Ala. Admin. Code r. 400-5-11-.01

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

Section 400-5-11-.01 - Requirements For Wells Drilled Through A Storage Area

All wells drilled through the storage reservoir within a storage area for any purpose other than storage shall comply with the following casing program:

(1) All surface and intermediate strings shall be centralized through the interval to be cemented. Casing and cementing programs shall comply with appropriate provisions of Rule 400-1-4-.09 or 400-2-4-.09, whichever is applicable except as specifically provided below or otherwise approved by the Supervisor.

(a) Surface casing shall be cemented with a minimum of one hundred fifty percent (150%) excess over the calculated annular volume needed to circulate cement to the surface.

(b) If the surface casing setting depth is below the lowermost underground source of drinking water, an intermediate casing string shall be set approximately one hundred (100) feet below the base of the storage reservoir and cemented with sufficient volume of cement to fill the calculated annular space to a point five hundred (500) feet above the top of the storage reservoir, otherwise the casing string shall be cemented to the surface.

(c) All surface and intermediate casing shall meet American Petroleum Institute standards for the pressures to be encountered and shall be new casing or reconditioned casing of new quality.

(d) The top of cement and the effectiveness of the seal of the cement used to anchor the intermediate casing shall be verified by cement bond log, cement evaluation log or other logs approved by the Supervisor.

(2) All casing strings shall be tested in accordance with Rule 400-1-4-.09 or 400-2-4-.09, whichever is applicable.

(3) All tests and logs required by this section shall be prepared and supervised by a qualified engineer or geologist and a report of test results and copies of logs shall be filed with the Board within thirty (30) days of date of test or log.

(4) No well shall be drilled through a storage reservoir or its stratigraphic equivalent within a storage area except after notice and hearing before the State Oil and Gas Board.

Author: State Oil And Gas Board

Ala. Admin. Code r. 400-5-11-.01

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

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