New Mexico Administrative Code
Title 19 - NATURAL RESOURCES AND WILDLIFE
Chapter 15 - OIL AND GAS
Part 11 - HYDROGEN SULFIDE GAS
Section 19.15.11.11 - PROTECTION FROM HYDROGEN SULFIDE DURING DRILLING, COMPLETION, WORKOVER AND WELL SERVICING OPERATIONS

Universal Citation: 19 NM Admin Code 19.15.11.11

Current through Register Vol. 35, No. 18, September 24, 2024

A. API standards. The person shall conduct drilling, completion, workover and well servicing operations involving a hydrogen sulfide concentration of 100 ppm or greater with due consideration to the guidelines in the API publications Recommended Practice for Oil and Gas Well Servicing and Workover Operations Involving Hydrogen Sulfide, RP-68, and Recommended Practices for Drilling and Well Servicing Operations Involving Hydrogen Sulfide, RP-49, most recent editions, or some other division-approved standard.

B. Detection and monitoring equipment. Drilling, completion, workover and well servicing operations involving a hydrogen sulfide concentration of 100 ppm or greater shall include hydrogen sulfide detection and monitoring equipment as follows.

(1) Each drilling and completion site shall have an accurate and precise hydrogen sulfide detection and monitoring system that automatically activates visible and audible alarms when the hydrogen sulfide's ambient air concentration reaches a predetermined value the operator sets, not to exceed 20 ppm. The operator shall locate a sensing point at the shale shaker, rig floor and bell nipple for a drilling site and the cellar, rig floor and circulating tanks or shale shaker for a completion site.

(2) For workover and well servicing operations, the person shall locate one operational sensing point as close to the well bore as practical. Additional sensing points may be necessary for large or long-term operations.

(3) The operator shall provide and maintain as operational hydrogen sulfide detection and monitoring equipment during drilling when drilling is within 500 feet of a zone anticipated to contain hydrogen sulfide and continuously thereafter through all subsequent drilling.

C. Wind indicators. Drilling, completion, workover and well servicing operations involving a hydrogen sulfide concentration of 100 ppm or greater shall include wind indicators. The person shall have equipment to indicate wind direction present and visible at all times. The person shall install at least two devices to indicate wind direction at separate elevations that visible from all principal working areas at all times. When a sustained hydrogen sulfide concentration is detected in excess of 20 ppm at a detection point, the person shall display red flags.

D. Flare system. For drilling and completion operations in an area where it is reasonably expected that a potentially hazardous hydrogen sulfide volume will be encountered, the person shall install a flare system to safely gather and burn hydrogen-sulfide-bearing gas. The person shall locate flare outlets at least 150 feet from the well bore. Flare lines shall be as straight as practical. The person shall equip the flare system with a suitable and safe means of ignition. Where noncombustible gas is to be flared, the system shall provide supplemental fuel to maintain ignition.

E. Well control equipment. When the 100 ppm radius of exposure includes a public area, the following well control equipment is required.

(1) Drilling. The person shall install a remote-controlled well control system that is operational at all times beginning when drilling is within 500 vertical feet of the formation believed to contain hydrogen sulfide and continuously thereafter during drilling. The well control system shall include, at a minimum, a pressure and hydrogen-sulfide-rated well control choke and kill system including manifold and blowout preventer that meets or exceeds the specifications in API publications Choke and Kill Systems, 16C and Blowout Prevention Equipment Systems for Drilling Wells, RP 53 or other division-approved specifications. The person shall use mud-gas separators. The person shall test and maintain these systems pursuant to the specifications referenced, according to the requirements of 19.15.11 NMAC, or as the division otherwise approves.

(2) Completion, workover and well servicing. The person shall install a remote controlled pressure and hydrogen-sulfide-rated well control system that meets or exceeds API specifications or other division-approved specifications that is operational at all times during a well's completion, workover and servicing.

F. Mud program. Drilling, completion, workover and well servicing operations involving a hydrogen sulfide concentration of 100 ppm or greater shall use a hydrogen sulfide mud program capable of handling hydrogen sulfide conditions and well control, including de-gassing.

G. Well testing. Except with prior division approval, a person shall conduct drill-stem testing of a zone that contains hydrogen sulfide in a concentration of 100 ppm or greater only during daylight hours and not permit formation fluids to flow to the surface.

H. If hydrogen sulfide encountered during operations. If hydrogen sulfide was not anticipated at the time the division issued a permit to drill but is encountered during drilling in a concentration of 100 ppm or greater, the operator shall satisfy the requirements of 19.15.11 NMAC before continuing drilling operations. The operator shall notify the division of the event and the mitigating steps that the operator has or is taking as soon as possible, but no later than 24 hours following discovery. The division may grant verbal approval to continue drilling operations pending preparation of a required hydrogen sulfide contingency plan.

Disclaimer: These regulations may not be the most recent version. New Mexico 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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