Oil & Gas Well Drilling in Southlake

Welcome to the City of Southlake oil and gas drilling information page. Below you will find information, ordinances, forms, frequently asked questions and other related links related to oil and gas drilling.

Moratorium Adopted

At the January 18, 2011 Southlake City Council meeting, the Council passed a resolution to place a 180 day moratorium on the acceptance or processing of applications for well permits and specific use permits to allow mineral extraction through oil and gas exploration or operations, and on acceptance or processing of applications for regulated or unregulated pipeline permits within the corporate City limits. 

The Council determined that the current regulations needed to be reviewed.  The purpose is to address environmental and land use compatibility issues created by oil and gas exploration and mineral extraction as well as development and transportation activities. 

Council also determined the time had come to review and update the City’s municipal ordinances and regulations to ensure the protection of the property interests of mineral estate owners as well as the rights, opportunities and property interests of surface estate owners.

City staff was directed to review all appropriate environmental, planning materials and development regulations, and to suggest changes if appropriate that would protect the interest of both mineral estate owners and surface estate owners while ensuring the highest degree of concern for the preservation of the public health, safety, morals and general welfare. 

As part of the resolution City staff will make their recommendations to the City Council within the 180 day timeline. 

The moratorium does not affect the two pending applications (listed below). 

 

Tracking Drilling Cases - Current Oil & Gas Well Drilling Submittals

The cases listed below have been submitted for review and consideration.  Because changes are often made during the review process, staff encourages you to follow any cases that interest you through final action.  To keep track of where a particular case is in the SUP process, click on each project:

 

Tracking Drilling Cases - Understanding the Process

Obtaining permission to drill a well in Southlake is a two-step process.  First, the gas company must file an application for a specific use permit (SUP) as outlined below.  Second, the gas company must obtain a gas permit from the City.  Obtaining a gas permit requires compliance with Article IV, Chapter 9.5 of the City Code which regulates oil and gas drilling as well as approval of an SUP.  

SUP Process:

  1. SUP Application Filed with City (includes a pipeline permit, if applicable, and information on the access road to the pad site)
  2. Staff Review of SUP
  3. SPIN Meeting(s) - Public Input
  4. Planning & Zoning Commission - Public Hearing
  5. City Council - Public Hearing

If the SUP is approved by the City Council, the gas company is then required to obtain a gas permit for any well that is drilled on the site.  Approval of gas permits is an administrative process that is handled at the staff level.

Please watch this video presented by Planning and Development Services Director Ken Baker, which provides a brief explanation of oil and gas drilling process in Southlake as well as the drilling application process.

 

 

Upcoming Meetings

City Council Meeting - March 1, 2011
The XTO specific use permit application (GAS10-001 - Specific Use Permit for XTO Gas Well - Joe Wright Unit) for gas and oil well drilling and production on property located at 1719 East Continental Boulevard is scheduled for the March 1, 2011 City Council agenda.  

 

Hydrogeologic Evaluation

In September, 2010, the City of Southlake contracted with Kleinfelder to conduct a limited hydrogeologic evaluation.  A review of readily available information as well as Water Well Database research was conducted to provide a summary of geological and hydrogeological conditions beneath the incorporated city boundaries. Included within the report is a generalized summary of Cretaceous and Paleozoic formations extending from the surface into the Fort Worth Basin and the Barnett Shale.  The full report is now available.

 

Air Quality Report

In July, 2010, the City of Southlake contracted with Kleinfelder to conduct a limited ambient air quality evaluation at nineteen (19) monitoring points at key locations throughout the City and its borders. Kleinfelder’s team gathered 24-hour samples, testing for Volatile Organic Compounds as well as Formaldehyde.  The full report is now available..... .. 

 

Ordinance and Resolution Information

There are a number of ordinances and policies which regulate gas drilling operations in Southlake.  Gas well drilling and production is regulated by Article IV, Chapter 9.5 of the Southlake City Code.  Gas well drilling and production in Southlake is permitted only after a Specific Use Permit is approved by City Council.  The requirements and procedures for all Specific Use Permits are found in Section 45 of the Zoning Ordinance.  Since Section 45 covers all types of Specific Use Permits (not just oil and gas well drilling and production), Ordinance 480-RRR is often referenced.  Ordinance 480-RRR is an amendment to Section 45 of the Zoning Ordinance specifically pertaining to oil and gas well drilling and production.  The language in 480-RRR is repeated in Section 45 of the Zoning Ordinance.  In addition, all applications for Specific Use Permits for gas well drilling and production must be in accordance with the intent and guidelines set forth in the Consolidated Land Use Plan, Appendix C, Policy on Natural Resource Extraction Activities (Resolution 07-056).  

In summation, the following ordinances and resolutions regulate gas well drilling and production:

 

Other Information

 

For more information, please contact the Planning & Development Services Department at (817) 748-8069, or contact us by e-mail.

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