Ala. Admin. Code r. 400-6-7-.01

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

Section 400-6-7-.01 - Casing Requirements For Newly Drilled Wells

All wells drilled for the purpose of underground storage in solution-mined underground storage cavities shall comply with the following requirements unless otherwise approved by the Board:

(1) All casing strings shall be centralized throughout 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:

(a) Surface casing shall be cemented with a minimum of one hundred fifty percent (150%) of the calculated annular volume to circulate cement to the surface, unless the surface casing is driven to setting depth.

(b) Each storage well shall be completed with a double string of casing into the salt, one casing string being an intermediate string, the other being the gas production casing string.

(c) The intermediate and gas production casing strings shall have adequate tensile and collapse strengths for the setting depths. These strings shall be cemented from casing seats (bottom of casing) set into the salt to ground surface. Cement slurries shall be compatible with the salt formation and cement shall be placed by the inner-string displacement method. The intermediate and production casing cement jobs shall be documented by affidavits from the cementing company showing the amount and type of cementing materials and the method of placement. All cementing and service reports shall be filed with the Board.

(d) All casing used in storage wells shall meet American Petroleum Institute standards for the pressures to be encountered and shall be new casing or reconditioned casing of new quality.

(e) If the casing string is to be welded, it shall be of a weldable grade. Records of inspections of welds on each casing string in a storage well shall be retained by the storage operator and made available, upon request, for inspection by the Supervisor.

Author: State Oil And Gas Board

Ala. Admin. Code r. 400-6-7-.01

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

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