Texas Comptroller Manual of Accounts - Fiscal 2024
Revenue Object 3314 – Oil and Gas Violations

1) Administrative penalties for violations of laws, rules, orders, permits or certificates pertaining to oil and gas well safety or pollution requirements in the amount of up to $10,000 per violation per day, if not related to pipeline safety (81.0531 - 81.0534, Natural Resources Code). Amount of administrative penalty up to $200,000 per day for each violation, not to exceed $2 million. Criminal penalties for violations of rules relating to pollution prevention of surface water or subsurface water (91.002, Nat. Res. Code). 

2) Administrative penalties of up to $10,000 per violation for use of a well with a cancelled certificate of compliance or tampering with a device placed on a well by the commission (85.3855, Nat. Res. Code).

3) Penalties for natural gas well production violations. Violations relating to safety or pollution, no more than $10,000 per day for each violation. Violations not relating to safety or pollution, no more than $1,000 per day for each violation. Gas supply chain security violations up to $1 million per offense. (86.222, Nat. Res. Code).

4) Administrative and civil penalties up to $10,000 per day per act for violation of rule, order, or permit relating to measuring oil and gas and oil property (88.135, Nat. Res. Code).

5) Fines up to $10,000 and administrative penalties up to $1,000 for false applications, reports and documents and gauge tampering. (91.143, Nat. Res. Code). 

6) Civil penalties for violation of rules related to well plugging (89.121, Nat. Res. Code).

7) Bond forfeitures due to violations of rules related to well plugging. Used to recover commission costs for well replugging (91.104 - 91.108, Nat. Res. Code). Initial posting of bond or security is under revenue code 3791. 

8) Commission well plugging reimbursements received from a suit. If the commission plugs a well, the state has cause of action for all reasonable expenses incurred in plugging or replugging the well and must be reimbursed for all expenses incurred (89.083, Nat. Res. Code).

9) Costs recovered for violations related to saltwater disposal pits (91.459, Nat. Res. Code).

10) Civil penalties for violations related to saltwater disposal pits. Penalty not less than $100 and no more than $10,000 for each violation (91.459, Nat. Res. Code).

11) Penalties for violations by purchasers, transporters, gatherers, shippers or sellers of natural gas. Up to $5,000 a day for each violation (81.058, Nat. Res. Code).

12) Administrative and civil penalties for violations by oil and gas waste haulers. Up to $10,000 per violation per day (29.047 - 29.053, Nat. Res. Code).

13) Administrative penalties for violation of safety standards or regulations relating to gas pipeline facilities and the transportation of gas (121.206 Utilities Code) and against a gas facility for pollution and public safety violations (121.304, Utilities Code). Amount of penalty up to $200,000 per day for each violation, not to exceed $2 million. Penalties related to gas pipeline facilities' ability to maintain reliable service during extreme weather are up to $1 million per day (121.206, 121.2015, Utilities Code).

14) Penalties for violations related to sour natural gas, no more than $1,000 per violation per day (87.241, Nat. Res. Code).

15) Administrative and civil penalties for violations related to injection wells (Ch 27 Water Code) and offshore storage of carbon dioxide (382.502, Health and Safety). Administrative penalties up to $10,000 per violation per day, civil penalties up to $5,000 per violation per day (27.101 - 27.103, Water Code). Criminal fines under Chapter 27 up to $5,000 per violation per day (27.105, Water Code).

16) Penalties for violations related to uranium surface mining, no more than $10,000 per violation per day (131.2661 - 131.2664, Nat. Res. Code).

17) Administrative, civil, and criminal penalties for violations related to geothermal energy and associated resources. Up to $10,000 per day for each violation (141.013 - 141.016, 141.101, 141.102, Nat. Res. Code).

18) Administrative penalty assessed on a drilling operator for failure to submit an electronic log (91.556, Nat. Res. Code).

19) Civil penalties related to disconnection of gas service by a gas utility between $1,000 and $1 million per violation (105.023, Utilities Code ).

As determined by the commission.

Fess deposited to GR Account 5155 were previously deposited to GR Account - Oil-Field Cleanup (No. 0145). Prior to GR Account 0145 to State Well Plugging Fund 0503. Prior to fund 0503 to Saltwater Disposal Pit Fund 0520.

Penalties for Water Quality Act Violations are Revenue Code 3360.

Penalties for Waste Disposal Violations are Revenue Code 3594.

Amended by H.B. 1445, H.B. 1970, H.B. 2005, H.B. 2315, and H.B. 1277, 68th Leg., R.S.

Amended by S.B. 1103, 72nd Leg., R.S.

Amended by S.B. 815 and S.B. 1070, 76th Leg., R.S.

Amended by S.B. 1670, 80th Leg., R.S.

(11) added by H.B. 3273, 80th Leg., R.S.

Deposit funds changed by S.B. 1, 82nd Leg., 1st C.S.

Penalties for (1) and (13) increased by S.B. 900, 83rd Leg., R.S.

Number (18) added by H.B. 878, 83rd Leg., R.S.

(3) and (13) amended and (19) added by S.B. 3, 87th Leg., R.S.

(15) amended by H.B. 1284, 87th Leg., R.S.