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) Cathodic protection well--Any well
drilled for the purpose of installing one or more anodes to prevent corrosion
of a facility associated with the production of oil, gas, or geothermal
resources, such as a well casing, storage and separation facility, or
pipeline.
(2) Project area--The
geographic area in which a related group of cathodic protection wells is
drilled.
(3) 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.
(4)
Commission--The Railroad Commission of Texas or its authorized
representative.
(b)
Exemption. Any cathodic protection well that is drilled to a depth of 30 feet
or less is not subject to the requirements of this section.
(c) Determination of protection depth. Before
drilling any cathodic protection well, an operator shall obtain a letter from
the Groundwater Advisory Unit of the Oil and Gas Division stating the
protection depth or depths.
(d)
Drilling permits.
(1) Wells that do not
penetrate any protection depth. A cathodic protection well that does not
penetrate any protection depth does not require a drilling permit.
(2) Wells that penetrate any protection
depth. A cathodic protection well that penetrates any protection depth must be
drilled in accordance with the requirements of §3.5(g) of this title
(relating to Application To Drill, Deepen, Reenter, or Plug Back) (Statewide
Rule 5).
(e) Completion.
(1) Timing. A cathodic protection well must
be completed as soon as possible after it is drilled.
(2) Wells that do not penetrate any
protection depth. A cathodic protection well that does not penetrate any
protection depth must be completed in accordance with subparagraph (A) or (B)
of this paragraph.
(A) The operator must place
at least a 10-foot cement or bentonite plug at the top of the well. The top of
the plug shall be no less than three feet below the surface, and the remainder
of the hole between the top of the plug and the surface shall be filled with
drill cuttings or native soil.
(B)
Alternative completion procedures and materials may be utilized when the
operator has demonstrated to the commission's satisfaction that the
alternatives will protect usable quality water.
(3) Wells that penetrate any protection
depth. A cathodic protection well that penetrates any protection depth must be
completed in accordance with subparagraph (A) or (B) of this paragraph.
(A) The operator must either set and cement
casing to the deepest protection depth penetrated or center a 100-foot cement
plug across each protection depth penetrated and must place at least a 10-foot
cement or bentonite plug at the top of the well. The top of the plug shall be
no less than three feet below the surface, and the remainder of the hole
between the top of the plug and the surface shall be filled with drill cuttings
or native soil.
(B) Alternative
completion procedures and materials may be utilized when the operator has
demonstrated to the commission's satisfaction that the alternatives will
protect usable quality water.
(f) Physical requirements for bentonite
plugging materials. Bentonite materials used to plug cathodic protection wells
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. Within 30 days of completion
of the last well in a project area, the operator shall submit a letter to the
commission stating that each cathodic protection well in the project area has
been completed in accordance with subsection (e) of this section. The letter
must include the completion date for each well, the name and address of the
operator, and the drilling permit and API numbers of the well, if applicable. A
plat of the project area identifying cathodic protection well locations,
counties, survey lines, scale, and northerly direction must be attached. In
addition, a letter from the Groundwater Advisory Unit of the Oil and Gas
Division stating the protection depth or depths must be attached.
(h) Abandonment. Upon abandonment of a
cathodic protection well, any wires or vent pipe must be cut off at the top of
the 10-foot surface plug, and the vent pipe must be securely capped or
plugged.