Ala. Admin. Code r. 400-3-4-.09

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

Section 400-3-4-.09 - Casing, Cementing, And Test Pressure Requirements

(1) The operator shall case and cement all wells with a sufficient number of strings in a manner necessary to:

(a) prevent communication between separate hydrocarbon-bearing strata (except such strata approved for commingling) and between hydrocarbon and water-bearing strata;

(b) prevent contamination of freshwater-bearing strata;

(c) support unconsolidated sediments; and

(d) otherwise provide a means of controlling formation pressures and fluids.

(2) The operator shall install casing that meets American Petroleum Institute (API) standards. Standard cement shall be used and shall be mixed with water of adequate quality so as not to degrade the setting properties. Safety factors in casing program design shall be of sufficient magnitude to provide optimum well control while drilling and to assure safe operations for the life of the well.

(a) Surface Casing. The minimum amount of surface casing to be set below ground level, the cement requirements and the test pressure requirements shall be determined from Table 1.

TABLE 1

Proposed True Vertical Minimum Casing

Depth (TVD) (ft) Required (ft) Cement required Surface test-pressure (psi)

0 - 4,000 300 Circulate to surface 300

4,001 - 5,000 400 Circulate to surface 600

5,001 - 6,000 600 Circulate to surface 800

6,001 - 7,000 800 Circulate to surface 1,000

7,001 - 8,000 1,000 Circulate to surface 1,000

8,001 - 9,000 1,400 Circulate to surface 1,000

Greater than 9,000 1,800 Circulate to surface 1,500

The Supervisor may specify surface casing requirements other than those set forth in Table 1 if such requirements are needed to provide for increased protection of freshwater resources.

(b) Production Casing. All producing wells shall be completed with a production string of casing that shall be properly cemented at a sufficient depth adequate to protect the methane bearing coalbeds.

1. For cased hole completions or cased/open hole completions, casing shall be cemented in place with a calculated volume of cement sufficient to fill the annular space at least two hundred (200) feet above the top of the uppermost coalbed which is to be completed, except that the annular space adjacent to a coalbed or coalbeds may be left uncemented.

2. For open hole completions, the bottom of production casing shall be set not more than one hundred (100) feet above the depth of the uppermost coalbed which the operator intends to complete, unless prior approval is granted by the Supervisor. The casing shall be cemented with a calculated volume of cement sufficient to fill the annular space at least two hundred (200) feet above the base of the casing.

(c) The Supervisor may approve an alternative casing program upon written justification by the operator.

(3) If there are indications of inadequate primary cementing (such as lost returns, cement channeling, or mechanical failure of equipment) of the surface or production casing strings, the operator shall evaluate the adequacy of the cementing operations by pressure testing the casing shoe, running a cement bond log or a cement evaluation tool log, running a temperature survey, or a combination thereof before continuing operations. If the evaluation indicates inadequate cementing, the operator shall re-cement or take other actions as approved by the Supervisor. The operator shall verify the adequacy of the remedial cementing operations as described above.

(4) Pressure Testing. An operator shall give notice to the Supervisor prior to pressure testing.

(a) After primary cementing of surface casing, drilling shall not be resumed until a time lapse of twelve (12) hours under pressure. Cement is considered under pressure when one or more float valves are employed and are shown to be holding the cement in place or when other means of holding pressure are used. After cementing and prior to drilling the plug, surface casing shall be pressure tested as set forth in Table 1 above. All pressure tests are to be held for thirty (30) minutes. If during this test period the pressure declines more than ten percent (10%) of the initial test pressure, then such corrective measures shall be taken to insure that the casing string is so set and cemented that it will hold the test pressure for thirty (30) minutes without a drop of more than ten percent (10%).

(b) Upon conclusion of the drilling of the well, or prior to the setting of production casing, the surface casing shall be re-tested in accordance with Rule 400-3-4-.09(2)(a) in order to verify the integrity of the casing string. This requirement will not apply if the well is permitted to be drilled to a total depth of less than six thousand (6,000) feet and no problems are encountered during the drilling of such well that would require a retest to verify the mechanical integrity of its surface casing string.

(c) After primary cementing of production casing, drilling shall not resume until a time lapse of twelve (12) hours under pressure. Cement is considered under pressure when one or more float valves are employed and are shown to be holding the cement in place or when other means of holding pressure are used. After cementing and prior to drilling the plug, production casing shall be pressure tested at a pressure of six hundred (600) pounds per square inch (psi), if the plug is to be drilled. All pressure tests are to be held for thirty (30) minutes. If during this test period the pressure declines more than ten percent (10%) of the initial test pressure, then corrective measures shall be taken to insure that the casing string is so set and cemented that it will hold the test pressure for thirty (30) minutes without a drop of more than ten percent (10%) unless otherwise approved by the Supervisor.

(5) Recording Test Pressures.

(a) Proper documentation of pressure tests, including beginning and ending pressures and the duration of each test shall be recorded in a daily drilling report.

(b) Unless witnessed by an agent of the Board, all pressure tests and retests shall be documented with a properly calibrated continuous pressure recorder or other pressure recording device acceptable to the Supervisor. A representative of the operator shall sign the pressure test record(s) following completion of each pressure test.

(c) The operator shall maintain all pressure test records at the well site during drilling operations. Such records shall be made available for inspection upon request.

(d) The operator shall maintain all pressure test records for a minimum of three (3) years from the date such pressure tests were conducted.

(6) Reporting Test Pressures. The operator shall report casing pressure tests on Form OGB-7.

Author: State Oil and Gas Board

Ala. Admin. Code r. 400-3-4-.09

New Rule: Filed April 11, 2000; effective May 16, 2000.

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