Current through all regulations passed and filed through September 16, 2024
Rule
1501:9-9-05 of the
Administrative Code with the exception of paragraphs (A)(10) and (D) of rule
1501:9-9-05 of the
Administrative Code applies to all wells completed after the effective date of
this chapter. Paragraph (E) of rule
1501:9-9-05 of the
Administrative Code applies to all urbanized area wells where the permit was
issued after the effective date of rule
1501:9-9-05 of the
Administrative Code with the exception where the chief finds it necessary for
protection of public health or safety or to prevent damage to natural
resources, as provided by section
1509.23 of the Revised Code, the
chief may apply any portion of paragraph (E) of rule
1501:9-9-05 of the
Administrative Code to any well in an urbanized area. If additional tanks are
added to a tank battery established prior to the effective date of rule
1501:9-9-05 of the
Administrative Code, the placement of the new tank(s)
has to
comply with paragraph (E) of rule
1501:9-9-05 of the
Administrative Code.
(A) Surface
equipment:
(1) All wells
have to
be equipped so that no oil, gas or condensate is allowed to escape with the
exception of gas flares as per paragraph (B) of rule
1501:9-9-05 of the
Administrative Code.
(2) Oil
production tanks
will be set a minimum of fifty feet from the
traveled portion of a public road and a minimum of one hundred feet from
existing inhabited structures and a minimum of three feet between tanks and a
minimum of fifty feet from any well.
(3) Indirect fire heaters
will be
set a minimum of fifty feet from the well and a minimum of fifty feet from oil
production tanks and a minimum of one hundred feet from existing inhabited
structures. Direct fire heaters, excluding under tank and internal tank
heating,
will be a minimum of fifty feet from the well and a
minimum of fifty feet from oil production tanks and a minimum of one hundred
feet from existing inhabited structures and a minimum of fifty feet from
mechanical separators.
(4) Portable
heaters may be closer than fifty feet to the oil production tanks providing an
attendant is on hand and a chemical fire extinguisher in good working condition
is provided.
(5) Mechanical
separators
will be set a minimum of fifty feet from the well, a
minimum of ten feet from oil production tanks and a minimum of one hundred feet
from existing inhabited structures.
(6) Under tank oil and internal tank heating
cannot occur while oil is being produced into the same
tank.
(7) All oil production tanks
have to
be located in a position so that any escaping oil cannot drain onto public
roads or towards existing inhabited structures or other areas which could cause
a safety hazard.
(8) All surface
equipment
has
to be pressure rated to withstand operating pressures to which it is
subjected.
(9) In order to protect
life, health, and property where a clear and present hazard exists, the chief may direct a person to protect
any producing equipment at the
well-head and related storage tanks by an earthen dike or earthen pit which
will
have a capacity sufficient to contain any substances resulting, obtained, or
produced in connection with the operation of the related oil or gas well.
The dike or pit
will be maintained for the purpose for which it
was constructed, and the reservoir within
will be kept
reasonably free of water and oil.
(10) All producing leases
will be
legibly identified in a conspicuous place on or near the well-head or the
storage tank(s) as to owner, lease name, well number, permit number where
available, county, and an emergency telephone number. If multiple wells are
being produced into the common tank(s) each well-head
will be
identified as to owner, permit number where available, well number and lease
name.
Any change of ownership
will be shown
at the well-head or storage tank(s) not later than sixty days after the date of
the assignment or transfer.
(B) All gas vented to the atmosphere
has to
be flared, with the exception of gas released by a properly functioning relief
device and gas released by controlled venting for testing, blowing down and
cleaning out wells. Flares
have to be a minimum of one hundred feet from the
well, a minimum of one hundred feet from oil production tanks and all other
surface equipment, and one hundred feet from existing inhabited structures and
in a position so that any escaping oil or condensate cannot drain onto public
roads or towards existing inhabited structures or other areas which could cause
a safety hazard.
(C) Pits, pumps
and flares
have to be safely fenced if within one hundred fifty
feet of an existing inhabited structure and if in the opinion of the chief,
such fence is necessary to protect life and limb.
(D) In order to protect life, health, and
property the chief may
direct a person to secure valves on storage
facilities by locks,
bull plugs, or other similar devices in such a manner as to discourage
vandalism. When the chief determines that valves on storage facilities should
be secured,
the chief will notify the owner(s) and include the reason why
securing said valves will protect life, health, and property.
(E) Urbanized areas:
(1) Each identification sign, in lieu of the
identification
set forth under paragraph (A) of rule
1501:9-9-05 of the
Administrative Code, posted by the owner or their authorized representative
will
include, at a minimum, the following information in two inch or larger letters:
(a) Well owners name, address, and telephone
number.
