[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 193 (Friday, October 4, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 80944-80948]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-22975]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Mine Safety and Health Administration


Petition for Modification of Application of Existing Mandatory 
Safety Standards

AGENCY: Mine Safety and Health Administration, Labor.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: This notice is a summary of a petition for modification 
submitted to the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) by Iron 
Cumberland, LLC.

DATES: All comments on the petition must be received by MSHA's Office 
of Standards, Regulations, and Variances on or before November 4, 2024.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments identified by Docket No. MSHA-2024-
0030 by any of the following methods:
    1. Federal eRulemaking Portal: https://www.regulations.gov. Follow 
the instructions for submitting comments for MSHA-2024-0030.
    2. Fax: 202-693-9441.
    3. Email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#5d2d382934293432333e3230303833292e1d393231733a322b"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="314154455845585e5f525e5c5c545f454271555e5d1f565e47">[email protected]</span></a>.
    4. Regular Mail or Hand Delivery: MSHA, Office of Standards, 
Regulations, and Variances, 201 12th Street South, Suite 4E401, 
Arlington, Virginia 22202-5452.
    Attention: S. Aromie Noe, Director, Office of Standards, 
Regulations, and Variances. Persons delivering documents are required 
to check in at the receptionist's desk, 4th Floor West.

[[Page 80945]]

Individuals may inspect copies of the petition and comments during 
normal business hours at the address listed above. Before visiting MSHA 
in person, call 202-693-9455 to make an appointment, in keeping with 
the Department of Labor's COVID-19 policy. Special health precautions 
may be required.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: S. Aromie Noe, Office of Standards, 
Regulations, and Variances at 202-693-9440 (voice), 
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#f2a297869b869b9d9c81949d809f9d969b949b9193869b9d9cb2969d9edc959d84"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="247441504d504d4b4a57424b56494b404d424d4745504d4b4a64404b480a434b52">[email protected]</span></a> (email), or 202-693-9441 (fax). [These 
are not toll-free numbers.]

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 101(c) of the Federal Mine Safety 
and Health Act of 1977 and title 30 of the Code of Federal Regulations 
(CFR) part 44 govern the application, processing, and disposition of 
petitions for modification.

I. Background

    Section 101(c) of the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977 
(Mine Act) allows the mine operator or representative of miners to file 
a petition to modify the application of any mandatory safety standard 
to a coal or other mine if the Secretary of Labor determines that:
    1. An alternative method of achieving the result of such standard 
exists which will at all times guarantee no less than the same measure 
of protection afforded the miners of such mine by such standard; or
    2. The application of such standard to such mine will result in a 
diminution of safety to the miners in such mine.
    In addition, sections 44.10 and 44.11 of 30 CFR establish the 
requirements for filing petitions for modification.

II. Petition for Modification

    Docket Number: M-2024-013-C.
    Petitioner: Iron Cumberland, LLC, 576 Maple Run Road, Waynesburg, 
PA 15370.
    Mine: Cumberland Mine, MSHA ID No. 36-05018, located in Greene 
County, Pennsylvania.
    Regulation Affected: 30 CFR 75.1700, Oil and gas wells.
    Modification Request: The petitioner requests a modification of 30 
CFR 75.1700 as it relates to unconventional gas wells at the mine. 
Specifically, the petitioner is petitioning to mine within the 300-feet 
barrier established by 30 CFR 75.1700.
    The petitioner states that:
    (a) Cumberland is a large coal mine that produces coal from the 
Pittsburgh seam. It utilizes continuous miners to develop panels for 
retreat mining by longwall mining equipment.
    (b) The Cumberland Mine employs approximately 754 miners and 
produces approximately 32,000 tons of bituminous coal per day from the 
Pittsburgh #8 coal seam with an average height of 96 inches. At this 
time, there are no coal seams being mined stratigraphically down 
section from the Pittsburgh seam. The mine is accessed through one 
slope and five airshafts. The mine operates one longwall, two advancing 
gate sections, and a mains section utilizing continuous mining 
machines.
    (c) The planning for the layout of a longwall mining panel and 
district is a complex one that necessarily must take into account 
various factors related to ventilation, roof control, coal quality and 
production.
    (d) The petition is necessary to facilitate mining of the No. 83 
South longwall panel. The longwall shearer will mine through and 
intersect the Alpha Unit 2 Marcellus gas wells. Altering mining 
projections to avoid the Alpha Unit 2 gas wells would require a 
``longwall move'' in the middle of a panel. This would require driving 
an additional set up face and could potentially create adverse 
ventilation and roof control conditions. It would also require an 
additional longwall ``move,'' which has certain inherent hazards 
related to moving longwall equipment through the mine.
    (e) The Cumberland Mine desires to plug eight unconventional gas 
wells in the Marcellus shale so that mining may occur within the 300-
foot diameter or so that they may be mined through. These are:

