Washington Administrative Code
Title 332 - Natural Resources, Board and Department of (See also Title 222)
Chapter 332-17 - Geothermal drilling rules and regulations
Section 332-17-310 - Abandonment procedures

Universal Citation: WA Admin Code 332-17-310

Current through Register Vol. 24-18, September 15, 2024

No well shall be plugged and abandoned until the manner and method of plugging have been approved or prescribed by the department. The owner or operator shall give notice to the department of the intention to abandon the well and the date and time abandonment procedures will commence.

(1) The notice shall specify the condition of the well and the proposed method of abandonment. The owner or operator shall furnish such additional information concerning the well condition and abandonment procedures as may be required by the department.

(2) The owner or operator shall within twenty-four hours after giving notice of intent to abandon provide the department with a written notice setting forth the proposed abandonment procedures and the condition of the well.

(3) All wells to be abandoned shall have cement plugs placed in the well as prescribed herein. Such cement shall consist of a high temperature resistant admix unless waived by the department in accordance with the particular circumstances existing in the well.

(a) Cased holes.
(i) A cement plug shall be placed across all perforations in the casing, extending 30 meters (100 feet) below and 30 meters (100 feet) above the perforated interval.

(ii) A cement plug shall be placed across all casing stubs, laps, and liner tops, extending a minimum of 15 meters (50 feet) below and 15 meters (50 feet) above such stub, lap, or liner top.

(iii) Casing shoes shall be straddled by a cement plug with a minimum of 30 meters (100 feet) below and 30 meters (100 feet) above and below the shoe.

(iv) All annular space open to the surface shall be filled with cement to the surface.

(v) All casing exposed to the surface shall be cut off 6 feet below ground surface unless otherwise designated by the department.

(vi) A surface plug shall be placed in the casing extending for a minimum of 10 meters (30 feet) below the approved cut off top of the casing. The casing shall be capped by welding a steel plate on the casing stub.

(b) Open holes. Cement plugs shall be placed across fresh water zones, geothermal resource zones, to isolate formations, and to prevent interformational migration or contamination of fluids. Such plugs shall extend a minimum of 30 meters (100 feet) above and below all such zones.

(4) All intervals between plugs shall be filled with drilling mud.

(5) Within thirty days after plugging a well the owner or operator shall file an affidavit with the department setting forth in detail the method used in plugging the well and restoring the site. The affidavit shall be made on a form supplied by the department.

Statutory Authority: RCW 79.76.050(2). 79-02-001 (Order), § 332-17-310, filed 1/4/79.

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