Section R649-3-33 - Drilling Procedures in the Great Salt Lake1. For any drilling activities proposed within the Great Salt Lake, the APD required by Subsection R649-3-4 shall be filed at least 30 days prior to the date on which the operator intends to commence operations. As part of the APD, the operator shall include:1.1. The name of the drilling contractor and the number and type of rig to be used.1.2. An illustration of the boundaries of any state or federal parks, wildlife refuges, or waterfowl management areas within one mile of the proposed well location.1.3. An illustration of the locations of any evaporation pits, producing wells, structures, buildings, and platforms within one mile of the proposed well location.1.4. An oil spill emergency contingency plan.2. Unless permitted by the board after notice and hearing, no well shall be drilled that has a surface location:2.1. Within 1,320 feet from an evaporation pit without the consent of the operator of such pit.2.2. Within one mile from the boundary of a state or federal park, wildlife refuge, or waterfowl management area without the consent of the appropriate state or federal regulatory agency.2.3. Within three miles of Gunnison Island during the Pelican nesting season (March 15 through September 30) or within one mile from said island at any other time.2.4. Within any area south of the Salt Lake Base Meridian Line.2.5. Within any area north of Township 10 North.2.6. Within one mile inside of what would be the water's edge if the water level of the Great Salt Lake were at the elevation of 4,193.3 feet above sea level.3. Well casing and cementing shall be subject to the following special requirements for the purpose of this rule, the several casing strings in order of normal installation are drive or structural casing, conductor casing, surface casing, intermediate casing, and production casing. Any depths refer to vertical depth:3.1. The drive or structural casing shall be set by drilling, driving or jetting to a minimum depth of 50 feet below the floor of the lake bed or to such greater depth required to support unconsolidated deposits and to provide hole stability for initial drilling operations. If drilled in, the drilling fluid shall be a type that will not pollute the lake; in addition, a quantity of cement sufficient to fill the annular space back to the lake floor with returns circulated, must be used.3.2. The conductor casing shall be set at a minimum depth of 200 feet below the floor of the lake, and shall be cemented with a quantity sufficient to fill the annular space back to the lake surface with returns circulated.3.3. The surface casing shall be set at a minimum depth of 500 feet if the proposed depth of the well is less than 7,000 feet; or 1,000 feet if the proposed depth is over 7,000 feet but less than 11,000 feet; or 1,500 feet if the depth is 11,000 feet. The casing shall be cemented with a quantity sufficient to fill the annular space back to the lake surface with returns circulated, and the bottom of the casing shall be in competent rock.3.4. The intermediate and production casing shall be set at any time when drilling below the surface casing and hole conditions justify setting casing. This casing will be cemented in such a manner that any hydrocarbons, water aquifers, lost-circulation or zones of significant porosity and permeability, significant beds containing priority minerals, and abnormal pressure intervals are covered or isolated.3.5. Prior to drilling the plug after cementing, any casing strings except the drive or structural casing, shall be pressure tested. This test shall not exceed the rated working pressure of the casing. If the pressure declines more than ten percent in 30 minutes, or if there are other indications of a leak, corrective measures must be taken until a satisfactory test is obtained. Any casing pressure tests shall be recorded on the driller's log.4. Blowout preventers and related well control equipment shall be installed, and tested in a manner necessary to prevent blowouts and shall be subject to the following special conditions: 4.1. Prior to drilling below the surface casing, blowout prevention equipment shall be installed and maintained ready for use until drilling operations are completed.4.2. An inside blowout preventer assembly and a full opening string safety valve in the open position shall be maintained on the rig floor at any time while drilling operations are being conducted. 4.2.1. Valves shall be maintained on the rig floor to fit any pipe in the drill string.4.2.2. A top kelly cock shall be installed below the swivel and another at the bottom of the kelly of such design that it can be run through the blowout preventers.4.3. Before drilling below the surface casing the blowout prevention equipment shall include a minimum of: 4.3.1. Three remotely and manually controlled, hydraulically operated blowout preventers with a rated working pressure that exceeds the maximum anticipated surface pressure, including one equipped with pipe rams, one with blind rams and one hydril type.4.3.2. A drilling spool with side outlets, if side outlets are not provided in the blowout preventer body.4.4. Ram-type blowout preventers and related control equipment shall be tested to the rated working pressure of the stack assembly or to the working pressure of the casing, whichever is the lesser, at the following times: 4.4.2. Before drilling out after each string of casing is set.4.4.3. Not less than once each week while drilling.4.4.4. Following repairs that require disconnecting a pressure seal in the assembly.4.5. The hydril-type blowout preventer shall be tested to 70 percent of the pressure testing requirements of ram-type blowout preventers. The hydril-type blowout preventer shall be actuated on the drill pipe once each week.4.6. Accumulators or accumulators and pumps shall maintain a reserve capacity at any time to provide for repeated operation of hydraulic preventers.4.7. A blowout prevention drill shall be conducted weekly for each drilling crew to ensure that any equipment is operational and that crews are properly trained to carry out emergency duties. Any blowout preventer tests and crew drills shall be recorded on the driller's log.5. The characteristics and use of drilling mud and the conduct of related drilling procedures shall be such as are necessary to maintain the well in a safe condition to prevent uncontrolled blowouts of any well. Quantities of mud materials sufficient to insure well control shall be maintained and readily accessible for use at any time.6. Mud testing equipment shall be maintained on the derrick floor at any time, and mud tests consistent with good operating practice shall be performed daily, or more frequently as conditions warrant. The following mud system monitoring equipment must be installed, with derrick floor indicators, and used throughout the period of drilling after setting and cementing the surface casing: 6.1. A recording mud pit level indicator including a visual and audio warning device to determine mud pit volume gains and losses.6.2. A mud return indicator to determine when returns have been obtained, or when they occur unintentionally, and additionally to determine that returns essentially equal the pump discharge rate.7. In the conduct of any oil and gas operations, the operator shall prevent pollution of the waters of the Great Salt Lake. The operator shall comply with the following pollution prevention requirements:7.1. Oil in any form, liquid or solid wastes containing oil, shall not be disposed of into the waters of the lake.7.2. Liquid or solid waste materials containing substances that may be harmful to aquatic life or wildlife, or injurious in any manner to life and property, or that in any way unreasonably adversely affects the chemicals or minerals in the lake shall not be disposed of into the waters of the lake.7.3. Waste materials, exclusive of cuttings and drilling media, shall be transported to shore for disposal.8. Any spills or leakage of oil and liquid or solid pollutants shall be immediately reported to the division. A complete written statement of any circumstance, including subsequent clean-up operation, shall be forwarded to said agencies within 72 hours of such occurrences.9. Standby pollution control equipment consistent with the state of the art, shall be maintained by, and shall be immediately available to, each operator.Utah Admin. Code R649-3-33
Amended by Utah State Bulletin Number 2020-15, effective 7/27/2020