Oregon Statutes 522.025 – Application
(1) The provisions of this chapter relating to the location and drilling of any well for the production of geothermal resources do not apply to any wells producing geothermal resources on July 1, 1975, or wells, other than prospect wells, where:
Terms Used In Oregon Statutes 522.025
- Appropriation: The provision of funds, through an annual appropriations act or a permanent law, for federal agencies to make payments out of the Treasury for specified purposes. The formal federal spending process consists of two sequential steps: authorization
- Department: means the State Department of Geology and Mineral Industries. See Oregon Statutes 522.005
- 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
- Reservoir: means an aquifer or combination of aquifers or zones containing a common geothermal or ground water resource. See Oregon Statutes 522.005
(a) The geothermal fluids produced are of less than 250 degrees Fahrenheit bottom hole temperature; or
(b) Such fluids have been appropriated pursuant to ORS § 537.505 to 537.795 and 537.992.
(2) The provisions of this chapter relating to regulation of production of geothermal resources from a geothermal reservoir apply only to wells with a bottom hole temperature of at least 250 degrees Fahrenheit.
(3) If the bottom hole temperature of a well that was initially at least 250 degrees Fahrenheit falls below 250 degrees Fahrenheit, the State Geologist and the Water Resources Director, after consulting with the well owner, shall determine the agency with regulatory responsibility for that specific well. This determination shall be documented in writing and shall supersede a determination made under subsection (1) or (2) of this section. This chapter does not limit the authority of the Water Resources Department to regulate the appropriation of water pursuant to ORS § 537.505 to 537.795 and 537.992. [1975 c.552 § 4; 1981 c.589 § 1; 2009 c.794 § 4]