Summary:

  House Bill 258 (HB 258) provides natural gas capture requirements for the operator of an oil or gas well or natural gas gathering system and provides exceptions. 

 

Legislation Overview:

 Analysis: House Bill 258 (HB 258) requires an operator to ensure at least ninety-eight percent of the natural gas produced or gathered by the operator's facilities is captured in a calendar year in a new section of the Oil and Gas Act (Chapter 70, Articles 1-13 NMSA 1978).
It provides for five exceptions from this capture requirement for emergency release; beneficial use; not suitable for transportation or for certain processing; result of normal operation of certain pneumatic equipment; and from exploratory wells. HB 258 defines operator.
 

Amendments:

 2/11/25
The House Energy, Environment and Natural Resources Committee amended HB 258 (HB 258 A HENRC) by changing the exceptions for this capture requirement. The gas release is not subject to capture if it is an emergency, used for beneficial use, not suitable for transportation or processing or from an exploratory well.