Section 20.25.720. Calculation of regulatory cost charges for geothermal wells.

	(a)  The formula for determining a person's regulatory cost charge under AS 41.06.055 is  
RCCg = Vgop/Vgtot *(Ag - Lg)  
where  
RCCg = the regulatory cost charge for geothermal wells;  
Vgop = the total volume of geothermal resources produced from, and all fluids and substances injected into, during the most recently concluded calendar year, wells for which a Permit to Drill has been issued under AS 41.06.050, of which the person is the operator on the first day of the fiscal year, and that have not before that day been plugged and abandoned and reported as abandoned in accordance with this chapter;  
Vgtot = the total volume of geothermal resources produced from, and all fluids and substances injected into, during the most recently concluded calendar year, all wells for which a Permit to Drill has been issued under AS 41.06.050 and that have not before the first day of the fiscal year been plugged and abandoned and reported as abandoned in accordance with this chapter;  
Ag = the appropriation, other than from federal receipts, made for the operating costs related to activities under AS 41.06  of the commission for the fiscal year;  
Lg = the lapsed amount of a previous appropriation that is appropriated for the fiscal year under AS 41.06.055(d).  
	(b)  For purposes of calculating regulatory cost charges, volumes of geothermal resources produced from or injected into wells consist of the applicable volumes reported to the commission under 20 AAC 25.230(b) and 20 AAC 25.432, except that  
		(1) if an operator has failed to report a volume as required, if two or more reported volumes are inconsistent, or if the commission determines that a reported volume is otherwise unreliable, the commission may calculate or estimate volumes as it considers appropriate;  
		(2) the commission may add the volume of a substantial spill or other release of geothermal resources that is not included in a report under 20 AAC 25.230(b) or 20 AAC 25.432.  
	(c)  For purposes of determining volumes under AS 41.06.055 and 20 AAC 25.705 - 20 AAC 25.740, 9,000 cubic feet of gaseous geothermal resources has a volume that is the equivalent of one barrel of liquid geothermal resources.  
	(d)  For purposes of AS 41.06.055(a) and 20 AAC 25.705 - 20 AAC 25.740, a well is considered plugged and abandoned and reported as abandoned in accordance with this chapter if the well has been abandoned in accordance with 20 AAC 25.105 and 20 AAC 25.112 and a complete well record for the well, including a description of plugging operations, on a Well Completion or Recompletion Report and Log (Form 10-407) as required by 20 AAC 25.070(3) has been filed with the commission after abandonment.  

Authorities

41.06.005;41.06.035;41.06.040;41.06.050;41.06.055

Notes

Reference

20 AAC 25.730
20 AAC 25.740

Authority

AS 41.06.005 AS 41.06.035 AS 41.06.040 AS 41.06.050 AS 41.06.055

History

Eff. 9/30/2010, Register 195