California Code of Regulations
Title 14 - Natural Resources
Division 2 - Department of Conservation
Chapter 4 - Development, Regulation, and Conservation of Oil and Gas Resources
Subchapter 1 - Onshore Well Regulations
Article 3 - Requirements
Section 1722 - General
Current through Register 2024 Notice Reg. No. 38, September 20, 2024
(a) All operations shall be conducted in accordance with good oilfield practice.
(b) The operator for a facility or group of related facilities shall develop a spill contingency plan. Spill contingency plans shall also be developed by the operator for those facilities within gas fields that produce condensate at an average rate of at least one barrel per day or where condensate storage volume exceeds 50 barrels. The plan(s) shall be filed with the appropriate Division district office within six months of the effective date of Section 1722.9 or within three months after initial production or acquisition of a facility. Plans prepared pursuant to Federal Environmental Protection Agency regulations (SPCC Plans) may fulfill the provisions of this subsection if such plans are determined to be adequate by the appropriate Division district deputy. If, in the judgment of the Supervisor, a plan becomes outdated, the Supervisor may require that the plan be updated to ensure that it addresses and applies to current conditions and technology.
(c) For certain critical or high-pressure wells designated by the Supervisor, a blowout prevention and control plan, including provisions for the duties, training, supervision, and schedules for testing equipment and performing personnel drills, shall be submitted by the operator to the appropriate Division district deputy for approval.
(d) Notices of intention to drill, deepen, redrill, rework, or plug and abandon wells shall be completed on current Division forms and submitted, in duplicate, to the appropriate Division district office for approval. Such notices shall include all information required on the forms, and such other pertinent data as the Supervisor may require. Notices of intention and approvals will be cancelled if the proposed operations have not commenced within one year of receipt of the notice. However, an approval for proposed operations may be extended for one year if the operator submits a supplementary notice prior to the expiration of the one-year period and can show good cause for such an extension. For the purpose of interpretation and enforcement of provisions of this section, operations, when commenced, must be completed in a timely and orderly manner.
(e) A copy of the operator's notice of intention and any subsequent written approval of proposed operations by the Division shall be posted at the well site throughout the operations.
(f) Operators shall give the appropriate Division district office sufficient advance notice of the time for inspections and tests requiring the presence of Division personnel.
(g) Operations approved by the Division shall not deviate from the approved program without prior Division approval, except in an emergency.
(h) Oil spills shall be promptly reported to the California Emergency Management Agency by calling the toll-free telephone number (800) 852-7550 and by contacting the agencies specified in the operator's spill contingency plan.
(i) Blowouts, fires, serious accidents, and significant gas or water leaks resulting from or associated with an oil or gas drilling or producing operation, or related facility, shall be promptly reported to the appropriate Division district office.
(j) The use of radioactive materials in wells shall comply with the California Department of Health Services regulations in Title 17, Division 1, Chapter 5, Subchapter 4 of the California Code of Regulations. With the exception of radioactive tracers used in injection surveys, the loss of radioactive materials in a well shall be promptly reported to the Department of Health Services pursuant to Section 30350.3 of the above-referenced regulations and to the appropriate Division district office.
(k) When sufficient geologic and engineering information is available from previous drilling or producing operations, operators may make application to the Supervisor for the establishment of field rules, or the Supervisor may establish field rules or change established field rules for any oil or gas field. Before establishing or changing a field rule, the Supervisor shall distribute the proposed rule or change to affected persons and allow at least thirty (30) days for comments from the affected persons. The Supervisor shall notify affected persons in writing of the establishment or change of field rules.
1. New section filed 2-17-78; effective thirtieth day thereafter (Register 78, No. 7).
2. Amendment filed 12-28-84; effective thirtieth day thereafter (Register 84, No. 52).
3. Amendment of subsection (b) and NOTE filed 8-4-95; operative 9-3-95 (Register 95, No. 31).
4. Change without regulatory effect amending subsections (d) and (j) filed 9-3-96 pursuant to section 100, title 1, California Code of Regulations (Register 96, No. 36).
5. Change without regulatory effect amending subsections (b) and (j) filed 2-16-2000 pursuant to section 100, title 1, California Code of Regulations (Register 2000, No. 7).
6. Amendment of subsection (j) filed 7-11-2006; operative 8-10-2006 (Register 2006, No. 28).
7. Change without regulatory effect amending section filed 12-26-2006 pursuant to section 100, title 1, California Code of Regulations (Register 2006, No. 52).
8. Amendment of subsections (b), (h) and (k) and amendment of NOTE filed 12-30-2010; operative 1-29-2011 (Register 2010, No. 53).
Note: Authority cited: Sections 3013 and 3270, Public Resources Code. Reference: Sections 3106, 3203, 3208, 3219, 3222, 3223, 3224, 3226, 3229, 3230, 3270 and 3270.1, Public Resources Code.
