(a) The purpose of these sections is to provide reasonable regulations for the extraction and development of onshore petroleum and other subterranean resources in San Luis Obispo County, including but not limited to exploration, production, storage, processing, transportation, and disposal of petroleum and other hydrocarbons and of any operations accessory thereto. The provisions of these sections are intended to supplement regulations administered by the California State Division of Oil and Gas, to address particular problems in San Luis Obispo County which do not apply generally throughout the state. Such problems include a limited water supply for agricultural and domestic uses in a county that depends heavily on agriculture and tourism for its economic welfare. The fresh water supply must be fully protected from pollution by petroleum operations.
(b) A drilling permit shall be obtained to authorize wells for extraction of oil, gas, geothermal steam or any other subterranean resource except water, whether for purposes of exploration or production. (Water wells are instead subject to the provisions of Section 23.08.178 of this chapter and Chapter 8.40 of this code.) Such operations shall be conducted in accordance with the standards in Sections 23.08.173 through 23.08.174. Exploratory wells are those drilled to explore for subterranean resources, including verifying their location, extent, or determining the feasibility of commercial extraction. Production wells are permanent installations for the extraction and preparation for transportation of a proven resource. (Note: The extraction of petroleum from oil sands or shales by any method other than wells is subject to the standards of Sections 23.08.180 through 23.08.187 for surface mining operations.) (Ord. 2592 § 9 (part), 1992)