Current through Register Vol. 43, No. 52, December 26, 2024
(a) Each licensee shall notify the department
of any incidents and any sources lost in other than downhole logging operations
in accordance with
K.A.R.28-35-184b,
28-35-228a,
28-35-229a
and
28-35-230a.
(b) Whenever a sealed source or device
containing radioactive material is lodged downhole, the licensee shall monitor
at the surface for the presence of radioactive contamination with a radiation
survey instrument or logging tool during logging tool recovery
operations.
(c) If the licensee
knows or has reason to believe that a sealed source has been ruptured, the
licensee shall notify the department immediately by telephone and subsequently,
within 30 days, by confirmatory written report. This written report shall
identify the well or other location, describe the magnitude and extent of the
escape of radioactive material, assess the consequences of the rupture, and
explain efforts planned or being taken to mitigate these
consequences.
(d) If it becomes
apparent that efforts to recover the radioactive source will not be successful,
the licensee shall meet the following requirements:
(1) The licensee shall advise the well
operator of the following requirements regarding the method of abandonment:
(A) The well operator shall immobilize and
seal the radioactive source in place with a cement plug.
(B) The well operator shall set in place a
whipstock or other deflection device.
(C) The well operator shall mount a permanent
identification plaque at the surface of the well, containing the appropriate
information required by this regulation.
(2) The licensee shall notify the department
by telephone, giving the circumstances of the loss, and request approval of the
proposed abandonment procedures.
(3) The licensee shall file a written report
with the department within 30 days of the abandonment, providing the following
information:
(A) The date of occurrence and a
brief description of attempts to recover the source;
(B) a description of the radioactive source
involved, including the radionuclide, quantity, and chemical and physical
form;
(C) a description of the
surface location and identification of the well;
(D) the results of efforts to immobilize and
set the source in place;
(E) the
depth of the radioactive source;
(F) the depth of the top of the cement
plug;
(G) the depth of the well;
and
(H) the information contained
on the permanent identification plaque.
(e) Whenever a sealed source containing
radioactive material is abandoned downhole, the licensee shall provide a
permanent plaque on the well or well-bore. The plaque shall meet the following
requirements:
(1) Be constructed of
long-lasting material, which may include stainless steel or Monel metal;
and
(2) contain the following
information engraved on its face:
(B) the radiation
symbol, without the conventional color requirement;
(C) the date of abandonment;
(D) the name of the well operator or well
owner;
(E) the well name and the
well identification number or numbers or other designation;
(F) a description of the sealed source or
sources, by ra-dionuclide and quantity of activity;
(G) the source depth and the depth to the top
of the plug; and
(H) an appropriate
warning that, depending on the specific circumstances of that abandonment,
shall include one of the following:
(i) "Do
not drill below plug back depth";
(ii) "do not enlarge casing"; or
(iii) "do not reenter the hole before
contacting the Kansas department of health and environment radiation control
program"; and
(3) be at least seven inches square. The word
"CAUTION" shall be written in 1/2-inch letters and all other information shall
be written in 1/4-inch letters.
(f) If the licensee knows or has reason to
believe that radioactive material has been lost in or to an underground potable
water source, the licensee shall immediately notify the department by telephone
and subsequently, within 30 days, by confirmatory letter. The notice shall
designate the well location and shall describe the magnitude and extent of loss
of radioactive material, assess the consequences of the loss, and explain
efforts planned or being taken to mitigate these consequences.
