Current through Reg. 50, No. 187; September 24, 2024
Operators must obtain Department approval prior to commencing
plugging operations. To apply, operators may contact either the Chief or his
agent and request authorization to plug and abandon the well and restore the
site. Operators must specify exactly how the well will be plugged and the site
restored. Oral approval to plug and abandon shall be granted when the operator
meets the criteria defined in this section.
(1) Pulling of Casing from an Abandoned Hole.
Before pulling casing from an abandoned hole the operator shall obtain approval
from the Department for reentry into the well. To apply, the operator must
submit a written request to the Department, Oil and Gas Program, 2600 Blair
Stone Road, MS 3588, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-2400. The Department shall
approve the request when the operator meets the criteria specified in this
section. All requests shall contain an Organization Report (Rule
62C-25.008, F.A.C.), Performance
Surety (Rule 62C-26.002, F.A.C.), well
diagram, proposed procedure, and replugging schedule.
(2) Permanent Abandonment. The Department
recognizes that no single plugging and restoration schedule can suffice for all
wells. However, the following criteria will apply to most wells; others shall
be handled in accordance with subseciton
62C-25.001(5),
F.A.C.
(a) Uncased-hold plugs: Cement plugs
shall be placed in uncased portions of wells as necessary to prevent the
migration of formation fluids from one zone to another. These plugs shall be
placed in accordance with the following criteria.
1. All nonproductive intervals containing
shows of hydrocarbons shall be isolated from the wellbore by placing a minimum
cement plug of 200 feet in length across the showing interval. Such plugs shall
extend from 100 feet below to 100 feet above the show and shall be verified by
either tagging with 15, 000 pounds of drill stem weight or pumping sufficient
excess cement to guarantee proper placement.
2. All nonproductive intervals which are or
have been productive within 5 miles of the well being plugged shall be isolated
and verified in accordance with subparagraph (a)1., above.
3. All flows of saltwater requiring 12 or
more pounds per gallon to control shall be isolated as in subparagraph (a)1.,
above, and the plugs verified by tagging with 15, 000 pounds of drill stem
weight.
4. Underground Sources of
Drinking Water shall be isolated from adjoining saline zones by a minimum
cement plug of 400 feet extending from 200 feet below to 200 feet above the
base of the USDW. Such plugs shall be verified by tagging with sufficient drill
stem weight to guarantee proper placement of the plug.
5. Freshwater zones shall be isolated from
nonfreshwater zones as in subparagraph (a)4., above, and the plugs verified in
a like manner.
6. All intervals
between any of the above plugs may be filled with drilling
fluid.
(b) Cased Hole
Plugs:
1. Perforated Interval Plugs: No
perforation shall be permitted to remain open upon abandonment. Either a cement
retainer shall be set a minimum of 100 feet above the open perforation interval
with cement squeezed into the perforation interval and 50 feet of cement placed
on top of the retainer, or a 200 foot cement plug placed to extend from 100
feet below to 100 feet above the perforations. If a cement retainer is not used
or does not hold pressure, this plug shall be verified by either tagging with
15, 000 pounds of drill stem weight or by utilizing an amount of cement 100% in
excess of that needed for the 200 foot plug. If cement can not be squeezed
below a properly operating cement retainer, then a 200 foot cement plug shall
be set on top of the retainer.
2.
Casing Seat Plugs: Where there is open hole below any casing seat, a cement
plug shall be placed at the base of the string, extending at a minimum from 150
feet below to 150 feet above the casing shoe. If a cement retainer is used, it
should be set not less than 50 feet nor more than 100 feet above the casing
shoe and the cement plug placed so that it will extend at least 100 feet below
the casing shoe and 100 feet above the retainer. If a retainer is not used or
fails to hold pressure, the plug shall be verified by tagging with 15, 000
pounds of drill stem weight. In the event lost circulation conditions were
encountered immediately below the casing shoe so that any attempted casing seat
plug would be lost to the formations below, a permanent type bridge plug shall
be set within 100 feet of the casing shoe and 200 feet of cement placed on top
of the bridge plug. Regardless of the method used to set this plug, the pipe,
unless it is to be cut and recovered, shall be tested by placing on it a
minimum pump pressure of 1, 000 psig. No more than a 10% pressure drop during a
30 minute test period shall be allowed. If this test fails, necessary remedial
measures shall be taken and the pipe retested and plugged in accordance with
subparagraph (a)4., above.
3.
Casing-Stub Plugs. When casing is cut and recovered, a cement plug 200 feet in
length shall be placed at the base of the cut so that the plug extends from 100
feet below to 100 feet above the stub. This plug shall be verified as directed
by the Department's agent.
(c) Up Hole Plugs:
1. USDW Plugs. All casing strings not
cemented to the surface shall be cut not less than 200 feet below the base of
the deepest USDW and pulled out of the hole. A cement plug shall then be set
across the USDW as described in subparagraph (a)4., above. If the casing seat
depth exceeds the required plug depth and can not be cut and pulled out of the
hole, then the plug shall be set inside the casing.
2. Freshwater Plug. A cement plug shall be
set across the freshwater interval as described in subparagraph (a)5., above.
If the surface casing seat depth exceeds the required plug depth, then the plug
shall be set inside the surface casing.
3. Annular Space Plugs. No annular space
connecting saline water intervals with freshwater intervals or the surface with
the drilled hole below shall be allowed to exist. If such space exists it shall
be destroyed by cutting and recovering the necessary casing strings as
described in subparagraph (c)1., above. In the event that it is physically
impossible to recover such casing, the operator shall devise an alternate
method to accomplish the same result. Such alternate method must have prior
approval of the Department's agent.
4. Surface Plug. A 100 foot cement plug shall
be placed in the top of the largest string of pipe cemented to the surface.
This plug shall extend from the top of the casing downward the required
distance. A 1/2 inch thick steel plate shall be welded across the top of the
casing.
(d) Restoration
of location.
1. Mud pits. All fluids and
recoverable slurry that remain in the pits shall be either returned to the
wellbore below all USDW during the process of plugging, placed between plugs in
the casings, or removed to an approved land fill.
2. Drilling sites. The operator shall remove
all waste, debris, and equipment and shall restore the site as necessary to
prevent erosion, invasion of exotic species, interruption of sheetwater flow or
other similar impacts. Land drilling sites and access roads shall be restored
to the approximate original contour of the surface and revegetated with native
vegetation. However, upon written request of the landowner, or the operator
with the landowner's consent, and where other natural resources are not
endangered, the Department shall permit alternate restoration standards,
including landowner retention of the access road, pad, or other
improvements.
3. All casing shall
be cut off at least four feet below ground surface.
4. The operator shall file Oil & Gas Form
16 immediately upon plugging any well. The comments section shall include a
detailed plugging schedule plus a clearly differentiated description of all
completed restoration work and work yet to be completed with time
frame.
5. The Department shall
perform a final inspection on each restored site before relieving the operator
of liability under these rules.
(3) Temporary Abandonments. Any well which is
to be temporarily abandoned shall be plugged in accordance with Rule
62C-25.001,
F.A.C.
Rulemaking Authority
377.22 FS. Law Implemented
377.22,
377.24
FS.
New 11-26-81, Amended 4-12-83, Formerly 16C-29.09, Amended
6-4-89, 5-12-93, Formerly 16C-29.009, Amended
3-24-96.
