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In a statement posted on its site recently, the Texas Railroad Commission (RRC) said preparations helped the oil and gas industry get through dangerous wildfires.
The statement highlighted that the Texas Forest Service announced last month that wildfires in the Texas Panhandle were 100 percent contained.
“During the precarious situation the Railroad Commission and operators worked to ensure community safety, and to also ensure there were no major disruptions in oil and gas production,” the RRC said in the statement.
“Many operators in the Panhandle take precautions ahead of time to protect oil and gas leases from fire threats. That diligence includes mowing grass and treating weeds to keep fuels for fires off leases and well pads,” it added.
The RRC noted in the statement that RRC safety officers joined the state’s coordinated response to the wildfires, “manning the State Operations Center (SOC) to be in direct contact with other emergency responders while maintaining communications with regulated entities in the Panhandle including gas utilities”.
“The dangerous wildfires were the most recent example of how the RRC, in any given emergency, will act early and work with operators to protect the public and the environment, and minimize potential disruptions to production,” the RRC said in the statement.
In a statement posted on its site on February 28, the RRC said it had activated its team for the SOC “during the ongoing wildfires in the Texas Panhandle”.
“As is the case during any emergency, the RRC is ready to respond quickly to ensure the safety of communities and the environment. RRC staff is in direct contact with other emergency responders at the SOC and will continue to do so until the wildfire threats abate,” it added in that statement.
“The Railroad Commission is also maintaining communications with regulated entities in the Panhandle including gas utilities. And the agency is in contact with district office staff who may be impacted in the region,” it continued.
On March 5, the RRC sent a notice to operators focusing on the wildfire danger outlook.
“The fire danger in parts of Texas is not letting up. The National Weather Service is predicting dry and windy weather for West Texas and western Panhandle for several days this week,” the RRC said in that notice.
“The RRC advises all operators under its jurisdiction in areas of potential danger to exercise precaution and take the following actions – monitor local, state and national weather reports for updates on potential wildfire impacts; secure all personnel, equipment, and facilities to protect the safety of personnel; and monitor and prepare operations for potential impacts, as safety permits,” it added.
In a release posted on its site on February 29, the Texas Forest Service said the largest wildfire in Texas history was actively burning that day.
“The Smokehouse Creek Fire in Hutchinson County is burning a total of 1,075,000 acres across Texas and Oklahoma and is three percent contained,” it warned in the release.
“Since Sunday, February 25, Texas A&M Forest Service has responded to 56 wildfires burning more than 1,256,328 acres,” it added.
The RRC is the state agency with primary regulatory jurisdiction over the oil and natural gas industry, pipeline transporters, natural gas and hazardous liquid pipeline industry, natural gas utilities, the LP-gas industry, critical natural gas infrastructure, and coal and uranium surface mining operations, the organization’s site notes.
Rigzone previously contacted the RRC and the Texas Independent Producers and Royalty Owners Association (TIPRO) to see if the wildfires had affected oil and gas output in Texas. Rigzone also previously contacted Houston-headquartered Phillips 66 to see if the company had been affected by the wildfires.
To contact the author, email andreas.exarheas@rigzone.com
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