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) - this process is outlined below. Second, the gas company then must obtain a gas permit from the City. Obtaining a gas permit requires compliance with Chapter 9.5, Article IV 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
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 (next post) presented by Planning and Development Services Director Ken Baker. In it, Mr. Baker provides a brief explanation of oil and gas drilling process in Southlake as well as the drilling application process.[City of Southlake, Texas Web site]
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
What's the Big Deal About Southlake??
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Chesapeake's Big Boy
He's bitten everybody twice.
Saturday, September 18, 2010
Sunday, September 12, 2010
The Frac Pond Cometh
Surely, this is simply a placeholder until the really nice Chesapeake FRAC fence arrives??
Saturday, September 11, 2010
The Closest Residential Frac Pond in the Barnett Shale
So, Chesapeake must be mighty proud of their work-in-progress handiwork rammed up against our beautiful neighborhood. But Oops! Not only did the City of Grand Prairie fail to tell anyone about this lovely "pond," but they forgot to officially notify the Westchester Association of Homeowners (2,295 homes) about this High Impact Gas Well Permit now known as the Corn Valley Pad Site.
According to the Grand Prairie Gas Drilling Ordinance, it's a requirement.
(And why does the Grand Prairie Gas Drilling Ordinance refer only to a "well," when in fact, most of these drilling operations involve "multiple wells," on Pad Sites?)
Alright. So, if you are confused and don't have any idea what any of this means, Join the Club!! It's free.
In the meantime, we would like to suggest naming this monstrosity the "Chesapeake Frac Bowl." It's not exactly like the Grand Prairie Football Stadium in North Grand Prairie known far and wide as the "Gopher Bowl," and we think gophers and other rodents might eventually drown in it, but hey, a bowl's a bowl. And this one is HUGE!! Yay, Team!
Day 1 ~ August 25, 2010 
Day 2 ~ August 26, 2010 
Still Day 2. Wow. That Didn't Take Long. 
According to the Grand Prairie Gas Drilling Ordinance, it's a requirement.
Page 11What? No mention of how close all other gas drilling pad site activities may be? And no mention of Frac Ponds?? Oops! Again. What was our City thinking??
Sec. 13-507. High impact gas well permit.
(a) High impact gas well permit shall be required if the proposed well is to be located within six hundred (600) feet of a protected use for which a building permit has been issued on the date the application for a permit is filed. Notice shall be sent to all registered neighborhood associations within one-half (1/2) mile of the proposed drill site. [emphasis added.]
(And why does the Grand Prairie Gas Drilling Ordinance refer only to a "well," when in fact, most of these drilling operations involve "multiple wells," on Pad Sites?)
Alright. So, if you are confused and don't have any idea what any of this means, Join the Club!! It's free.
In the meantime, we would like to suggest naming this monstrosity the "Chesapeake Frac Bowl." It's not exactly like the Grand Prairie Football Stadium in North Grand Prairie known far and wide as the "Gopher Bowl," and we think gophers and other rodents might eventually drown in it, but hey, a bowl's a bowl. And this one is HUGE!! Yay, Team!
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