To Concerned Citizens Regarding Drilling in Hurst:

Thank you for your inquiry regarding gas well drilling in the Highway 10 area.  You probably recently received the Force Majeure letter from Chesapeake indicating that the City is not moving ahead with the permitting of the sites and they want to suspend your lease until the City takes formal action on their permit request.  The information regarding the permit processing that Chesapeake has provided to you is inaccurate.

Currently the City is in the review process of both the Diffenworth and Weldon drilling sites.  The Diffenworth site is being platted and will be considered for approval this month.  The Diffenworth site Special Use Permit will be reviewed by the City Council after the first of the year.  The Weldon site does not currently meet the City platting criteria and Chesapeake will need to meet all requirements before the final permit is acted upon.  We feel that this Special Use Permit will be reviewed by the City Council at a meeting in February if Chesapeake makes the necessary changes to the site.  Please understand that when Chesapeake filed their drilling plans they did not meet the City’s existing ordinance requirements and they are asking for variances from the City Council on the wellhead distance from residences and other areas that are a concern for the City Council. 

The City Council has been working on revising the City’s Gas Drilling Ordinance over the past several months to address these concerns and to require additional testing of both the air and water quality around the well sites for the protection of those living in close proximity to the wellhead.  The City Council wants to make sure that the City’s water supply is protected because it just takes one accident to contaminate the City’s drinking water.  Wellhead safety and the protection of our citizens are of the utmost concern.  The new ordinance provisions are scheduled to be ready for City Council review in January and it is our hope to complete the final approvals by February. 

Your mineral rights are very important to you, and we appreciate your understanding and patience as the City works to ensure that gas drilling is done in a manner that is safe for you, your neighbors and our entire community.  The City Council is diligently working on expediting any changes to our current regulations, and to limit the impacts of these changes to our residents.

If you have further questions or comments please call Mike Morgan, Director of Community Development at 817-788-7095.