Oregon Statutes 522.015 – Policy
(1) The Legislative Assembly hereby finds and declares that:
Terms Used In Oregon Statutes 522.015
- Correlative rights: means the right of each owner in a geothermal area to obtain that owner's just and equitable share of the underlying geothermal resource, or an economic equivalent of that share of the resource, produced in a manner and in an amount that does not injure the reservoir to the detriment of others. See Oregon Statutes 522.005
- Department: means the State Department of Geology and Mineral Industries. See Oregon Statutes 522.005
- Discovery: Lawyers' examination, before trial, of facts and documents in possession of the opponents to help the lawyers prepare for trial.
- Drilling: includes drilling, redrilling and deepening of a geothermal well. See Oregon Statutes 522.005
- Geothermal resources: means the natural heat of the earth, the energy, in whatever form, below the surface of the earth present in, resulting from, or created by, or that may be extracted from, the natural heat, and all minerals in solution or other products obtained from naturally heated fluids, brines, associated gases, and steam, in whatever form, found below the surface of the earth, exclusive of helium or of oil, hydrocarbon gas or other hydrocarbon substances, but including, specifically:
(a) All products of geothermal processes, including indigenous steam, hot water and hot brines;
(b) Steam and other gases, hot water and hot brines resulting from water, gas, or other fluids artificially introduced into geothermal formations;
(c) Heat or other associated energy found in geothermal formations; and
(d) Any by-product derived from them. See Oregon Statutes 522.005
- Operator: means the person:
(a) Who possesses the legal right to drill a geothermal well;
(b) Who has obtained a drilling permit pursuant to ORS § 522. See Oregon Statutes 522.005
(a) The people of the State of Oregon have a direct and primary interest in the development of geothermal resources situated in this state.
(b) The State of Oregon, through the State Department of Geology and Mineral Industries, shall control the drilling, redrilling and deepening of wells for the discovery and production of geothermal resources so that such wells will be constructed, operated, maintained, plugged and decommissioned in the manner necessary to safeguard the life, health, property and welfare of the people of this state, to safeguard the air, water and other natural resources of this state, and to encourage the maximum economic recovery of geothermal resources therefrom.
(2) It is the policy of the Legislative Assembly that this chapter be administered:
(a) To prevent damage to and waste of geothermal resources;
(b) To prevent interference with or damage to waters used or to be used for beneficial purposes that may result from improper drilling, operation, maintenance, plugging or decommissioning of geothermal or prospect wells;
(c) To supervise the drilling, operation, maintenance, plugging and decommissioning of geothermal or prospect wells in a manner permitting the operator to utilize all methods known to the industry for the purpose of increasing the ultimate economic recovery of geothermal resources, that are suitable, and consistent with protection of the air, water and other natural resources of the state; and
(d) To provide for the development, management and production of geothermal resources in a manner that minimizes state involvement, enhances resource recovery, prevents waste, maximizes economic development and protects correlative rights of the resource owners. [Formerly 522.050; 1981 c.588 § 4; 2009 c.794 § 2]