Or. Admin. Code § 632-020-0125

Current through Register Vol. 63, No. 12, December 1, 2024

Section 632-020-0125 - Proper Completion, Plugging, and Decommissioning

(1) A well is properly completed when the well and casing has been installed in accordance with the well drilling permit and master valves and well control equipment have been installed, and well is secured.

(2) Proper completion and decommissioning requires adequate protection of the environment and of aesthetic qualities of the surface in the area of operation.

(3) A geothermal well or prospect well is considered properly plugged and decommissioned, for the purpose of this chapter, when the conditions of ORS 522.005 to 522.990 and these rules are fulfilled and the person has shown to the satisfaction of the department that all proper steps have been taken to protect groundwater and surface water from contamination resulting from the drilling or drilling related activities and to prevent the comingling of fluids between zones or to surface.

(4) A well or hole must be plugged and all related disturbance must be reclaimed in accordance with these rules as soon as practical. A hole may not be left unplugged for longer than 30 days from the completion of operations without prior written approval from the department.

(5) The drilling or operation of a well can be suspended only as provided in ORS 522.215.

(6) Plugging Methods and Procedure, Geothermal Wells or Prospect Wells.

(a)The well must be filled with mud-laden fluid from bottom to top consisting of mud weighing 15.0 pounds per gallon of not less than a viscosity of 36 (API Full Funnel Method), with the exception of intervals required to be plugged with cement. Other fluids may be used upon approval of the department.

(b) At the top of each producing formation, or fluid zone at greater than hydrostatic pressure, a cement plug must be placed which extends either from the bottom of the well or from a point at least 50 feet below the top of each such producing formation or fluid zone to a point at least 50 feet above each producing formation or fluid zone.

(c) If a well is uncased through a freshwater zone, a cement plug must extend from at least 50 feet below the bottom of the water-bearing zone to at least 50 feet above the water zone.

(d) If the surface string of casing is set below the deepest freshwater-bearing formation, and the well is uncased below this point, a cement plug must be placed in the well extending from a point at least 50 feet below the base of the surface casing and at least 50 feet into the bottom of the casing.

(e) In wells where artesian water is encountered, the well must be plugged with cement from bottom to top, unless otherwise approved by the department.

(f) The top of all casing strings must be cut off at least 4 feet below ground surface in such a manner as not to interfere with soil cultivation and casing and all annuli must be plugged with cement to a depth of at least ten feet.

(g) Cement grout used as a sealing material must be placed or forced upward from the bottom of the hole in one continuous operation without significant interruption. If temporary outer surface casing is used in the construction of the hole, it must be withdrawn as the grout is placed.

(7) The operator must provide sumps of adequate capacity and design to retain all fluid material during drilling and other operations.

(8) The affected surface lands must be restored to a pre-exploration and/or beneficial use acceptable to the department, after consultation with the surface owner. Reclamation activities may include, but are not limited to replanting or reseeding of affected land for return to secondary beneficial use that is compatible with the land-use designation.

(9) Affidavit on completion: Within 45 days after a Geothermal Well or Prospect well is plugged, the operator must file a written statement with the department certifying that the well was properly plugged and decommissioned.

(10) Wells Used for Fresh Water:

(a) When the well to be decommissioned may safely be used as a freshwater well and this use is desired by the land owner, the well need not be filled above the required sealing plug set below fresh water, provided authorization for use of any such well is first obtained from the Water Resources Department;

(b) Application for leaving the well partially unplugged as a freshwater well must be made to the department by the land owner, accompanied by his affidavit as to his need of water and the intended use of the well, together with a copy of the Water Resources Department's order or permit authorizing such use; and

(c) The operator must leave the fresh water well in a condition approved by the department.

Or. Admin. Code § 632-020-0125

GMI 4, f. 7-20-72, ef. 8-1-72; GMI 4-1980, f. & ef. 10-2-80; GMI 1-1983, f. & ef. 9-30-83; GMI 2-1995, f. & cert. ef. 3-10-95; DGMI 2-1999, f. & cert. ef. 8-30-99; DGMI 1-2010, f. & cert. ef. 6-22-10; DGMI 3-2013, f. & cert. ef. 3-21-13

Stat. Auth.: ORS 522

Stats. Implemented: ORS 522.175, 522.305 & 522.245