Title 3. Oil and Gas

NATURAL RESOURCES CODE

TITLE 3. OIL AND GAS

SUBTITLE D. REGULATION OF SPECIFIC BUSINESSES AND OCCUPATIONS

CHAPTER 111. COMMON CARRIERS, PUBLIC UTILITIES, AND COMMON PURCHASERS

SUBCHAPTER A. GENERAL PROVISIONS

Sec.111.001.DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:

(1)"Commission" means the Railroad Commission of Texas.

(2)"Public utility" means a person, association of persons, or corporation that owns, operates, or manages crude petroleum storage tanks or storage facilities for the public for hire, either in connection with a pipeline, pipelines, or otherwise.The term does not include an electric cooperative, as that term is defined by Section 11.003, Utilities Code, or its subsidiary, that sells electricity at wholesale and that owns or operates an underground storage facility and provides gas storage services to the public for hire if the gas storage facility is predominantly operated to support the integration of renewable resources.Such a gas storage facility may not have a working gas capacity of greater than five billion cubic feet.

Acts 1977, 65th Leg., p. 2578, ch. 871, art. I, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1977.

Amended by:

Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., R.S., Ch. 4 (S.B. 312), Sec. 3, eff. April 21, 2011.

Sec. 111.002.COMMON CARRIERS UNDER CHAPTER. A person is a common carrier subject to the provisions of this chapter if it:

(1)owns, operates, or manages a pipeline or any part of a pipeline in the State of Texas for the transportation of crude petroleum to or for the public for hire, or engages in the business of transporting crude petroleum by pipeline;

(2)owns, operates, or manages a pipeline or any part of a pipeline in the State of Texas for the transportation of crude petroleum to or for the public for hire and the pipeline is constructed or maintained on, over, or under a public road or highway, or is an entity in favor of whom the right of eminent domain exists;

(3)owns, operates, or manages a pipeline or any part of a pipeline in the State of Texas for the transportation of crude petroleum to or for the public for hire which is or may be constructed, operated, or maintained across, on, along, over, or under the right-of-way of a railroad, corporation, or other common carrier required by law to transport crude petroleum as a common carrier;

(4)under lease, contract of purchase, agreement to buy or sell, or other agreement or arrangement of any kind, owns, operates, manages, or participates in ownership, operation, or management of a pipeline or part of a pipeline in the State of Texas for the transportation of crude petroleum, bought of others, from an oil field or place of production within this state to any distributing, refining, or marketing center or reshipping point within this state;

(5)owns, operates, or manages, wholly or partially, pipelines for the transportation for hire of coal in whatever form or of any mixture of substances including coal in whatever form;

(6)owns, operates, or manages, wholly or partially, pipelines for the transportation of carbon dioxide or hydrogen in whatever form to or for the public for hire, but only if such person files with the commission a written acceptance of the provisions of this chapter expressly agreeing that, in consideration of the rights acquired, it becomes a common carrier subject to the duties and obligations conferred or imposed by this chapter; or

(7)owns, operates, or manages a pipeline or any part of a pipeline in the State of Texas for the transportation of feedstock for carbon gasification, the products of carbon gasification, or the derivative products of carbon gasification, in whatever form, to or for the public for hire, but only if the person files with the commission a written acceptance of the provisions of this chapter expressly agreeing that, in consideration of the rights acquired, it becomes a common carrier subject to the duties and obligations conferred or imposed by this chapter.

Acts 1977, 65th Leg., p. 2579, ch. 871, art. I, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1977. Amended by Acts 1977, 65th Leg., p. 2692, ch. 871, art. II, Sec. 2, eff. Sept. 1, 1977; Acts 1981, 67th Leg., p. 199, ch. 93, Sec. 1, eff. Aug. 31, 1981; Acts 1991, 72nd Leg., ch. 689, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1991.

Amended by:

Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch. 22 (H.B. 1967), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2007.

Sec.111.003.APPLICABILITY OF CHAPTER. (a) The provisions of this chapter do not apply to pipelines that are limited in their use to the wells, stations, plants, and refineries of the owner and that are not a part of the pipeline transportation system of a common carrier as defined in Section 111.002 of this code.

(b)The provisions of this chapter do not apply to any property of a common carrier, as defined in Section 111.002 of this code, that is not a part of or necessarily incident to its pipeline transportation system.

