Louisiana Administrative Code
Title 43 - NATURAL RESOURCES
Part XIX - Office of Conservation-General Operations
Subpart 1 - Statewide Order No. 29-B
Chapter 1 - General Provisions
Section XIX-109 - Casing Program

Universal Citation: LA Admin Code XIX-109

Current through Register Vol. 50, No. 9, September 20, 2024

A. Conductor Pipe. Conductor pipe is that pipe ordinarily used for the purpose of supporting unconsolidated surface deposits. The use and removal of conductor pipe during the drilling of any oil and gas well shall be at the option of the operator.

B. Surface Casing

1. Where no danger of pollution of fresh water sources exists, the minimum amount of surface of first-intermediate casing to be set shall be determined from Table 1 hereof.

Table 1

Total Depth of Contact

Casing Required

Number of Sacks Cement

Surface Casing Test Pressure (lbs. per sq. in.)

0-2500

100

200 or circulate to surf*

300

2500-3000

150

500 "

600

3000-4000

300

500 "

600

4000-5000

400

500 "

600

5000-6000

500

500 "

750

6000-7000

800

500 "

1000

7000-8000

1000

500 "

1000

8000-9000

1400

500 "

1000

9000-Deeper

1800

500 "

1000

*Circulate to the Surface shall mean the calculated amount of cement necessary to fill the theoretical annular space plus 10 percent.

a. In known low-pressure areas, exceptions to the above may be granted by the commissioner or his agent. If, however, in the opinion of the commissioner, or his agent, the above regulations shall be found inadequate, and additional or lesser amount of surface casing and/or cement or test pressure shall be required for the purpose of safety and the protection of fresh water sands.

2. Surface casing shall be tested before drilling the plug by applying a minimum pump pressure as set forth in Table 1 after at least 200 feet of the mud-laden fluid has been displaced with water at the top of the column. If at the end of 30 minutes the pressure gauge shows a drop of 10 percent of test pressure as outlined in Table 1, the operator shall be required to take such corrective measures as will insure that such surface casing will hold said pressure for 30 minutes without a drop of more than 10 percent of the test pressure. The provisions of Paragraph D.7, below, for the producing casing, shall also apply to the surface casing.

3. Cement shall be allowed to stand a minimum of 12 hours under pressure before initiating test or drilling plug. Under pressure is complied with if one float valve is used or if pressure is held otherwise.

C. Intermediate Casing

1. Intermediate casing is that casing used as protection against caving of heaving formations or when other means are not adequate for the purpose of segregating upper oil, gas or water-bearing strata.

2. If an intermediate casing string is deemed necessary by the district manager for the prevention of underground waste, such regulations pertaining to a minimum setting depth, quality of casing, and cementing and testing of sand, shall be determined by the department after due hearing. The provisions of Paragraph D.7 below, for the producing casing, shall also apply to the intermediate casing.

D. Producing Oil String

1. Producing or oil string is that casing used for the purpose of segregating the horizon from which production is obtained and affording a means of communication between such horizons and the surface.

2. The producing string of casing shall consist of new or reconditioned casing, tested at mill test pressure or as otherwise designated by the department and set at a sufficient depth to cut off all gas formations above the oil-saturated horizon in which the well is to be completed. The position of the oil horizon shall be determined by coring, testing or electrical logging, or other satisfactory method, and the producing string of casing shall be bottomed and cemented at a point below the gas/oil contact if determinable and practicable.

3. Cement shall be by the pump-and-plug method, or another method approved by the department. Sufficient cement shall be used to fill the calculated annular space behind the casing to such a point, as in the opinion of the district manager, local conditions require to protect the producing formations and all other oil and gas formations occurring above, but in every case, no less cement shall be used than the calculated amount necessary to fill the annular space to a point 500 feet above the shoe.

4. The amount of cement to be left remaining in the casing, until the requirements of Paragraph 5 below have been met, shall be not less than 20 feet. This shall be accomplished through the use of a float-collar, or other approved or practicable means, unless a full-hole cementer, or its equivalent, is used.

5. Cement shall be allowed to stand a minimum of 12 hours under pressure and a minimum total of 24 hours before initiating test or drill plug in the producing or oil string. Under pressure is complied with if one or more float valves are employed and are shown to be holding the cement in place, or when other means of holding pressure is used. When an operator elects to perforate and squeeze or to cement around the shoe, he may proceed with such work after 12 hours have elapsed after placing the first cement.

6. Before drilling the plug in the producing string of casing, the casing shall be tested by pump pressure, as determined from Table 2 hereof, after 200 feet of mud-laden fluid in the casing has been displaced by water at the top of the column.

Table 2. Intermediate and Producing Casing

String Pressure Depth Set

No. of Sacks of Cement

Producing Test (lbs. per sq. in.)

2000-3000'

200*

800

3000-6000'

300*

1000

6000-9000'

500*

1200

9000-and deeper

500*

1500

*But in every case no less cement shall be used than the calculated amount necessary to fill the annular space to a point 500 feet above the shoe.

a. If at the end of 30 minutes the pressure gauge shows a drop of 10 percent of the test pressure or more, the operator shall be required to take such corrective measures as will insure that the producing string of casing is so set and cemented that it will hold said pressure for 30 minutes without a drop of more than 10 percent of the test pressure on the gauge.

7. If the commissioner's agent is not present at the time designated by the operator for inspection of the casing tests of the producing string, the operator shall have such tests witnessed, preferably by an offset operator. An affidavit of test, on the form prescribed by the Department of Conservation, signed by the operator and witness, shall be furnished to the district office of the Department of Conservation showing that the test conformed satisfactorily to the above mentioned regulations before proceeding with the completion. If test is satisfactory, normal operations may be resumed immediately.

8. If the test is unsatisfactory, the operator shall not proceed with the completion of the well until a satisfactory test has been obtained.

E. Tubing and Completion

1. A valve, or its equivalent, tested to a pressure of not less than the calculated bottomhole pressure of the well, shall be installed below any and all tubing outlet connections.

2. When a well develops a casing pressure, upon completion, equivalent to more than three-quarters of the internal pressure that will develop the minimum yield point of the casing, such well shall be required by the district manager to be killed, and a tubing packer to be set so as to keep such excessive pressure of the casing.

F. Wellhead Connections. Wellhead connections shall be tested prior to installation at a pressure indicated by the district manager in conformance with conditions existing in areas in which they are used. Whenever such tests are made in the field, they shall be witnessed by an agent of the department. Tubing and tubingheads shall be free from obstructions in wells used for bottomhole pressure test purposes.

AUTHORITY NOTE: Promulgated in accordance with R.S. 30:4 et seq.

Disclaimer: These regulations may not be the most recent version. Louisiana may have more current or accurate information. We make no warranties or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained on this site or the information linked to on the state site. Please check official sources.
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