Current through all regulations passed and filed through September 16, 2024
(A)
Unless otherwise provided in the terms or conditions of the plugging permit,
this rule applies to all of the following wells:
(1) A well drilled with rotary
tools;
(2) A Class II brine
injection well regulated under Chapter 1509. of the Revised Code and Chapter
1501:9-3 of the Administrative Code;
(3) An enhanced recovery well regulated under
Chapter 1509. of the Revised Code and Chapter 1501:9-5 of the Administrative
Code;
(4) A Class III solution
mining well regulated under Chapter 1501:9-7 of the Administrative
Code;
(5) A well associated with
underground storage of natural gas; and
(6) A well drilled to extract natural or
artificial brine, or oil field waters.
(B) Plug placement intervals for a well
listed under paragraph (A) of this rule are as follow:
(1) When placing the bottom plug in a well
drilled horizontally, the person needs to place a mechanical bridge plug rated
at a pressure greater than the determined reservoir pressure at the time of
plugging. The mechanical bridge plug needs to be set above the last perforation
and below the last known producing zone with competent cement behind the
production casing as determined by a cement evaluation tool if the annular
space behind the production casing has a sustained pressure that is below the
maximum allowable annular pressure as provided in rule 1501:9-01-08 of the
Administrative Code, unless otherwise approved in writing by the chief. Prior
to emplacing cement on top of the mechanical bridge plug, the hole has to be
loaded and the bridge plug hydrostatically tested at a surface pressure of at
least five hundred psi for a period of fifteen minutes with no more than a
ten-per cent deviation in pressure. If the hydrostatic test on the mechanical
bridge plug fails, the person has to set a new mechanical bridge plug, unless
otherwise approved in writing by the chief. After the mechanical bridge plug
has been set and passed testing, the appropriate amount of cement for the
interval to be plugged, as specified in the approved plugging plan, is to be
placed on top of the mechanical bridge plug.
(2) When placing the bottom plug in a
vertical or directional wellbore, the person has to place cement from the
bottom of the lowest interval tested or produced to a minimum of four hundred
feet above the top of the lowest interval tested or produced;
(3) Unless exceptions have been granted by
the chief in writing, from a minimum of fifty feet below the base to a minimum
of one hundred feet above the top of each reservoir rock to within one hundred
fifty feet of the bottom of the surface casing;
(4) From a minimum of two hundred feet below
the top of the Big Lime to the top of the Big Lime, when plugging a well east
of the updip pinch-out of the Silurian Clinton sandstone;
(5) From a minimum of one hundred fifty feet
below to a minimum of one hundred feet above the base of the surface
casing;
(6) If the surface casing
of a cable tool well has been removed and results in a USDW being unprotected,
a cement plug has to be placed from a minimum of fifty feet below the base of
the underground source of drinking water to thirty inches below grade
level;
(7) Within the permitted
area of an underground mine, a mechanical bridge plug
is to
be placed in the wellbore a minimum of two hundred feet below the mineable coal
seam and the wellbore
is to be filled with cement from the top of the
mechanical bridge plug to within a minimum of thirty inches of the grade level.
The person authorized to plug a well and the coal owner
will
make reasonable efforts to coordinate plugging to minimize any potential
adverse effect to the mining operation and/or future re-plugging of the
well;
(8) From a minimum of one
hundred feet below the grade level to thirty inches below grade level. The hole
is to be
left open for the chief or chief's representatives to
inspect for at least three business days.
(C) For a Class III solution
mining well regulated under Chapter 1509. of the Revised Code and under Chapter
1501:9-7 of the Administrative Code, a person has to place a mechanical bridge
plug inside the cemented production casing as close to the base of the casing
as possible. Prior to placing cement on top of the mechanical bridge plug, the
person
will hydrostatically test the mechanical bridge plug
at five hundred psi for at least fifteen minutes with no more than a five per
cent decline. After a successful test, the person has to place at least two
hundred feet of Class A cement on top of the mechanical bridge plug. After the
cement reaches a minimum compressive strength of five hundred psi, the person
has to fill the production casing to surface with Class A cement.
(D) If a thief zone is anticipated, the
person has to develop a plan to ensure proper placement of plugs and obtain
approval in writing from the chief.
(E) A person
will establish
and sustain static conditions at the surface prior to emplacing a cement plug.
The chief may grant an exception to the requirement of circulation when
plugging wells with hydrogen sulfide if circulation of the well could
jeopardize worker and/or public safety.
(F) No person may pump cement into a well if
static conditions do not exist. No person may pump cement into a well that is
flowing oil, gas, brine, or freshwater to the surface.
(G) If during the plugging operation a thief
zone is present, a person may:
(1) Place a
mechanical bridge plug in the well above the thief zone to provide a base on
which to place a cement plug not less than two hundred feet in length above
such a zone.
(2) Pump or place any
material, including lost circulation materials, approved by the chief to plug
off the thief zone. A person
will place a cement plug, not less than two
hundred feet in length above or across the thief zone and may mix additional
lost circulation materials into the cement slurry, if necessary.
(H) During plugging, the person
has to make a good faith effort to recover all casing, other than conductor
casing and drive pipe, which is not cemented.
(I) If it is determined by the chief that
wellbore conditions render compliance with the approved plugging plan
that
complies with paragraph (E) of rule
1501:9-11-02 of the
Administrative Code impossible or impractical or render any
provisions set forth in paragraphs (A) to (G) of this
rule impossible or impractical, the person will develop a new plan and obtain
written approval from the chief.