(c)The provisions of this chapter, and any common law requirements or limitations applicable to a common carrier, do not apply to an underground storage facility owned or operated by an electric cooperative, as that term is defined by Section 11.003, Utilities Code, or its subsidiary, that sells electricity at wholesale and offers or provides gas storage services to the public for hire if the gas storage facility is predominantly operated to support the integration of renewable resources.Such a gas storage facility may not have a working gas capacity of greater than five billion cubic feet.

Acts 1977, 65th Leg., p. 2579, ch. 871, art. I, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1977.

Amended by:

Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., R.S., Ch. 4 (S.B. 312), Sec. 4, eff. April 21, 2011.

Sec.111.004.GENERAL RESTRICTION ON TRANSPORTATION OF OIL. No person, including a common carrier, may transport crude oil or petroleum in this state unless the crude oil or petroleum has been produced or purchased or both in accordance with the laws of this state or a rule of the commission made under those laws, or both.

Acts 1977, 65th Leg., p. 2579, ch. 871, art. I, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1977.

SUBCHAPTER B. COMMON CARRIERS

Sec.111.011.REGULATION IN PUBLIC INTEREST. The operation of common carriers covered by this chapter is a business in which the public is interested and is subject to regulation by law.

Acts 1977, 65th Leg., p. 2579, ch. 871, art. I, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1977.

Sec.111.012.GENERAL JURISDICTION OF COMMISSION. Particular powers granted to the commission by the provisions of this chapter do not limit the general powers conferred by other laws.

Acts 1977, 65th Leg., p. 2579, ch. 871, art. I, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1977.

Sec. 111.013.CONTROL OF PIPELINES. A pipeline subject to the provisions of this chapter not exempt under Section 111.003, which is used in connection with the business of purchasing or purchasing and selling crude petroleum, or in the business of transporting coal, carbon dioxide, hydrogen, feedstock for carbon gasification, the products of carbon gasification, or the derivative products of carbon gasification in whatever form by pipeline for hire in Texas, shall be operated as a common carrier and shall be subject to the jurisdiction of the commission.

Amended by:

Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch. 22 (H.B. 1967), Sec. 2, eff. September 1, 2007.

Sec.111.014.PUBLICATION OF TARIFFS. Common carriers shall make and publish their tariffs under rules prescribed by the commission.

Acts 1977, 65th Leg., p. 2580, ch. 871, art. I, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1977.

Sec.111.015.TRANSPORTATION WITHOUT DISCRIMINATION. Subject to the law and the rules prescribed by the commission, a common carrier shall receive and transport crude petroleum delivered to it for transportation and perform its other related duties without discrimination.

Acts 1977, 65th Leg., p. 2580, ch. 871, art. I, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1977.

Sec.111.016.DISCRIMINATION BETWEEN SHIPPERS. (a) A common carrier in its operations as a common carrier shall not discriminate between or against shippers with regard to facilities furnished, services rendered, or rates charged under the same or similar circumstances in the transportation of crude petroleum.

(b)A common carrier shall not discriminate in the transportation of crude petroleum produced or purchased by itself directly or indirectly.

(c)In this connection, a pipeline is a shipper of the crude petroleum produced or purchased by itself directly or indirectly and handled through its facilities.

Acts 1977, 65th Leg., p. 2580, ch. 871, art. I, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1977.

Sec.111.017.EQUAL COMPENSATION FOR LIKE SERVICE. (a) No common carrier in its operations as a common carrier may charge, demand, collect, or receive either directly or indirectly from anyone a greater or lesser compensation for a service rendered than from another for a like and contemporaneous service.

(b)The provisions of Subsection (a) of this section do not limit the right of the commission to prescribe rules and rates from or to some places that are different from rules or rates for transportation from or to other places.

Acts 1977, 65th Leg., p. 2580, ch. 871, art. I, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1977.

Sec.111.018.EFFECT OF COMMISSION ORDER. A common carrier is not guilty of discrimination when obeying an order of the commission.

Acts 1977, 65th Leg., p. 2580, ch. 871, art. I, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1977.

Sec.111.019.RIGHT OF EMINENT DOMAIN. (a) Common carriers have the right and power of eminent domain.

(b)In the exercise of the power of eminent domain granted under the provisions of Subsection (a) of this section, a common carrier may enter on and condemn the land, rights-of-way, easements, and property of any person or corporation necessary for the construction, maintenance, or operation of the common carrier pipeline.

