N.Y. Comp. Codes R. & Regs. tit. 6 § 554.4

Current through Register Vol. 46, No. 50, December 11, 2024

Section 554.4 - Rotary tool drilling practices

(a) On all wells where rotary tools are employed, and the subsurface formations and pressures to be encountered have been reasonably well established by prior drilling experience, the operator shall have the option of either running surface casing as provided in section 554.1(b) of this Part or of cementing the production casing from below the deepest potable fresh water level to the surface. In areas where the subsurface formations and pressures to be encountered are unknown or uncertain, surface casing shall be run as provided in section 554.1(b) of this Part.

(b) When surface casing is utilized, it shall be cemented by the pump and plug or displacement method with sufficient cement to circulate to the top of the hole. Drilling shall not be resumed until the cement has been permitted to set in accordance with prudent current industry practices.

(c) In areas where the subsurface formations and pressures have been reasonably well established by prior drilling experience, the use of blowout equipment shall be in accordance with the established local practice. In areas where the subsurface formations and pressures are unknown or uncertain, all rotary drilled wells shall be equipped with blowout equipment maintained in good working condition at all times as follows:

(1) a master gate valve or its equivalent;

(2) a blowout preventer;

(3) a flowline equipped with a shutoff valve of adequate size and working pressure.

(d) If it is elected to complete a rotary-drilled well and production casing is run, it shall be cemented by a pump and plug or displacement method with sufficient cement to circulate above the top of the completion zone to a height sufficient to prevent any movement of oil or gas or other fluids around the exterior of the production casing. In such instance, operations shall be suspended until the cement has been permitted to set in accordance with prudent current industry practices.

N.Y. Comp. Codes R. & Regs. Tit. 6 § 554.4