Ala. Admin. Code r. 400-3-4-.14

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

Section 400-3-4-.14 - Plugging And Abandonment Of Wells

Any nonproductive well shall be plugged within thirty (30) days of completion unless said well has been classified as temporarily abandoned or shut in pursuant to Rule 400-3-4-.17. Any productive well that has not produced in six (6) months or any Class II injection well that has ceased operation for six (6) months shall be plugged within thirty (30) days unless said well has been classified as temporarily abandoned or shut in pursuant to Rule 400-3-4-.17. Before any work is commenced to plug and abandon any well drilled in search of oil and gas or utilized as a Class II injection well the operator shall provide the Supervisor with the proposed method and procedure to plug and abandon such well. Such method and procedure may be required in writing by the Supervisor. Also, the Supervisor may require that well records, including logs, be made available to determine if the proposed depths and lengths of plugs are adequate. Operations to plug and abandon a well shall not begin until approval of procedures has been obtained from the Supervisor. Unless otherwise allowed by the Supervisor, the operator shall notify the Supervisor at least twenty-four (24) hours prior to the commencement of plugging operations so that said operation may be witnessed by an agent of the Board. The cement in all plugs shall be standard cement and shall be mixed with water of adequate quality so as not to degrade the setting properties. Unless specified otherwise by the Supervisor, the operator shall comply with the following requirements which apply to all wells drilled in search of coalbed methane gas or utilized as Class II injection wells.

(1) Open Hole Completions.

(a) Uncompleted Wells. A cement, concrete, or grout plug at least one hundred (100) feet in length shall be placed across the surface casing shoe.

(b) Wells Without Production Casing. A cement, concrete, or grout plug at least one hundred (100) feet in length shall be placed above the uppermost producing coalbed or injection zone.

(c) Wells With Production Casing. A cement, concrete, or grout plug at least one hundred (100) feet in length shall be placed at least fifty (50) feet below and shall extend to at least fifty (50) feet above the production casing shoe.

(2) Cased Hole Completions.

(a) Perforated Wells. A perforated well shall be plugged by one of the following methods:

1. A permanent-type bridge plug shall be placed above the uppermost perforation or injection zone and a cement, concrete or grout plug not less than one hundred (100) feet in length shall be placed atop the bridge plug.

2. A permanent-type bridge plug shall be placed above the uppermost perforation or injection zone and at least fifty (50) feet below the surface casing shoe, and the well shall be filled from the bridge plug to land surface with cement, concrete, or grout.

(b) Unperforated Wells. An unperforated well shall be plugged by one of the following methods:

1. If records indicate production casing has been cemented, a permanent-type bridge plug shall be placed inside production casing at a depth of at least two hundred (200) feet, and the well shall be filled from the bridge plug to land surface with cement, concrete, or grout.

2. If records do not indicate production casing has been cemented, freshwater shall be pumped into the well to establish circulation, whenever possible. The amount of cement calculated to fill the production casing and its annulus shall, whenever possible, be pumped down that casing. After a minimum of twenty-four (24) hours, the top of the cement in the casing shall be verified by tagging or pressure testing.

3. Other plugs consisting of cement, concrete or grout shall be set if deemed necessary by the Supervisor.

(3) When the base of fresh water is penetrated, a cement, concrete, or grout plug at least two hundred (200) feet in length shall be placed at least fifty (50) feet below and shall extend to at least one hundred fifty (150) feet above the base of fresh water. A cement, concrete, or grout plug may be required in the casing-borehole annulus if fresh water is not adequately protected by casing and cement, concrete, or grout.

(4) A cement, concrete, or grout plug at least twenty-five (25) feet in length shall be placed inside the smallest string of casing and in all annular spaces near the surface of the ground in each hole plugged, and casing(s) cut in such a manner so as not to interfere with soil cultivation, and a steel plate at least one-quarter (1/4) inch in thickness shall be welded to the casing stub(s).

(5) The Supervisor may require verification of plugs by tagging and pressure testing.

(6) The interval between plugs shall be filled with an approved fluid.

(7) Other plugging methods and procedures may be required by the Supervisor.

(8) Restoration of location shall be done in accordance with Rule 400-3-4-.16.

Author: State Oil and Gas Board

Ala. Admin. Code r. 400-3-4-.14

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

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