:
The Town does not lease nor provide advice about leasing private property for gas exploration and drilling. Information provided by the Town addresses general issues related to gas drilling and mineral leases and is not intended to provide advice on any specific legal matter or factual situation. This information is not intended to create and its receipt does not constitute a lawyer-client relationship. Readers should not act upon this information without seeking professional legal counsel. Gas companies offering leases for gas exploration and drilling for privately owned minerals, including those with the words “Town of Flower Mound" as part of their name or logo, are not associated with or endorsed by the Town of Flower Mound.

What is the Barnett Shale?

The Barnett Shale is a large natural gas reserve that stretches underground across a 15 county area. It contains an estimated 26 trillion cubic feet of natural gas and is located approximately 1.5 miles below the surface. In recent years, advances in drilling technology have made it possible for energy companies to extract large amounts of natural gas from the Barnett Shale.

What are the Town’s current regulations for gas wells?

The Town adopted gas well regulations in 2003 and has since adopted amendments in 2005 and 2007. The complete regulations can be found in the Oil and Natural Gas Ordinance.

How can I find out if a natural gas well permit has been obtained near my property or additional information about gas well drilling within our city limits?

If a gas drilling operator has requested a drilling permit within 1000 feet from your residence, you will receive a notification concerning the request. Residents with any questions or concerns regarding gas drilling may view the gas well status report.

Can someone else own the minerals underneath my property? How can I tell if I own my minerals?

Yes – It is possible that the mineral ownership may be different than surface ownership. A deed/title search may be necessary for one to determine who actually owns the minerals under a piece of property.

Will drilling affect the foundation of my house?

There is no documented evidence of drilling affecting foundations. Most foundation problems occurring in the North Texas area are a result of ground swell and contraction during alternating periods of wet and dry weather.

What emergency plans are in place in case of an accident?

In the case of gas wells, it has been determined that one plan is not a viable alternative and that if a situation should arise, it should be handled based on the type of incident and the information available. An Emergency Response Plan is required as part of the gas well permit application.

Can a gas well be placed on my property without my permission?

As a general rule, an operator would rather have the surface owner’s permission before placing a well site on a particular property and will pay appropriate damage fees to the surface owners. Any other actions would be preceded by legal action involving the operator and the property owner.

What can I expect when a company is going to drill in my area?

A sign will be placed near the proposed well site advising that a permit application has been approved. Additional notification may be required depending on setback distances to residential and/or public buildings. A pad generally 300’ X 300’ will be prepared and a drilling rig will move onto the location. The drilling rig will be on site for approximately 20 to 30 days actually “drilling” the well and running pipe into the open hole. After the well is drilled, the drilling rig will move off the site. The rig move and drilling is a 24 hour operation and is probably the noisiest part of the operation. Shortly thereafter, well “completion” will begin and a smaller portable rig will move onto the location. After completion operations, surface equipment will be installed along with appropriate fencing and gates. From this point there will be minimal activity on the location. Occasionally a small rig will be brought to the location for remedial work.

Who can I call if I have a question or a complaint?

Questions regarding drilling and operation of gas wells may be directed to the Environmental Resources Division at 972-874-6346.

Will someone be on the drilling site at all times?

During drilling operations there are personnel on-site 24 hours. Completion operations are usually conducted during the day, but personnel may be on-site 24 hours during a short flow-back period. If there are not personnel on-site (Operations or Private Security), then the site/equipment must be secured.

Does the Town profit when drilling takes place on private property?

No. Only the mineral owner and the mineral lessee profit from the operations. The Town does receive ad valorem taxes, which are assessed and collected by the Tarrant County or Denton County Appraisal District.

Who do I contact about...