(c)Upon written request by a resident or owner of land crossed by a common carrier pipeline, the common carrier must disclose material data safety sheets concerning the commodities transported by the common carrier required by the commission and the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act of 1986 (42 U.S.C. Section 11001 et seq.). Such disclosure must be in writing and must be mailed or delivered to the resident or landowner within 30 days of receipt of the request.

Acts 1977, 65th Leg., p. 2580, ch. 871, art. I, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1977. Amended by Acts 1993, 73rd Leg., ch. 630, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1993.

Sec.111.0191.COSTS OF RELOCATION OF PROPERTY. In the event a common carrier pipeline in the exercise of the power of eminent domain or police power or any other power granted under this chapter makes necessary the relocation, raising, lowering, rerouting, or changing the grade of, or altering the construction of any railroad, electric transmission, telegraph or telephone lines, properties and facilities, or pipeline, all such relocation, raising, lowering, rerouting, changing of grade, or alteration of construction shall be accomplished at the sole expense of such common carrier pipeline. The term "sole expense" means the actual cost of the relocation, raising, lowering, rerouting, or change in grade or alteration of construction in providing comparable replacement without enhancement of the facilities, after deducting therefrom the net salvage value derived from the old facility.

Acts 1977, 65th Leg., p. 2694, ch. 871, art. II, Sec. 4, eff. Sept. 1, 1977.

Sec.111.0192.LIMITATIONS ON THE POWERS OF EMINENT DOMAIN IN CERTAIN SITUATIONS. (a) The right of eminent domain granted under this chapter to any pipelines transporting coal in whatever form shall not include and cannot be used to condemn water or water rights for use in the transportation of coal by pipeline, and no Texas water from any source shall be used in connection with the transportation, maintenance, or operation of a coal slurry pipeline (except water used for drinking, toilet, bath, or other personal uses at pumping stations or offices) within the State of Texas unless the Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission shall determine, after public hearing, that the use will not be detrimental to the water supply of the area from which the water is sought to be extracted.

(b)The right of eminent domain granted under this chapter to any pipeline transporting coal in whatever form shall not include the power to take land or any interest in land, by exercise of the power of eminent domain, for the purpose of drilling for, mining, or producing any oil, gas, geothermal, geothermal/geopressured, lignite, coal, sulphur, uranium, plutonium, or other mineral, but this provision does not impair the right of any such entity to acquire title to real property for pipelines, including cooling ponds and related surface installations and equipment.

Acts 1977, 65th Leg., p. 2694, ch. 871, art. II, Sec. 6, eff. Sept. 1, 1977. Amended by Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 76, Sec. 11.271, eff. Sept. 1, 1995.

Sec.111.0193.RESTORATION OF PROPERTY. Every condemnation award granted under this chapter shall require that the condemnor restore the property which is the subject of the award to its former condition as near as reasonably practicable.

Acts 1977, 65th Leg., p. 2695, ch. 871, art. II, Sec. 7, eff. Sept. 1, 1977.

Sec.111.0194.PIPELINE EASEMENTS. (a) Unless the terms of the grant or the condemnation judgment expressly provide otherwise, or the easement rights otherwise prescriptively owned through actual use are greater, an easement created through grant or through the power of eminent domain for the benefit of a single common carrier pipeline for which the power of eminent domain is available under Section 111.019 of this code as of January 1, 1994, is presumed to create an easement in favor of the common carrier pipeline, or a successor in interest to the common carrier pipeline, that extends only a width of 50 feet as to each pipeline laid under the grant or judgment in eminent domain prior to January 1, 1994.

(b)The presumption in Subsection (a) of this section is not applicable to pipeline easements of a common carrier pipeline granted under the terms of an oil and gas lease or oil, gas, and mineral lease, or to any easement which authorizes the construction of gathering lines.

(c)The presumption set out in Subsection (a) of this section on the limitation of width may be rebutted by evidence on behalf of the common carrier pipeline that a greater width is reasonably needed for purposes of operation, construction of additional lines under the grant or judgment in an eminent domain proceeding, maintenance, repair, replacement, safety, surveillance, or as a buffer zone for protection of the safe operation of the common carrier pipeline, together with such other evidence as a court may deem relevant to establish the extent of an easement in excess of 50 feet in width.

(d)The presumption in Subsection (a) of this section shall apply separately as to each pipeline under a grant or judgment which allows more than one pipeline on the subservient estate.

