| (6) An operator may request administrative authority
to plug its own wells without being an approved cementer. An operator
seeking such authority shall file a written request with the district
director and demonstrate its ability to mix and pump cement or other
alternate materials as approved by the director or the director's
delegate in compliance with this subsection. The district director
or the director's delegate shall determine whether such a request
warrants approval. If the district director or the director's delegate
refuses to administratively approve this request, the operator may
request a hearing on its request.
(7) The district director or the director's delegate
may require additional cement plugs to cover and contain any productive
horizon or to separate any water stratum from any other water stratum
if the water qualities or hydrostatic pressures differ sufficiently
to justify separation. The tagging and/or pressure testing of any
such plugs, or any other plugs, and respotting may be required if
necessary to ensure that the well does not pose a potential threat
of harm to natural resources.
(8) For onshore or inland wells, a 10-foot cement plug
shall be placed in the top of the well, and casing shall be cut off
three feet below the ground surface.
(9) Mud-laden fluid of at least 9-1/2 pounds per gallon
with a minimum funnel viscosity of 40 seconds shall be placed in all
portions of the well not filled with cement or other alternate material
as approved by the director or the director's delegate. The hole shall
be in static condition at the time the cement plugs are placed. The
district director or the director's delegate may grant exceptions
to the requirements of this paragraph if a deviation from the prescribed
minimums for fluid weight or viscosity will insure that the well does
not pose a potential threat of harm to natural resources. An operator
shall request approval to use alternate fluid other than mud-laden
fluid by filing with the district director a written request providing
all pertinent information to support the use of the proposed alternate
fluid. The district director or the director's delegate shall determine
whether such a request warrants approval, and shall approve such a
request only if the proposed alternate fluid will insure that the
well does not pose a potential threat of harm to natural resources.
(10) Non-drillable material that would hamper or prevent
reentry of a well shall not be placed in any wellbore during plugging
operations, except in the case of a well plugged and abandoned under
the provisions of §3.35 or §4.614(b) of this title (relating
to Procedures for Identification and Control of Wellbores in Which
Certain Logging Tools Have Been Abandoned (Statewide Rule 35); and
Authorized Disposal Methods, respectively). Pipe and unretrievable
junk shall not be cemented in the hole during plugging operations
without prior approval by the district director or the director's
delegate.
(11) All cement plugs, except the top plug, shall have
sufficient slurry volume to fill 100 feet of hole, plus 10% for each
1,000 feet of depth from the ground surface to the bottom of the plug.
(12) The operator shall fill the rathole, mouse hole,
and cellar, and shall empty all tanks, vessels, related piping and
flowlines that will not be actively used in the continuing operation
of the lease within 120 days after plugging work is completed. Within
the same 120 day period, the operator shall remove all such tanks,
vessels, and related piping, remove all loose junk and trash from
the location, and contour the location to discourage pooling of surface
water at or around the facility site. The operator shall close all
pits in accordance with the provisions of §3.8 of this title
(relating to Water Protection (Statewide Rule 8)). The district director
or the director's delegate may grant a reasonable extension of time
of not more than an additional 120 days for the removal of tanks,
vessels and related piping.
(e) Plugging requirements for wells with surface casing.
(1) When insufficient surface casing is set to protect
all usable quality water strata and such usable quality water strata
are exposed to the wellbore when production or intermediate casing
is pulled from the well or as a result of such casing not being run,
a cement plug shall be a minimum of 100 feet in length and shall extend
at least 50 feet above and 50 feet below the base of the deepest usable
quality water stratum. This plug shall be evidenced by tagging with
tubing or drill pipe. The plug shall be respotted if it has not been
properly placed. In addition, a cement plug shall be set across the
shoe of the surface casing. This plug shall be a minimum of 100 feet
in length and shall extend at least 50 feet above and below the shoe.
(2) When sufficient surface casing has been set to
protect all usable quality water strata, a cement plug shall be placed
across the shoe of the surface casing. This plug shall be a minimum
of 100 feet in length and shall extend at least 50 feet above the
shoe and at least 50 feet below the shoe.
(3) If surface casing has been set deeper than 200
feet below the base of the deepest usable quality water stratum, an
additional cement plug shall be placed inside the surface casing across
the base of the deepest usable quality water stratum. This plug shall
be a minimum of 100 feet in length and shall extend at least 50 feet
below and 50 feet above the base of the deepest usable quality water
stratum.
(4) Plugs shall be set as necessary to separate multiple
usable quality water strata by placing the required plug at each depth
as determined by the Groundwater Advisory Unit of the Oil and Gas
Division.
(5) An operator may not remove, cause to be removed,
or allow to be removed surface casing from a well at abandonment.
This prohibition applies to wells drilled by cable tool and rotary
rigs alike.
(f) Plugging requirements for wells with intermediate
casing.
(1) For wells in which the intermediate casing has
been cemented through all usable quality water strata and all productive
horizons, a cement plug meeting the requirements of subsection (d)(11)
of this section shall be placed inside the casing and centered opposite
the base of the deepest usable quality water stratum, but extend no
less than 50 feet above and below the base of the deepest usable quality
water stratum.
(2) For wells in which intermediate casing is not cemented
through all usable quality water strata and all productive horizons,
and if the casing will not be pulled, the intermediate casing shall
be perforated at the required depths to place cement outside of the
casing by squeeze cementing through casing perforations.
(3) Additionally, plugs shall be set as necessary to
separate multiple usable quality water strata by placing the required
plug at each depth as determined by the Groundwater Advisory Unit
of the Oil and Gas Division.
(g) Plugging requirements for wells with production
casing.
(1) For wells in which the production casing has been
cemented through all usable quality water strata and all productive
horizons, a cement plug meeting the requirements of subsection (d)(11)
of this section shall be placed inside the casing and centered opposite
the base of the deepest usable quality water stratum and across any
multi-stage cementing tool. This plug shall be a minimum of 100 feet
in length and shall extend at least 50 feet below and 50 feet above
the base of the deepest usable quality water stratum.
(2) For wells in which the production casing has not
been cemented through all usable quality water strata and all productive
horizons and if the casing will not be pulled, the production casing
shall be perforated at the required depths to place cement outside
of the casing by squeeze cementing through casing perforations.
(3) The district director or the director's delegate
may approve a cast iron bridge plug to be placed immediately above
each perforated interval, provided at least 20 feet of cement is placed
on top of each bridge plug. A bridge plug shall not be set in any
well at a depth where the pressure or temperature exceeds the ratings
recommended by the bridge plug manufacturer.
(4) Additionally, plugs shall be set as necessary to
separate multiple usable quality water strata by placing the required
plug at each depth as determined by the Groundwater Advisory Unit
of the Oil and Gas Division.
(h) Plugging requirements for well with screen or liner.
(1) If practical, the screen or liner shall be removed
from the well.
(2) If the screen or liner is not removed, a cement
plug in accordance with subsection (d)(11) of this section shall be
placed at the top of the screen or liner.
(i) Plugging requirements for wells without production
casing and open-hole completions.
Cont'd... |
