Ala. Admin. Code r. 400-3-4-.05

Current through Register Vol. 43, No. 1, October 31, 2024

Section 400-3-4-.05 - Abandonment Of Radioactive Logging Sources

(1) The Supervisor shall be notified immediately of the loss of any radioactive logging source in a well.

(2) No radioactive source used for logging may be left in a well without written consent of the Supervisor.

(3) When it is determined by the operator that it may be necessary to leave a radioactive source in a well, the Supervisor must be notified in writing of such and a plan of the abandonment procedure submitted to the Supervisor for approval. This plan must be approved by the Alabama Department of Public Health (Division of Radiation Control) and any other agency that has jurisdiction.

(4) Wells in which radioactive sources are abandoned shall be mechanically equipped so as to prevent the accidental or intentional mechanical disintegration of the radioactive source.

(a) Such sources being abandoned in the bottom of a well shall be covered with a substantial standard color-dyed cement plug on top of which a whipstock or other mechanical device approved by the Supervisor shall be set. Such dye shall be so as to alert a re-entry operator prior to encountering such source.

(b) In wells where a logging source has been cemented in place behind a casing string and above total depth, upon abandonment, a standard color-dyed cement plug shall be placed opposite the abandoned source and a whipstock or other mechanical device approved by the Supervisor placed on top of the plug.

(c) In the event the operator finds that, after expending a reasonable effort, because of hole conditions, it is not possible to abandon the sources as prescribed in (a) or (b) above, prior to ceasing efforts to so abandon, he must obtain Board approval to cease such efforts and obtain approval for an alternate abandonment procedure.

(d) When a logging source must be abandoned in a producing zone, a standard color-dyed cement plug shall be set and a whipstock or other mechanical device approved by the Supervisor placed above to direct the sidetrack at least fifteen (15) feet away from the source.

(5) Any well in which a radioactive source is left in the hole, shall have a visual warning sign posted and maintained in a legible state, in a conspicuous place near the well. The sign shall depict the trefoil radiation symbol with a radioactive warning.

(6) Upon permanent abandonment, any well in which a radioactive source is left in the hole shall have a permanent plaque attached to the top of the casing left in the hole in such a manner that re-entry cannot be accomplished without disturbing the plaque. This plaque shall serve as a visual warning to any person reentering the hole that a radioactive source has been abandoned in-place in the well. The plaque shall depict the trefoil radiation symbol with a radioactive warning and shall be constructed of a long lasting material such as monel, stainless steel, or brass. This marker shall bear the following information: well name, permit number, surface location, name of the operator, the source of material abandoned in the well, the total well depth, depth at which the source is abandoned, plug-back depth, the date of the abandonment of the source, the activity of the source, and a warning not to drill below the plug-back depth.

(7) If an operator desires to reenter, convert, recomplete, or rework a well in which a radioactive source used for logging is present, the applicant operator must have his plan of operation approved by the Supervisor and any other agency that has jurisdiction before such reentry, conversion, recompletion, and reworking application is granted.

Author: State Oil and Gas Board

Ala. Admin. Code r. 400-3-4-.05

Filed August 7, 1984. Amended: Filed May 4, 1990. Repealed and New Rule: Filed April 11, 2000; effective May 16, 2000.

See history note at end of chapter.

Statutory Authority:Code of Ala. 1975, §§ 9-17-1, etseq.