The Barnett Shale is a large natural gas reserve that stretches underground across a 15-county area. It contains an estimated 26 trillion cubic feet of natural gas and is located 1.5 miles below the surface. In recent years, advances in drilling technology have made it possible for energy companies to extract large amounts of natural gas from the Barnett Shale.

Gas well operators are required to adhere to a permitting process before gas well drilling occurs. Operators must receive a permit from the Railroad Commission of Texas and approval of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) before proceeding to the permitting process of local municipalities.

Because of the increased production in the Barnett Shale area, cities have either developed or amended their individual natural gas well ordinances to regulate issues such as distance requirements, sound level, water usage, and permitting processes. In fact, almost all North Texas municipalities have adopted an ordinance regulating the exploration and production of oil and gas.

In July 2006, Benbrook City Council adopted a revised gas drilling ordinance (1210) that includes requirements for drilling distance (600-foot setback from protected use), noise and light abatement measures, and hours of operation, landscaping, fencing, and liability insurance requirements.

The City of Benbrook Gas Well Drilling Ordinance outlines the application process and requirements for operators within city limits.

The Barnett Shale Energy Education Council (BSEEC) is a community resource that provides information to the public about gas drilling and production in the Barnett Shale region in North Texas. NaturalGas.org is an educational website covering a variety of topics related to the natural gas industry.

Disclaimer: The City of Benbrook does not provide advice about leasing private property for gas exploration and drilling.

For more information, contact the City Engineer, Bob Rowley, at 817-249-6062.