N.M. Admin. Code § 19.11.4.16

Current through Register Vol. 35, No. 23, December 10, 2024

Section 19.11.4.16 - PLUGGING AND ABANDONMENT

A. Prior to plugging and abandoning a geothermal well, the permittee shall file with the division an application for permission to abandon and plug a geothermal well. The application shall be accompanied by a detailed statement of the proposed activity. This condition applies only to wells that have not received plugging and abandoning approvals in a well or facility permit.

B. The following provisions apply to the abandonment of an exploration or observation well.

(1) If the well was drilled with air and no water was encountered, the permittee shall backfill the hole with cuttings and place a cement plug of 50 linear feet at the top of the well.

(2) If the well was drilled with mud or drilled with air and water was encountered, the permittee shall fill the bore with mud and place a cement plug 50 linear feet at the top of the well.

(3) The permittee shall restore the surface to near original condition including the restoration of native vegetation.

C. The following provisions apply to the abandonment of a geothermal production or injection well.

(1) Except for cement used for surface plugging, the permittee shall plug the well by pumping cement in the hole through the drill pipe or tubing. The cement shall consist of a mix that resists high temperatures.

(2) The permittee shall place cement plugs in the uncased portion of wells to protect all subsurface resources. These plugs shall extend a minimum of 100 lineal feet above the producing zones and 100 lineal feet below the producing zones or to the total depth drilled, whichever is less. The permittee shall place cement plugs to isolate formations and to protect the fluids in those formations from interzonal migration.

(3) Where there is an open hole, the permittee shall place a cement plug in the deepest casing string by:

(a) placing a cement plug across the guide shoe extending a minimum of 100 lineal feet above and below the guide shoe, or to the total depth drilled, whichever is less; or

(b) setting a cement retainer with effective control of back pressure approximately 100 lineal feet above the guide shoe, with at least 200 lineal feet of cement below, or to the total depth drilled, whichever is less, and 100 lineal feet of cement above the retainer.

(4) If there is a loss of drilling fluids into the formation or such a loss is anticipated or if the well has been drilled with air or another gaseous substance, a permanent bridge plug shall be set at the casing shoe and capped with a minimum of 200 lineal feet of cement.

(5) The permittee shall place a cement plug across perforations, extending 100 lineal feet below, or to the total depth drilled, whichever is less, and 100 lineal feet above the perforations. When the permittee uses a cement retainer to squeeze cement into or across the perforations, the permittee shall set the retainer a minimum of 100 lineal feet above the perforations. Where the casing contains perforations at or below debris or collapsed casing, which prevents cleaning, the permittee shall set a cement retainer at least 100 lineal feet above that point and squeeze cement in the interval below the retainer.

(6) The permittee shall obtain the division's approval before casing is cut and recovered. The permittee shall place a cement plug in such a manner as to isolate all uncased intervals and guide shoes that are not protected by an inner string of casing. The plug shall extend a minimum of 50 feet above and below any such interval or guide shoe.

(7) In the case of a well not constructed with cement in the annulus running the full length of each casing, the permittee shall plug all annular spaces extending to the surface with cement.

(8) The permittee shall cement the innermost string of casing that reaches ground level to a minimum depth of 50 feet below the top of the casing.

(9) The permittee shall verify the hardness and location of cement plugs placed across perforated intervals and at the top of uncased or open holes by setting down with tubing or drill pipe a minimum weight of 15,000 pounds on the plug or, if less than 15,000 pounds, the maximum weight of the available tubing or drill pipe string. If the permittee uses a cement retainer or bridge plug to set the bottom plug, a test is not required for that interval.

(10) The permittee shall fill any interval that is not filled with cement with good quality, heavy drilling fluids.

(11) All casing strings shall be cut off below ground level and capped by welding a steel plate on the casing stub. The steel plate shall include a corrosion resistant marking that identifies the well name or number. The permittee shall remove all structures and other facilities.

(12) The permittee shall restore the surface to near original condition including the restoration of native vegetation.

N.M. Admin. Code § 19.11.4.16

Adopted by New Mexico Register, Volume XXIX, Issue 04, February 27, 2018, eff. 2/27/2018