La. Admin. Code tit. 43 § XVII-631

Current through Register Vol. 50, No. 11, November 20, 2024

Section XVII-631 - Plugging and Abandonment

A. Well Plugging and Abandonment.

1. A Class VI permit shall include conditions that meet the requirements set forth in this subsection and shall be incorporated into the permit as a permit condition. For purposes of this subsection, temporary or intermittent cessation of injection operations is not abandonment.

2. Before well plugging, the owner or operator must flush each Class VI well with a buffer fluid, determine bottomhole reservoir pressure, and perform a final external mechanical integrity test.

3. Well Plugging Plan. The owner or operator of a Class VI well must prepare, maintain, and comply with a plan acceptable to the commissioner. The requirement to maintain and implement an approved plan is directly enforceable regardless of whether the requirement is a condition of the permit. The well plugging plan must be submitted as part of the permit application, must be designed in a way that will prevent the movement of fluids into or between USDWs or outside the injection zone, and must include the following minimum information:

a. appropriate tests or measures for determining bottomhole reservoir pressure;

b. appropriate testing methods to ensure external mechanical integrity as specified in §627;

c. a description of the size and amount of casing, tubing, or any other well construction materials to be removed from the well before well closure;

d. that prior to the placement of plugs, the well shall be in a state of static equilibrium with the mud weight equalized top to bottom, either by circulating the mud in the well at least once or by a comparable method;

e. the type and number of plugs to be used;

f. the placement of each plug, including the elevation of the top and bottom of each plug;

g. the type, grade, yield, and quantity of material, such as cement, to be used in plugging. The material must be compatible with the carbon dioxide stream;

h. the method of placement of the plugs;

i. pre-closure and proposed post-closure well schematics;

j. that each plug shall be appropriately tagged and tested for seal and stability;

k. that the well casings shall be cut at least five feet below ground surface for land-based wells, and at least 15 feet below the mud line for wells at a water location.

l. that upon successful completion of well closure of a land-based well, a one-half (1/2) inch steel plate shall be welded across all casings and inscribed with the wells state serial number and date plugged and abandoned, and

m. any addition information that the commissioner may require.

4. Notice of Intent to Plug. The owner or operator must submit the Form UIC-17, or successor form, to the commissioner and receive written approval from the commissioner before beginning actual well plugging operations. The form must contain information on the procedures to be used in the field to plug and abandon the well.

5. Well Closure Report. The owner or operator shall submit a closure report to the commissioner within 30 days after well plug and abandonment. The report shall be certified as accurate by the owner or operator and by the person charged with overseeing the closure operation (if other than the owner or operator). The owner or operator shall retain the well closure report at least 10 years following site closure. The report shall contain the following information:

a. detailed procedures of the closure operation. Where actual closure differed from the approved plan, the report shall include a written statement specifying the differences between the previous plan and the actual closure;

b. all state regulatory reporting forms relating to the closure activity; and

c. any information pertinent to the closure activity including schematics, tests, or monitoring data.

La. Admin. Code tit. 43, § XVII-631

Promulgated by the Department of Natural Resources, Office of Conservation, LR 4777 (1/1/2021).

AUTHORITY NOTE: Promulgated in accordance with R.S. 30:4 et seq., 30:22 et seq., and 30:1101 et seq.