R 324.902 Plugging instructions; methods and materials.

Rule 902. (1) The supervisor or authorized representative of the supervisor shall issue plugging instructions after receipt of notification pursuant to R 324.901. The plugging instructions shall specify all of the following information: (a) The type and amount of plugging material to be used. (b) The depths at which bridges are to be set. (c) The depths and lengths of cement plugs. (d) The amount of casing to be pulled. (e) Other requirements the supervisor determines are necessary for the proper plugging of the well. (2) A permittee of a well shall ensure that all oil, gas, brine, and fresh water is confined to the strata in which the oil, gas, brine, and fresh water occur by using cement plugs or other plugs approved by the supervisor. A permittee of a well shall ensure that the well is plugged under static hole conditions at all times, unless otherwise approved by the supervisor or authorized representative of the supervisor. (3) A permittee of a well shall ensure that each cement plug, except for the bottom hole plug required by subrule (5) of this rule, the plug to be set at the base of the surface casing required by subrule (6) of this rule, and the surface plug required by subrule (7) of this rule, is a minimum of 200 feet in length or contains 50 sacks of cement, whichever is the greater volume of cement, unless otherwise approved by the supervisor or authorized representative of the supervisor. (4) A permittee of a well shall ensure that each cement plug, except for the bottom hole plug required by subrule (5) of this rule and the plug to be set at the base of the surface casing required by subrule (6) of this rule, is allowed to set undisturbed for a minimum of 1 hour and that the fluid level in the casing is continuously observed. If the observed fluid level in the casing drops during the hour, then the cement plug shall be tagged to ensure that the plug is still in place before setting the next plug uphole.If the plug is found not to be in place, then the plug shall be reset. (5) A permittee of a well shall ensure that the bottom hole cement plug is either: (a) A minimum of 200 feet in length, is allowed to set undisturbed for a minimum of 4 hours, has reached a compressive strength of 100 psi or more, and is tagged to ensure that it is still in place before setting the next plug uphole; however, if the bottom hole cement plug in a dry hole drilled by rotary methods is a minimum of 400 feet in length and the fluid level in the hole is observed to remain static, then the bottom hole plug is not required to be tagged. (b) A mechanical bridge plug or other approved bridge has been set and a minimum of 50 feet of cement has been placed on the bridge before setting the next plug uphole. (6) A permittee of a well shall set the plug at the base of the surface casing using either of the following methods as approved by the supervisor or authorized representative of the supervisor: (a) In static hole conditions, a cement plug shall be set at a minimum of 100 feet below the surface casing and shall extend a minimum of 100 feet into the surface casing. The cement plug shall be allowed to set undisturbed a minimum of 4 hours, shall have reached a compressive strength of 100 psi or more, and shall be tagged to ensure that it is still in place before setting the next plug uphole. If the plug is found not to be in place, then the plug shall be reset. (b) A mechanical open hole bridge plug or other approved bridge shall be set a minimum of 100 feet below the surface casing. A cement plug shall then be placed on the mechanical open hole bridge plug or other approved bridge. The cement plug shall extend a minimum of 100 feet into the surface casing, unless otherwise approved by the supervisor or authorized representative of the supervisor. (7) A permittee of a well shall set a cement surface plug a minimum of 30 feet below the surface and within 5 feet of the surface, unless otherwise approved by the supervisor or authorized representative of the supervisor. (8) If surface casing is not present, a permittee of a well shall set a mechanical open hole bridge plug or other approved bridge a minimum of 100 feet below the base of the glacial drift or 100 feet below the deepest fresh water stratum, whichever is the greater depth, and shall circulate cement to within 5 feet of the surface. (9) A permittee of a well shall ensure that the surface pipe or conductor pipe abandoned with the hole is cut off at a point not less than 4 feet below grade, a 1/2-inch steel welded plate or another type of seal approved by the supervisor or authorized representative of the supervisor is placed across the top of the pipe or pipes, and the permit number of the well is permanently affixed to the plate or approved seal at the top of the well. (10) A permittee shall file, within 60 days after plugging, the final plugging forms and certified copies of the service company records, which shall include all of the following information: (a) The type of cement and number of sacks used, including the additives and percentages of the additives for each cement bridge plug. (b) The type and volume of plugging material used if other than cement. (c) The number of bridge plugs set in the hole and the depth and length of each plug. (d) Other materials left in the hole. (e) Service companies’ records of cementing operations if requested by the supervisor or authorized representative of the supervisor. (f) All available graphics, if requested by the supervisor or authorized representative of the supervisor, showing the all of following information: (i) Pumping. (ii) Placement of cement. (iii) Weights. (iv) Times. (v) Pump rates. (vi) Other pertinent data dealing with the plugging operations. (g) The amounts and type of mix water used for each sack of cement. (h) The volume and types of spacers and flushes used. (i) The operator’s daily plugging records. (11) At a permittee's option, the well bore may be plugged from bottom to top with a material approved by the supervisor if the hydrostatic pressure of the material used is not allowed to exceed the fracturing pressure of the strata.