Tex. Water Code § 27.037 · Subchapter C. OIL AND GAS WASTE; INJECTION WELLS
JURISDICTION OVER CLOSED-LOOP GEOTHERMAL INJECTION WELLS.
Text — Current through the 89th 2nd Called Legislative Session, 2025
(a) In this section, "closed-loop geothermal injection well" means a closed system geothermal well used to circulate water, other fluids, or gases through the earth as a heat source or heat sink to generate power or heat or cool a structure.
(b) The railroad commission has jurisdiction over closed-loop geothermal injection wells and may issue permits for closed-loop geothermal injection wells, including individual permits, general permits, or permits by rule.
(c) A person may not begin drilling a closed-loop geothermal injection well unless that person holds a valid permit issued by the railroad commission under this section.
(c-1) Sections 85.2021 and 91.142, Natural Resources Code, do not apply to a person who submits a request for authorization or is authorized to use a valid permit by rule issued by the railroad commission under this section.
(d) For purposes of railroad commission regulation, a closed-loop geothermal injection well is designated as a Class V well under the underground injection control program administered by the railroad commission.
(e) The railroad commission shall adopt rules as necessary to administer this section and regulate closed-loop geothermal injection wells.
Notes and commentary — not statutory text
History
Added by Acts 2023, 88th Leg., R.S., Ch. 343 (S.B. 786), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2023.
Amended by:
Acts 2025, 89th Leg., R.S., Ch. 45 (S.B. 879), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2025.
Source of truth
- Edition
- Current through the 89th 2nd Called Legislative Session, 2025
- Official file
- https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/WA/htm/WA.27.htm
- Text hash
- sha256 ac402673ded2d5b226bb70bc149a3d29be44e68c1e243a13035950a615d6ff09
- Composed by
- compose_tx.py 2026-10-05: the Legislative Council's chapter files read in document order; verify_tx.py's independent reading (lxml DOM walk) agrees character for character
This section cites
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