Idaho Administrative Code
Title IDAPA 37 - Water Resources, Department of
Rule 37.03.04 - DRILLING FOR GEOTHERMAL RESOURCES RULES
Section 37.03.04.045 - ABANDONMENT

a. Prevent contamination of fresh water or other natural resources; (3-30-23)

b. Prevent damage to geothermal reservoirs; (3-30-23)

c. Prevent loss of reservoir energy; and (3-30-23)

d. Protect life, health, environment, and property. (3-30-23)

a. A NOI to abandon geothermal resource wells is required to be filed with the Director five (5) days prior to beginning abandonment procedures. A permit to abandon may be given verbally by the Director provided the operator submits a written abandonment request on a form approved by the Director within twenty-four (24) hours of the verbal request. (3-30-23)

b. All wells abandoned shall be monumented with four (4) inch diameter pipe ten (10) feet in length of which four (4) feet shall be above ground. The remainder shall be embedded in concrete. The name, number, and location of the well shall be shown on the monument. Alternate methods of monumentation may be approved by the Director where land surface use indicates the above-described method is not satisfactory. (3-30-23)

c. Heavy drilling fluid or other seal material approved by the Director shall be used to replace any water in the hole and to fill all portions of the hole not plugged with cement. (3-30-23)

d. All cement plugs with a possible exception of the surface plug shall be pumped into the hole from the bottom up through drill pipe or tubing. (3-30-23)

e. All open annuli shall be filled with cement to the surface. (3-30-23)

f. A minimum of one hundred (100) feet of cement shall be emplaced straddling the interface or transition zone at the base of groundwater aquifers. (3-30-23)

g. One hundred (100) feet of cement shall straddle the shoe plug on all casings including conductor pipe. (3-30-23)

h. A surface plug of either neat cement or cement shall be emplaced from the top of the casing to at least fifty (50) feet below the top of the casing. (3-30-23)

i. All casing shall be cut off at least five (5) feet below land surface. (3-30-23)

j. Cement plugs shall extend at least fifty (50) feet over the top of any liner installed in the well. (3-30-23)

k. Other abandonment procedures may be approved by the Director if the owner can demonstrate that the geothermal resource, groundwaters, and other natural resources will be protected. Such approval must be given in writing by the Director prior to the beginning of any abandonment procedures. (3-30-23)

l. An abandonment report must be submitted to the Department within five (5) days after the completion of the abandonment. (3-30-23)