(b) County, township, name
of village - city - town (where applicable).
(c) Property street address (or nearest
address to the access road entrance. If "nearest" is used, it should be
reflected on sign).
(d) State
permit number, lease name, and well number.
(e) Local emergency response phone number and
company emergency phone number.
(f)
Where a gate exists on the access road, the identification sign
will be
placed on the gate as well as the tank battery.
(g) The identification
will be
posted securely on the outside of the fence for the wellhead and tank battery
fence in a conspicuous location.
(h) The identification
will be
on a metal or wooden sign with the sign maintained to remain legible at all
times. The sign may be placed on a post securely placed in the ground at the
gate and/or adjacent to the fence at the wellhead or tank battery in lieu of on
the fence/gate.
(i) "Danger, Keep
Out" (or similar wording) and no smoking signs
will be
securely attached to each side of the fencing used to screen the tank battery
and wellhead.
(2) Prior
to placing the well in production, the owner
will install a
fence around the wellhead and tank battery/separator and associated production
equipment. The fence
will be a chain link fence no less than eight
feet in height, nine gauge and topped with three strands of barbed wire, if
necessary. In lieu of chain link fence, a cedar board on board (or similar
material) fence, eight feet in height may be used. All fence
will be
securely anchored in the ground.
(a) The fence
will be
placed no closer than four feet to the wellhead or any portion of the tank
battery/separator. The wellhead may be "caged" or vaulted. The cage or vault
cover
will provide for easy removal for well servicing
and/or emergency access. Clearance between the cage or vault cover or sides and
the wellhead should be sufficient to maintain safe operations.
(b) The gate to the wellhead and tank
battery/separator
will be no less than four feet in width and
lockable. Where there are two or more tanks in a tank battery, two gates on
opposite sides of the facility
will be placed.
(c) Where a lease/access road to the wellhead
and/or tank battery extends a significant distance from the ingress access
point a locked gate made of tubular steel or material similar in strength
will be
placed near the entrance to the access road restricting access to the well
site. Keys or the combination to the lock
will be
provided to the state inspector or local emergency response officials on
request.
(d) The well owner may
request in writing to the chief, a variance to placing a fence and/or to the
specifications for fence placement around the wellhead, tank battery/separator
and associated equipment. In the future where a variance has been granted or if
site conditions warrant, the chief may
direct a person to
place
a
fence.
(3) All gates,
electrical boxes and brine/oil pick-up lines
will be locked
unless in use, under repair, or company staff or representatives are on-site.
Keys or combinations to the locks
will be provided to the state inspector and local
emergency response staff on request.
(4) Tanks:
(a) Tanks
cannot be buried.
(b) Activated charcoal filters
will be
installed on the vent stack and filters replaced as needed.
(c) Vent stacks
will have a
functioning low-pressure relief valve.
(d) Tank hatch lids
will
have a functioning seal and the hatch
will be secured at all times
when the well owner or
the owner's
representative is not on-site.
(e)
Each oil storage tank shall have a functioning lightning arrestor.
(f) Low profile tanks are recommended and the
tanks
cannot extend more than three feet above the highest
portion of the fence.
(g) Storage
tanks
cannot be equipped with glass or plastic sitting
tubes.
(h) The tank battery,
separator and associated equipment
cannot be placed closer than seventy-five feet
from any property not part of the drilling unit unless the property owner and
resident of the property grants approval in writing of any proposed location
closer than seventy-five feet, or the chief waives the seventy-five foot
set-back specifications.
(i) Where more than six tanks (total capacity
exceeding seven hundred bbl) are to be located nearer than seventy-five feet to
property not included in the drilling unit, the adjacent property owner and
resident of the property
will approve the location of the tanks in writing
including a reference to the total number of tanks or, the chief may waive the
seventy-five foot set-back mandate.
(5) Operations and maintenance:
(a) Servicing and maintenance of the well
will
occur between the hours of seven a.m. and seven p.m. (emergency repairs may
occur at any time).
(b) Equipment
not used in the production of the well
cannot be stored at the well site.
Replacement equipment or replaced equipment cannot be stored on-site for more
than thirty days.
(c) Equipment and
vegetation
will be maintained consistent with reasonably prudent
operations, including being free of refuse, in order to assure protection of
public health or safety or to prevent damage to natural resources.
(6) Landscaping
(a) All landscaping placed to screen the tank
battery or wellhead
will be placed to permit reasonable access for
well servicing and emergency access.
(b) Evergreen or similar stock no less than
six feet in height placed no more than ten feet on center
will be
placed around the tank battery and wellhead fence.
(c) The chief, upon request by the well
owner, may grant a variance on the placement of screening around the tank
battery and/or wellhead.
