Kan. Admin. Regs. § 28-35-362

Current through Register Vol. 43, No. 49, December 5, 2024

Section 28-35-362 - Notification of incidents, abandonment, and lost sources

(a) Each licensee shall notify the department of any incidents and any sources lost in other than downhole logging operations in accordance with K.A.R.28-35-184b, 28-35-228a, 28-35-229a and 28-35-230a.

(b) Whenever a sealed source or device containing radioactive material is lodged downhole, the licensee shall monitor at the surface for the presence of radioactive contamination with a radiation survey instrument or logging tool during logging tool recovery operations.

(c) If the licensee knows or has reason to believe that a sealed source has been ruptured, the licensee shall notify the department immediately by telephone and subsequently, within 30 days, by confirmatory written report. This written report shall identify the well or other location, describe the magnitude and extent of the escape of radioactive material, assess the consequences of the rupture, and explain efforts planned or being taken to mitigate these consequences.

(d) If it becomes apparent that efforts to recover the radioactive source will not be successful, the licensee shall meet the following requirements:

(1) The licensee shall advise the well operator of the following requirements regarding the method of abandonment:

(A) The well operator shall immobilize and seal the radioactive source in place with a cement plug.

(B) The well operator shall set in place a whipstock or other deflection device.

(C) The well operator shall mount a permanent identification plaque at the surface of the well, containing the appropriate information required by this regulation.

(2) The licensee shall notify the department by telephone, giving the circumstances of the loss, and request approval of the proposed abandonment procedures.

(3) The licensee shall file a written report with the department within 30 days of the abandonment, providing the following information:

(A) The date of occurrence and a brief description of attempts to recover the source;

(B) a description of the radioactive source involved, including the radionuclide, quantity, and chemical and physical form;

(C) a description of the surface location and identification of the well;

(D) the results of efforts to immobilize and set the source in place;

(E) the depth of the radioactive source;

(F) the depth of the top of the cement plug;

(G) the depth of the well; and

(H) the information contained on the permanent identification plaque.

(e) Whenever a sealed source containing radioactive material is abandoned downhole, the licensee shall provide a permanent plaque on the well or well-bore. The plaque shall meet the following requirements:

(1) Be constructed of long-lasting material, which may include stainless steel or Monel metal; and

(2) contain the following information engraved on its face:

(A) The word "CAUTION";

(B) the radiation symbol, without the conventional color requirement;

(C) the date of abandonment;

(D) the name of the well operator or well owner;

(E) the well name and the well identification number or numbers or other designation;

(F) a description of the sealed source or sources, by ra-dionuclide and quantity of activity;

(G) the source depth and the depth to the top of the plug; and

(H) an appropriate warning that, depending on the specific circumstances of that abandonment, shall include one of the following:

(i) "Do not drill below plug back depth";

(ii) "do not enlarge casing"; or

(iii) "do not reenter the hole before contacting the Kansas department of health and environment radiation control program"; and

(3) be at least seven inches square. The word "CAUTION" shall be written in 1/2-inch letters and all other information shall be written in 1/4-inch letters.

(f) If the licensee knows or has reason to believe that radioactive material has been lost in or to an underground potable water source, the licensee shall immediately notify the department by telephone and subsequently, within 30 days, by confirmatory letter. The notice shall designate the well location and shall describe the magnitude and extent of loss of radioactive material, assess the consequences of the loss, and explain efforts planned or being taken to mitigate these consequences.

Kan. Admin. Regs. § 28-35-362

Authorized by and implementing K.S.A. 48-1607; effective Sept. 20, 1993; amended Nov. 1, 1996; amended by Kansas Register Volume 37, No. 16; effective 5/4/2018.