| (a) Definitions. The following words and terms, when
used in this section, shall have the following meanings, unless the
context clearly indicates otherwise.
(1) Seismic hole--Any hole drilled for the purpose
of securing geophysical information to be used in the exploration
or development of oil, gas, geothermal, or other mineral resources.
(2) Core hole--Any hole drilled for the purpose of
securing geological information to be used in the exploration or development
of oil, gas, geothermal, or other mineral resources, except coal or
uranium. For regulations governing coal exploratory wells, see Chapter
12 of this title (relating to Coal Mining Regulations), and for regulations
governing uranium exploratory wells, see Chapter 11, Subchapter C
of this title (relating to Surface Mining and Reclamation Division,
Substantive Rules--Uranium Mining).
(3) Project area--The geographic area in which an exploratory
survey involving one or more seismic holes or core holes is carried
out.
(4) Protection depth--Depth or depths at which usable
quality water must be protected or isolated, as determined by the
Groundwater Advisory Unit of the Oil and Gas Division, which may include
zones that contain brackish or saltwater if such zones are correlative
and/or hydrologically connected to zones that contain usable-quality
water.
(5) Operator--The person who contracts for the services
of a seismic crew or core hole drilling contractor or, if the seismic
survey or core hole testing is not performed on a contract basis,
but is performed by an exploration and production company or by a
geophysical contractor for speculative purposes, the person who drills
the seismic holes or core holes.
(6) Commission--The Railroad Commission of Texas or
its authorized representative.
(b) Exemption. Any seismic hole or core hole drilled
to a depth of 20 feet or less is not subject to the requirements of
this section.
(c) Determination of protection depth. Before drilling
any seismic hole or core hole in a project area, an operator shall
obtain a letter from the Groundwater Advisory Unit of the Oil and
Gas Division stating the protection depth or depths in the project
area.
(d) Drilling permits.
(1) Holes that do not penetrate any protection depth.
A seismic hole or core hole that does not penetrate any protection
depth does not require a drilling permit.
(2) Holes that penetrate any protection depth. A seismic
hole or core hole that penetrates any protection depth requires a
drilling permit to satisfy the requirements for exploratory wells
described in §3.5(g) of this title (relating to Application To
Drill, Deepen, Reenter, or Plug Back) (Statewide Rule 5).
(e) Plugging.
(1) Holes that do not penetrate any protection depth.
A seismic hole or core hole that does not penetrate any protection
depth must be plugged in accordance with subparagraph (A) or (B) of
this paragraph. Seismic holes must be plugged after the hole is loaded
with explosives. Core holes must be plugged immediately after completion
of coring the hole.
(A) The operator shall adequately plug the hole by
filling it from total depth to a depth of no more than 16 feet below
the surface with drill cuttings and/or bentonite. Immediately above
the drill cuttings and/or bentonite, the operator shall place a bentonite
plug no less than 10 feet in length. A plastic cap imprinted with
the name of the operator shall be set above the bentonite plug no
less than three feet below the surface. The remainder of the hole
shall be filled with drill cuttings or native soil. All precautions
should be taken to prevent bentonite from bridging over.
(B) Alternative plugging procedures and materials may
be utilized when the operator has demonstrated to the commission's
satisfaction that the alternatives will protect usable quality water.
(2) Holes that penetrate any protection depth. A seismic
hole or core hole that penetrates any protection depth must be plugged
in accordance with the requirements of §3.14 of this title (relating
to Plugging) (Statewide Rule 14) and a plastic cap imprinted with
the name of the operator shall be set in the hole no less than three
feet below the surface.
(f) Physical requirements for bentonite plugging materials.
Bentonite materials used to plug seismic or core holes shall be derived
from naturally occurring, untreated, high swelling sodium bentonite
that is composed of at least 85% montmorillonite clay and that meets
the International Association of Geophysical Contractors (IAGC) recommended
geophysical industry standard dated January 24, 1992, for the physical
characteristics of bentonite used in seismic shot hole plugging.
(g) Reporting.
(1) Holes that do not penetrate any protection depth.
Within 30 days of plugging the last hole in the project area, the
operator shall submit a letter to the commission stating that each
seismic hole or core hole in the project area has been plugged in
accordance with subsection (e)(1) of this section. The letter must
include the plugging date for each hole and the name and address of
the operator. A plat of the project area identifying seismic or core
hole locations, counties, survey lines, scale, and northerly direction
must be attached. A United States Geological Survey map of the project
area with hole locations marked will satisfy the plat requirement.
In addition, a letter from the Groundwater Advisory Unit of the Oil
and Gas Division stating the protection depth or depths must be attached.
(2) Holes that penetrate any protection depth. For
any seismic or core hole that penetrates any protection depth, a plugging
record shall be filed in accordance with §3.14 of this title
(relating to Plugging) (Statewide Rule 14).
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| Source Note: The provisions of this §3.100 adopted to be effective September 1, 1992, 17 TexReg 5283; amended to be effective August 25, 2003, 28 TexReg 6816; amended to be effective July 2, 2012, 37 TexReg 4892; amended to be effective January 1, 2014, 38 TexReg 3542 |