(e)This section shall not be deemed to limit any rights of ingress to or egress from easements that may exist under the original grant, prescriptive rights, or common law.

(f)This section does not limit or otherwise affect the rights of parties engaged in litigation before January 1, 1994.

Added by Acts 1993, 73rd Leg., ch. 787, Sec. 1, eff. Jan. 1, 1994.

Sec.111.020.PIPELINE ON PUBLIC STREAM OR HIGHWAY. (a) Subject to the provisions of Subsection (b) of this section, all common carriers are entitled to lay, maintain, and operate along, across, or under a public stream or highway in this state pipelines, together with telegraph and telephone lines incidental to and designed for use only in connection with the operation of the pipelines.

(b)The right to run a pipeline or telegraph or telephone line along, across, or over a public road or highway may be exercised only on condition that:

(1)it does not interfere with traffic on the road or highway;

(2)the road or highway is promptly restored to its former condition of usefulness;

(3)the restoration of the road or highway is subject also to the supervision of the commissioners court or other proper local authority; and

(4)no pipes or pipelines are laid parallel with and on a public highway closer than 15 feet from the improved section of the highway except with the approval and under the direction of the commissioners court of the county in which the public highway is located.

(c)The common carrier shall compensate the county or road district, respectively, for any damage done to the public road in the exercise of the privileges conferred.

(d)A person may acquire the right conferred in this section by filing with the commission a written acceptance of the provisions of this chapter expressly agreeing that, in consideration of the rights acquired, it becomes a common carrier subject to the duties and obligations conferred or imposed by this chapter.

Acts 1977, 65th Leg., p. 2580, ch. 871, art. I, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1977.

Sec.111.021.PIPELINE UNDER RAILROAD, STREET RAILROAD, OR CANAL. A common carrier is entitled to lay its pipe or pipeline under any railroad, railroad right-of-way, street railroad, or canal in this state.

Acts 1977, 65th Leg., p. 2581, ch. 871, art. I, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1977.

Sec.111.022.RIGHT TO USE STREET OR ALLEY IN CITY OR TOWN. The provisions of this chapter do not grant a pipeline company the right to use a public street or alley in an incorporated or unincorporated city or town except with express permission of the governing body of the city or town or the right to lay its pipes or pipelines along and under a street or alley in an incorporated city or town except with the consent and under the direction of the governing body of the city or town.

Acts 1977, 65th Leg., p. 2581, ch. 871, art. I, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1977.

Sec.111.023.EXCHANGE OF FACILITIES. (a) A common carrier shall exchange crude petroleum tonnage with each like common carrier.

(b)When a necessity exists, the commission may require connections and facilities for the interchange of crude petroleum tonnage to be made at every locality reached by both pipelines, subject to the rules and rates made by the commission.

(c)A common carrier pipeline under like rules shall be required to install and maintain facilities for the receipt and delivery of crude petroleum of patrons at all points on the pipeline.

Acts 1977, 65th Leg., p. 2581, ch. 871, art. I, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1977.

Sec.111.024.LIMIT ON AMOUNT OF OIL CARRIED. No common carrier may be required at any time to receive for shipment from any person more than 3,000 barrels of petroleum in any one day.

Acts 1977, 65th Leg., p. 2581, ch. 871, art. I, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1977.

Sec.111.025.ABANDONING CONNECTIONS. (a) No common carrier may abandon any of its connections or lines except under authority of a permit granted by the commission or with written consent of the owner or duly authorized agent of the wells to which connections are made.

(b)Before granting a permit to abandon any connection, the commission shall issue proper notice and hold a hearing as provided by law.

Acts 1977, 65th Leg., p. 2581, ch. 871, art. I, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1977.

SUBCHAPTER C. PUBLIC UTILITIES

Sec.111.051.APPLICABILITY OF STATUTE TO PUBLIC UTILITIES. A public utility is subject to the provisions of this subchapter and other provisions of this chapter relating to public utilities.

Acts 1977, 65th Leg., p. 2582, ch. 871, art. I, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1977.

Sec.111.052.DISCRIMINATION BY PUBLIC UTILITY. No public utility in its operations as a public utility may discriminate between or against its patrons in regard to facilities furnished or services rendered, or rates charged under the same or similar circumstances, in the storage of crude oil.

Acts 1977, 65th Leg., p. 2582, ch. 871, art. I, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1977.