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 1722.3 - Casing Requirements
Current through Register 2024 Notice Reg. No. 38, September 20, 2024
(a) Conductor casing. This casing shall be cemented at or driven to a maximum depth of 100 feet. Exceptions may be granted by the appropriate Division district deputy if conditions require deeper casing depth.
(b) Surface casing. Surface casing shall be cemented into or through a competent bed and at a depth that will allow complete well shut-in without fracturing the formation immediately below the casing shoe. As a general guideline, the surface casing for prospect wells shall be cemented at a depth that is at least 10 percent of the proposed total depth, with a minimum of 200 feet and a maximum of 1,500 feet of casing. A second string of surface casing, cemented into or through a competent bed, shall be required in prospect wells if the first string has not been cemented in a competent bed or if unusual drilling hazards exist. In development wells, the surface casing requirement shall be determined on the basis of known field conditions. The appropriate Division district deputy may vary these general surface casing requirements, including the adoption of a field rule, consistent with known geological conditions and engineering factors, to provide adequate protection for freshwater zones and blowout control.
(c) Intermediate casing. This casing may be required for protection of oil, gas, and freshwater zones, and to seal off anomalous pressure zones, lost circulation zones, and other drilling hazards.
(d) Production casing. This casing shall be cemented and, when required by the Division, tested for fluid shutoff above the zone or zones to be produced. The test may be witnessed by a Division inspector. When the production string does not extend to the surface, at least 100 feet of overlap between the production string and next larger casing string shall be required. This overlap shall be cemented and tested by a fluid-entry test to determine whether there is a competent seal between the two casing strings. A pressure test may be allowed only when such test is conducted pursuant to an established field rule. The test may be witnessed by a Division inspector.
1. New section filed 2-17-78; effective thirtieth day thereafter (Register 78, No. 7).
2. Amendment of section heading and NOTE 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 section filed 12-26-2006 pursuant to section 100, title 1, California Code of Regulations (Register 2006, No. 52).
Note: Authority cited: Section 3013, Public Resources Code. Reference: Sections 3106 and 3220, Public Resources Code.
