Ala. Admin. Code r. 400-1-4-.14

Current through Register Vol. 43, No. 1, October 31, 2024

Section 400-1-4-.14 - Plugging And Abandonment Of Wells

Any nonproductive well shall be plugged within thirty (30) days of completion unless said well has been classified as temporarily abandoned or shut in pursuant to Rule 400-1-4-.17. Any productive well that has not produced in six (6) months or any Class II injection well or underground reservoir storage well that has ceased operation for six (6) months shall be plugged within thirty (30) days unless said well has been classified as temporarily abandoned or shut in pursuant to Rule 400-1-4-.17. Before any work is commenced to plug and abandon any well drilled in search of oil and gas or utilized as a Class II injection well or utilized as an underground reservoir storage well the operator shall provide the Supervisor with the proposed method and procedure to plug and abandon such well. Such method and procedure may be required in writing by the Supervisor. Also, the Supervisor may require that well records, including logs, be made available to determine if the proposed depths and lengths of plugs are adequate. Operations to plug and abandon a well shall not begin until approval of procedures has been obtained from the Supervisor. Unless otherwise allowed by the Supervisor, the operator shall notify the Supervisor at least twenty-four (24) hours prior to the commencement of plugging operations so that said operation may be witnessed by an agent of the Board. The cement in all plugs shall meet American Petroleum Institute (API) standards and shall be mixed with water of adequate quality so as not to degrade the setting properties. Unless specified otherwise by the Supervisor, the operator shall comply with the following requirements which apply to all wells drilled in search of oil and gas or utilized as Class II injection wells or underground reservoir storage wells.

(1) A cement plug shall be placed across each hydrocarbon-bearing, abnormally pressured, or injection zone or a permanent-type bridge plug shall be placed at the top of each hydrocarbon-bearing zone or injection zone, but in either event a cement plug at least two hundred (200) feet in length shall be placed immediately above the uppermost hydrocarbon-bearing or injection zone.

(2) When the base of fresh water is penetrated, a cement plug at least two hundred (200) feet in length shall be placed at least fifty (50) feet below and shall extend to at least one hundred fifty (150) feet above the base of fresh water. A cement plug may be required in the casing-borehole annulus if fresh water is not adequately protected by casing and cement.

(3) A cement plug at least two hundred (200) feet in length shall be placed at least fifty (50) feet below and shall extend to at least one hundred fifty (150) feet above the surface casing shoe. A cement plug may be required in the annular space adjacent to the base of surface casing if needed to provide for increased protection of fresh water.

(4) A cement plug at least twenty-five (25) feet in length shall be placed inside the smallest string of casing and in all annular spaces near the surface of the ground in each hole plugged, and casing(s) cut in such a manner so as not to interfere with soil cultivation, and a steel plate at least one-quarter (1/4) inch in thickness shall be welded to the casing stub(s).

(5) The Supervisor may require verification of plugs by tagging and pressure testing.

(6) The interval between plugs shall be filled with an approved fluid.

(7) Other plugging methods and procedures may be required by the Supervisor.

(8) Restoration of location shall be done in accordance with Rule 400-1-4-.16.

Author: State Oil and Gas Board

Ala. Admin. Code r. 400-1-4-.14

New Rule: Filed April 11, 2000; effective May 16, 2000.

Statutory Authority:Code of Ala. 1975, §§ 9-17-1, etseq.