(1) The owner or operator may keep a well open for additional testing after removal of the drilling rig, if the written approval of the Director is first obtained, and by demonstrating to the satisfaction of the Director that (a) the open well is constructed so as to assure that fresh water aquifers are protected from intraformational migration of fluids through the bore hole and (b) that the operator has adequate and readily available financial resources to plug the well.
(2) The owner or operator of any well shall be responsible for the plugging of any well after said well is abandoned, utilizing the services of a well cementing contractor. Any well declared abandoned by the Director shall be plugged within sixty (60) days by the operator, or the surety bond will be forfeited to the Division.
(3) Before any work is commenced to plug any well, the owner or operator thereof shall give 24-hours notice to the Director of this intent. Upon notification, the Division may send duly authorized representatives to the location at the time specified to witness the plugging of such well.
(4) The methods and procedure for plugging a well shall be as follows;
(a) Each oil or gas producing formation shall be sealed with a cement plug which extends not less than 100 feet above the producing formations nor less than 100 feet below the producing formations. The Director may allow a bridge plug with a minimum of 10 feet of cement on top to be placed immediately above each perforated horizon in cased holes.
(b) A cement plug of appropriate ingredients not less than 150 feet in length shall be placed at the base of all fresh water bearing strata unless the strata are protected by properly cemented surface casing. Where the natural contact between fresh and salt ground waters is transitional the cement plug shall be such length to extend at least 50 feet above and below the transition zone.
(c) A cement plug not less than 200 feet in length shall be placed 100 feet above to 100 feet below the base of the surface casing. This plug may be omitted if this interval is protected by smaller diameter casing which has been properly grouted.
(d) A 50 foot plug shall be placed near the surface of the ground in each hole to be plugged in such a manner as not to interfere with soil cultivation.
(e) The interval between plugs shall be filled with fluid weighing not less than nine and one-half (9.5) pounds per gallon.
(f) Additional cement plugs not specified above may required by the Director at other locations so as to prevent the commingling of oil, gas, salt, water, and fresh water from one formation to another.
(g) Other plugging methods may be used provided written approval is obtained from the Director.
(h) When a well to be plugged may be used safely as a fresh water well and such utilization is desired by the land or surface owner, the well need not be filled above the required sealing plug set at the base of fresh water, provided the land or surface owner agrees in writing to the Director to take full responsibility for the well, including correcting any plugging defects that result in the migration of salty water or oil or gas through the well, and to comply fully with all laws and rules and provided written approval is obtained from the Director.
(j) When a well to be plugged may be safely used as a ground water monitoring well by the Division, the well need not be filled above the required sealing plug set at the base of fresh water; provided the owner will permit the Division access to the well for testing purposes.
