South Carolina Code of Regulations
Chapter 121 - DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES
Section 121-8.13 - Plugging

Universal Citation: SC Code Regs 121-8.13

Current through Register Vol. 48, 12, December 27, 2024

A. All oil wells or gas wells shall be plugged within thirty (30) days after temporary abandonment, unless special provisions have been approved by the Commission. Prior to commencing to plug or abandon any oil or gas well, the operator thereof shall notify the Commission orally and in writing of his intent to plug and abandon such well. Upon receiving approval, the operator shall be free to begin plugging said well provided the plugging shall be done in accordance with these rules and regulations. The Commission may send a duly authorized representative to the location specified, to be present at the time of plugging, and to observe the plugging of such well. Such representative shall have access to electrical logs and any other well records to determine if the proposed depths and lengths of plugs are adequate.

B. The method and procedure for plugging a well shall be as follows:

(1) The bottom of the hole shall be filled with mud-laden fluid weighing at least 9.0 pounds per gallon with not less than thirty-six (36) viscosity API full funnel method, to the top of the hole. Each producing formation shall be sealed off with a cement plug which extends either from the bottom of the hole or from a point twenty-five (25) feet below the base of each producing formation upward to a point at least fifty (50) feet above the top of each producing formation.

(2) A cement plug not less than fifty (50) feet in length shall be placed below all USDW's, and such plug shall extend downward to a point at least twenty-five (25) feet below the base of the surface string of casing.

(3) A thirty (30) foot cement plug shall be placed at the surface of the ground in each hole plugged in such a manner so as not to interfere with soil cultivation.

(4) The interval between plugs shall be filled with mud-laden fluid weighing at least 9.0 pounds per gallon, with not less than thirty-six (36) viscosity API full funnel method.

(5) An uncased rotary drilled hole or a hole in which the production string has been recovered during abandonment procedures shall be plugged with heavy mud-laden fluid up to the base of the surface string. A cement plug shall be placed in the hole extending from a point at least fifty (50) feet below the base of the surface string upward to a point at least twenty-five (25) feet above the base of a surface string. Each producing formation shall be sealed off with a cement plug which extends from twenty-five (25) feet below the base of the formation to fifty (50) feet above the top of the formation. The hole shall also be capped as provided above in Subsection B(3).

C. Within thirty (30) days after the plugging of any well, a plugging report shall be filed with the Commission setting forth in detail the method used in plugging the well. Such report shall be made on a form provided by the Commission.

D. Any hole permitted under Sections 121-8.4 and 121-8.5 of these regulations for seismic, core, or other exploratory purposes which penetrates below any freshwater formation shall be plugged in such manner as to properly protect all water bearing formations. Within ninety (90) days after such plugging, a report shall be filed with the Commission by the operator, setting forth the method used in protecting the water bearing formations in the plugging of such hole and the locations of the holes drilled and plugged.

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