NDAC 43-02-03-31
Well log, completion, and workover reports
Cite as N.D. Admin. Code ยง 43-02-03-31
1.
After the plugging of a well, a well plugging report must be filed with the director. After the
completion of a well, recompletion of a well in a different pool, or drilling horizontally in an
existing pool, a well completion report must be filed with the director. The operator shall cause
to be run an open hole electrical, radioactivity, or other similar log, or combination of open hole
logs, of the operator's choice, from which formation tops and porosity zones can be
determined. The operator shall cause to be run a gamma ray log from total depth to ground
level elevation of the well bore. Within six months of reaching total depth and prior to
completing the well, the operator shall cause to be run a cement evaluation log from which the
presence and quality of bonding of cement can be determined in every well in which
production or intermediate casing has been set. The initial cement evaluation log must be run
without the addition of pressure at surface, except at depths where the cement evaluation tool
may need appropriate pressure applied to function properly. The obligation to log may be
waived or postponed by the director if the necessity therefor can be demonstrated to the
director's satisfaction. Waiver will be contingent upon such terms and conditions as the
director deems appropriate. All logs run must be available to the director at the well site prior
to proceeding with plugging or completion operations. All logs run shall be submitted to the
director free of charge. Logs must be submitted as one digital TIFF (tagged image file format)
copy and one digital LAS (log ASCII) formatted copy, or a format approved by the director. In
addition, operators shall file one copy of drill stem test reports and charts, formation water
analyses, core analyses, geologic reports, and noninterpretive lithologic logs or sample
descriptions if compiled by the operator.
2.
All information furnished to the director on permits, except the operator name, well name,
location, permit date, confidentiality period, spacing or drilling unit description, spud date, rig
contractor, central tank battery number, any production runs, or volumes injected into an
injection well, must be kept confidential from the date a request by the operator is received in
writing until the six-month confidentiality period has ended. The six-month period commences
on the date the well is completed or the date the written request is received, whichever is
earlier. If the written request accompanies the application for permit to drill or is filed after
permitting but prior to spudding, the six-month period commences on the date the well is
spudded. The director may release such confidential completion and production data to health
care professionals, emergency responders, and state, federal, or tribal environmental and
public health regulators if the director deems it necessary to protect the public's health, safety,
and welfare.
3.
All information furnished to the director on recompletions, restimulation wells, or reentries,
except the operator name, well name, location, permit date, confidentiality period, spacing or
drilling unit description, spud date, rig contractor, any production runs, or volumes injected into
an injection well, must be kept confidential for not more than six months if requested by the
operator in writing. The six-month period commences on the date the well is completed,
recompleted, or restimulated or the date a request by the operator is received in writing,
whichever is earlier. Any information furnished to the director prior to approval of the
recompletion, restimulation, or reentry must remain public.
4.
Approval must be obtained on a well sundry notice from the director prior to perforating or
recompleting a well in a pool other than the pool in which the well is currently permitted.
5.
After the completion of any remedial work, or attempted remedial work such as plugging back
or drilling deeper, acidizing, shooting, formation fracturing, squeezing operations, remedial
cementing, setting liner, perforating, reperforating, or other similar operations not specifically
covered herein, a report on the operation shall be filed on a well sundry notice with the
director. The report must present a detailed account of all work done and the date of such
work; the shots per foot, size, and depth of perforations; the quantity of cement, sand, crude,
chemical, or other materials employed in the operation; any other pertinent information or
operations which affect the original status of the well and are not specifically covered herein,
and any other information required by the director.
6.
Upon the installation of pumping equipment on a flowing well, or change in type of pumping
equipment designed to increase productivity in a well, the operator shall submit a well sundry
notice of such installation. The notice must include all pertinent information on the pump and
the operation thereof including the date of such installation.
7.
All forms, reports, logs, and other information required by this section must be submitted
within thirty days after the completion of such work, although a completion report must be filed
immediately after the completion or recompletion of a well in a pool or reservoir not then
covered by an order of the commission.