(1) The Alpha Unit 2 Marcellus Gas Well American Petroleum Institute 
(API) #: 37-059-25679(1 H)
(2) The Alpha Unit 2 Marcellus Gas Well (API) #: 37-059-25763(1.1H)
(3) The Alpha Unit 2 Marcellus Gas Well (API) #: 37-059-25979(2H)
(4) The Alpha Unit 2 Marcellus Gas Well (API) #: 37-059-25764(3H)
(5) The Alpha Unit 2 Marcellus Gas Well (API) #: 37-059-26051(5H)
(6) The Alpha Unit 2 Marcellus Gas Well API #: 37-059-25980 (6H)
(7) The Alpha Unit 2 Marcellus Gas Well API #: 37-059-26052 (7H)
(8) The Alpha Unit 2 Marcellus Gas Well API #: 37-059-25981 (8H)

    (f) The requested petition is necessary because the existing 
granted petitions do not specifically apply to unconventional wells, 
and, if a 300-foot barrier around the AU2 wells is required in 
accordance with the provisions of 75.1700, the roof control plan would 
be adversely affected and the mine ventilation plan would be unduly 
complicated. Mining an additional set-up face and bleeder entries would 
be required, additional conveyer belt drives would need to be 
installed, and an entire longwall mining unit in the middle a panel 
would need to be moved, unnecessarily exposing miners to transportation 
hazards as well as hazards associated with mine roof. Further, other 
safe methods and procedures are available to achieve the result 
intended by the standard. The wells would be ``killed'' and depleted of 
all gas and effectively plugged prior to intersection. Effective, safe 
methods of plugging wells are established and addressed in the proposed 
petition.
    (g) The alternative method provides an equivalent level of 
protection as many previous petitions. It permits identification of 
wells and contains provisions that prevent the introduction of methane 
or natural gas within the mine by appropriate and extensive plugging of 
the wells. Additional precautions provide for the detection of gas and 
the prevention of accumulations of gas with oversight by MSHA.
    The petitioner proposes the following alternative method:
    (a) A safety barrier of 300 feet in diameter shall be maintained 
around the Alpha Unit 2 1H, 1.1H, 2H, 3H, 5H, 6H, 7H and 8H gas wells 
until the District Manager approves proceeding with mining.
    (b) A sworn affidavit or declaration executed by the company 
official who is in charge of health and safety at the mine stating that 
all mandatory procedures in the Proposed Decision and Order (PDO) 
granted by MSHA for cleaning out, preparing, and plugging each gas well 
have been completed shall be provided to the District Manager prior to 
mining within the safety barrier around these wells. The affidavit or 
declaration shall be accompanied by all logs, electronic or otherwise, 
described in section (d)(7) and any other records the District Manager 
requires.
    (c) The terms and conditions of the PDO granted by MSHA shall apply 
to all types of underground coal mining.
    (d) The following procedures shall be followed for cleaning out and 
preparing the Alpha Unit 2 1H, 1.1H, 2H, 3H, 5H, 6H, 7H and 8H gas 
wells prior to plugging:
    (1) Test for gas emissions inside the hole before cleaning out, 
preparing, and plugging gas wells. The District Manager shall be 
contacted if the well is actively producing gas.
    (2) Since these wells are unconventional and greater than 4,000 
feet in depth, a diligent effort shall be made to remove all the casing 
in the well and clean the well down to the

