Section 267-3-028 - PLUGGINGThe requirements for plugging a well shall be as follows:
028.01 A dry or abandoned well must be plugged in such a manner that oil, gas, water or other substance shall be confined to the reservoir in which it originally occurred. The material used in plugging, whether mud-laden fluid, cement, mechanical plug or some other suitable material, must be placed in the well in a manner to permanently prevent migration of oil, gas, water or other substance from the formation or horizon in which it originally occurred.028.02 The operator shall have the option as to the method of placing cement in the hole by (1) dump bailer, (2) pumping through tubing or drill pipe, (3) pump and plug or (4) other method approved by the Director or authorized deputy.028.03 No substance of any nature or description other than that normally used in plugging operations shall be placed in any well at any time during plugging operations.028.04 In order to protect the fresh water strata, no surface casing shall be pulled from any well unless authorized by the Director.028.05 Before a dry hole is plugged, the operator shall notify the office of the Director or his authorized deputy.028.06 Before a producing well, or any well with production casing in the hole, is plugged, the operator shall notify the office of the Director by submitting Form 4, "Sundry Notices." Operator shall fully describe the proposed plugging and abandonment procedure on said form and shall set out the volume and position of each plug to be placed in the hole and the manner in which said plug will be positioned. A fee, paid in advance, of one hundred dollars ($100) and payable to the Nebraska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission must be remitted with each Form 4 which gives notice of operator's intention to abandon a well with production casing in the hole.028.07 Operations must commence to plug and abandon each well with-in one year of the date of the Director's approved Form 4 or the operator must reapply. Any well that is not plugged and abandoned with-in one year will be considered to have a status of shut-in.028.08 Following abandonment, working pits, reserve pits and/or burn pits shall be backfilled, pads leveled, debris removed or buried and land restored to the reasonable satisfaction of the Director.267 Neb. Admin. Code, ch. 3, § 028
Amended effective 4/3/2017.