For immediate release:
Jan. 31, 2012
INDIANAPOLIS - Indiana House members today passed legislation co-authored by State Rep. Kreg Battles (D-Vincennes) that will bring clarity to the regulation of oil and gas wells.
House Bill (HB) 1107 turned heads today as it passed from the House floor.
The Natural Resources Commission is required to regulate hydraulic fracturing, which is when a fracture in a rock layer is caused by pressurized fluid. These fractures can release petroleum and other natural gases. Oil companies often seek to accelerate the process of extraction from these fractures.
HB 1107 will allocate the procedures for reporting a hydraulic fracture within a gas or oil well. The bill also defines “hydraulic fracturing” and “base fluid” for legal purposes.
“By placing pressure on the Natural Resources Commission to adopt rules for the way that they report a hydraulic fracture, we are able to more accurately assess the natural resources that are available for the state,” said Battles.
HB 1107 will require the Natural Resources Commission to include the following in the information that is released regarding hydraulic fractions: the volume and source of base fluid, descriptions of each additive that is used in processing a fracture, the volume of any additives and the surface and injection pressures that are used to obtain base fluid.
“Our natural resources will only last so long,” said Battles. “We must ensure that the way that we are obtaining these resources will not adversely affect the environment on which we depend.”
HB 1107 will have minimal fiscal impact on the state. According to Battles, it is legislation that can only help our conservation of natural resources.
HB 1107 now advances to the Indiana Senate for further consideration.
