Table of Contents

Vol. 6, No. 2
2nd Quarter 2000

California Debuts Electronic Permit and Data Exchange System

The California Department of Conservation launched its electronic permitting (e-permit) and data exchange system on April 12 in Bakersfield. Implemented by the Division of Oil, Gas and Geothermal Resources, this is the first operational system to move beyond electronic reporting of performance data to handle bi-directional application and permitting via the Internet. It is designed to automate large portions of the permit application process, and also address issues relating to security, authentication, and attachment transmittal.

The e-permit system will help streamline the state’s permit process in support of the oil, natural gas and underground injection control activities. In addition, large components of the program will be usable by oil and natural gas regulatory agencies in other states. The project is a joint initiative of the California agency with the Interstate Oil and Gas Compact Commission, Ground Water Protection Council, and the US Department of Energy’s Office of Fossil Energy.

The state recently started its “Wellstate” project, which provides electronic filing of injection and reporting data. There is also interest in developing an online approval process for “cookie-cutter” types of projects, like workovers. It will enable an operator to view a well file, use Geographic Information Services data to pinpoint the site on a map, and create a bubble plot to pull out a site profile of the well.

Other electronic data access and e-permitting efforts are proceeding in Colorado, New Mexico, and Louisiana.

For more information, contact Michael Stettner, Senior Oil and Gas Engineer, CA Department of Conservation, phone 916-323-1781, email stettner@consrv.ca.gov

PTTC Headquarters 
congratulates Anne Parker 
(our Communications Associate) 
on her upcoming marriage to 
Dov Rosenberg.
After June 1st, she will be 
Anne Rosenberg.