Current through Reg. 49, No. 12; March 22, 2024
(a)
Definitions. The following words and terms, when used in this section, shall
have the following meanings, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.
(1) Seismic hole--Any hole drilled for the
purpose of securing geophysical information to be used in the exploration or
development of oil, gas, geothermal, or other mineral resources.
(2) Core hole--Any hole drilled for the
purpose of securing geological information to be used in the exploration or
development of oil, gas, geothermal, or other mineral resources, except coal or
uranium. For regulations governing coal exploratory wells, see Chapter 12 of
this title (relating to Coal Mining Regulations), and for regulations governing
uranium exploratory wells, see Chapter 11, Subchapter C of this title (relating
to Surface Mining and Reclamation Division, Substantive Rules--Uranium
Mining).
(3) Project area--The
geographic area in which an exploratory survey involving one or more seismic
holes or core holes is carried out.
(4) Protection depth--Depth or depths at
which usable quality water must be protected or isolated, as determined by the
Groundwater Advisory Unit of the Oil and Gas Division, which may include zones
that contain brackish or saltwater if such zones are correlative and/or
hydrologically connected to zones that contain usable-quality water.
(5) Operator--The person who contracts for
the services of a seismic crew or core hole drilling contractor or, if the
seismic survey or core hole testing is not performed on a contract basis, but
is performed by an exploration and production company or by a geophysical
contractor for speculative purposes, the person who drills the seismic holes or
core holes.
(6) Commission--The
Railroad Commission of Texas or its authorized representative.
(b) Exemption. Any seismic hole or
core hole drilled to a depth of 20 feet or less is not subject to the
requirements of this section.
(c)
Determination of protection depth. Before drilling any seismic hole or core
hole in a project area, an operator shall obtain a letter from the Groundwater
Advisory Unit of the Oil and Gas Division stating the protection depth or
depths in the project area.
(d)
Drilling permits.
(1) Holes that do not
penetrate any protection depth. A seismic hole or core hole that does not
penetrate any protection depth does not require a drilling permit.
(2) Holes that penetrate any protection
depth. A seismic hole or core hole that penetrates any protection depth
requires a drilling permit to satisfy the requirements for exploratory wells
described in §3.5(g) of this title (relating to Application To Drill,
Deepen, Reenter, or Plug Back) (Statewide Rule 5).
(e) Plugging.
(1) Holes that do not penetrate any
protection depth. A seismic hole or core hole that does not penetrate any
protection depth must be plugged in accordance with subparagraph (A) or (B) of
this paragraph. Seismic holes must be plugged after the hole is loaded with
explosives. Core holes must be plugged immediately after completion of coring
the hole.
(A) The operator shall adequately
plug the hole by filling it from total depth to a depth of no more than 16 feet
below the surface with drill cuttings and/or bentonite. Immediately above the
drill cuttings and/or bentonite, the operator shall place a bentonite plug no
less than 10 feet in length. A plastic cap imprinted with the name of the
operator shall be set above the bentonite plug no less than three feet below
the surface. The remainder of the hole shall be filled with drill cuttings or
native soil. All precautions should be taken to prevent bentonite from bridging
over.
(B) Alternative plugging
procedures and materials may be utilized when the operator has demonstrated to
the commission's satisfaction that the alternatives will protect usable quality
water.
(2) Holes that
penetrate any protection depth. A seismic hole or core hole that penetrates any
protection depth must be plugged in accordance with the requirements of
§3.14 of this title (relating to Plugging) (Statewide Rule 14) and a
plastic cap imprinted with the name of the operator shall be set in the hole no
less than three feet below the surface.
(f) Physical requirements for bentonite
plugging materials. Bentonite materials used to plug seismic or core holes
shall be derived from naturally occurring, untreated, high swelling sodium
bentonite that is composed of at least 85% montmorillonite clay and that meets
the International Association of Geophysical Contractors (IAGC) recommended
geophysical industry standard dated January 24, 1992, for the physical
characteristics of bentonite used in seismic shot hole plugging.
(g) Reporting.
(1) Holes that do not penetrate any
protection depth. Within 30 days of plugging the last hole in the project area,
the operator shall submit a letter to the commission stating that each seismic
hole or core hole in the project area has been plugged in accordance with
subsection (e)(1) of this section. The letter must include the plugging date
for each hole and the name and address of the operator. A plat of the project
area identifying seismic or core hole locations, counties, survey lines, scale,
and northerly direction must be attached. A United States Geological Survey map
of the project area with hole locations marked will satisfy the plat
requirement. In addition, a letter from the Groundwater Advisory Unit of the
Oil and Gas Division stating the protection depth or depths must be
attached.
(2) Holes that penetrate
any protection depth. For any seismic or core hole that penetrates any
protection depth, a plugging record shall be filed in accordance with
§3.14 of this title (relating to Plugging) (Statewide Rule 14).