S.D. Admin. R. 74:12:03:02

Current through Register Vol. 51, page 67, December 16, 2024

Section 74:12:03:02 - Secretary to approve method of plugging

Before a well is abandoned, it must be plugged in a manner that will permanently confine all oil, gas, water, and other fluids to the strata in which they originally occurred. Plugging requirements may vary from area to area depending on geological characteristics. Variations in procedure may be used only after approval of the secretary. Plugging must conform to the following requirements:

(1) The method of placing cement in the hole must be proposed by the operator and approved by the secretary;

(2) No substance other than that normally used in drilling or plugging operations may be placed in any well at any time before or during plugging operations;

(3) The interval between all cement plugs must be filled with a heavy mud-laden fluid approved by the secretary;

(4) Cement plugs must be placed in all oil, gas, and injection wells as follows:

(a) Wells without production casing:

(i) All aquifers, salt zones, and fluid-bearing formations must be sealed or separated with individual cement plugs, circulated to fill at least 100 feet of hole. Each individual cement plug must be at least 50 feet above the top of these formations, as specified by the secretary;

(ii) Cement must be circulated to fill at least a 100-foot interval, of which at least 50 feet must be above the shoe of the surface casing; and

(iii) A cement plug of 25 feet must be set at the surface;

(b) Wells with production casing:

(i) All perforations must be isolated, either by squeeze cementing or placing a cast iron bridge plug, with a minimum of 20 feet of cement, above the perforations. A bridge plug may not be set in any well at a depth where the pressure or temperature exceeds the ratings recommended by the bridge plug manufacturer;

(ii) The operator may leave the production casing in place, but must demonstrate that the casing exhibits mechanical integrity in a manner prescribed by the secretary. If the casing fails a mechanical integrity test, the secretary may require additional perforating and squeeze cementing or the placing of balanced cement plugs inside the casing. If it is determined that any formations identified in subsection 74:12:03:02(4)(a) were not sealed or separated when the production casing was cemented, the secretary may also require additional perforating and squeeze cementing. The secretary may also require the production casing to be perforated at the depth of the shoe of the surface casing and that cement be squeezed or circulated through the perforations; and

(iii) The operator may attempt to pull the production casing. After the retrievable part of the production casing has been removed, cement must be circulated to fill at least a 100-foot interval, of which at least 50 feet must be inside the casing stub. If reentry into the casing stub is not possible, the secretary shall determine the placement of the cement plug. The remainder of the hole must be plugged in the manner prescribed in subsection 74:12:03:02(4)(a);

(c) Conversion of a well to a water well:

(i) If a test hole may safely be used by the landowner as a potential freshwater well, the operator must follow the plugging procedures in this section to the base of the objective freshwater strata, if applicable. The surface owner must give a signed release to the operator before the conversion is made; and

(ii) The well must then be constructed to meet specifications established in article 74:02.

S.D. Admin. R. 74:12:03:02

38 SDR 117, effective 1/12/2012.

General Authority: SDCL 45-9-11, 45-9-13.

Law Implemented: SDCL 45-9-11, 45-9-15.