Oil and gas: spacing of wells and community leases.

Under existing law, the Geologic Energy Management Division in the Department of Conservation regulates the drilling, operation, maintenance, and abandonment of oil and gas wells in the state. The State Oil and Gas Supervisor supervises the drilling, operation, maintenance, and abandonment of wells and the operation, maintenance, and removal or abandonment of tanks and facilities related to oil and gas production within an oil and gas field regarding safety and environmental damage. If a parcel of land contains one acre or more and the hydrocarbons to be developed are too heavy or viscous to produce by normal means, existing law authorizes the supervisor to approve proposals to drill wells at whatever locations the supervisor deems advisable for the purpose of the proper development of these hydrocarbons by the application of pressure, heat, or other means for the reduction of oil viscosity. This bill would make nonsubstantive changes to that authorization.