[[Page 80946]]

original arrowset packer installed just above the ``kick off point'' in 
the well. The well shall be completely cleaned from the surface to at 
least the same arrowset packer originally installed. The District 
Manager shall be provided with all information it possesses concerning 
the geological nature of the strata and the pressure of the well. A 
diligent effort shall be made to remove all material from the entire 
diameter of the well, wall to wall.
    (3) Since these wells will no longer be producing and will be 
cleaned and prepared subject to the PDO granted by MSHA, a diligent 
effort shall be made to remove all of the casing and comply with all 
other applicable provisions of the PDO granted by MSHA.
    (4) A diligent effort to remove the casing shall require a minimum 
of 150 percent of the casing string weight and/or at least three 
attempts to spear the casing for the required minimum pull effort. A 
record of these efforts, including casing length and weight shall be 
kept and made available for MSHA review.
    (5) Perforations or rips shall be made at least every 50 feet from 
400 feet below the base of the coal seam up to 100 feet above the 
uppermost mineable coal seam. Appropriate steps shall be taken to 
ensure that the annulus between the casing and the well walls are 
filled with expanding (minimum 0.5 percent expansion upon setting) 
cement and contain no voids.
    (6) Jet/sand cutting is one method for cutting, ripping, or 
perforating the casing with three or more strings of casing in the coal 
seam in preparation for mining. This method uses compressed nitrogen 
gas and sand to cut the well casings. On active wells, cuts start at 
200 feet above the bottom of the casing, at 200 feet intervals, to 200 
feet below the bottom of the coal seam.
    (7) The operator shall prepare down-hole logs for each well. Logs 
shall consist of a caliper survey, a bond log if appropriate, a 
deviation survey, and a gamma survey for determining the top, bottom, 
and thickness of all coal seams down to the coal seam to be mined or 
the lowest mineable coal seam, whichever is lower, potential 
hydrocarbon producing strata, and the location of any existing bridge 
plug. In addition, a log shall be maintained describing: the depth of 
each material encountered; the nature of each material encountered; bit 
size and type used to drill each portion of the hole; length and type 
of each material used to plug the well; length of casings removed, 
perforated or ripped, or left in place; any sections where casing was 
cut or milled; and other pertinent information concerning cleaning and 
sealing the well. Invoices, workorders, and other records relating to 
all work on the well shall be maintained as part of this journal and 
provided to MSHA upon request.
    (8) A diligent effort shall be made to remove the casing down to 
the arrowset packer installed just above the ``kick off point'' (where 
the well transitions from vertical to horizontal). If the entire 
vertical casing above the existing packer can be removed, the well 
shall be prepared for plugging and sealed and using seals described in 
section (d)(10).
    (9) If the District Manager concludes that the completely cleaned 
out well is emitting excessive amounts of gas, an additional mechanical 
bridge plug shall be placed in the well.
    (10) The mechanical bridge plug shall be placed in a competent 
stratum at least 400 feet below the base of the lowest mineable coal 
seam, but above the top of the uppermost hydrocarbon-producing stratum, 
unless the District Manager requires a greater distance based on the 
geological strata or the pressure within the well. The District Manager 
shall be provided with all available information concerning the 
geological nature of the strata and the pressure of the well. If it is 
not possible to set a mechanical bridge plug, an appropriately sized 
packer may be used. The measures taken to ``kill the well'' and plug 
the hydrocarbon producing strata shall be documented.
    (11) If the upper-most hydrocarbon-producing stratum is within 300 
feet of the base of the coal seam, mechanical bridge plugs shall be 
properly placed to isolate the hydrocarbon-producing stratum from the 
expanding cement plug.
    (12) A minimum of 400 feet of expanding cement shall be placed 
below the coal seam, unless the District Manager requires a greater 
distance based the geological strata or to the pressure within the 
well.
    (e) The following procedures shall be followed for plugging the 
Alpha Unit 2 1H, 1.1H, 2H, 3H, 5H, 6H, 7H and 8H gas wells to the 
surface after completely cleaning out the well:
    (1) Cement shall be used as a plugging material.
    (2) The mine operator shall pump cement slurry down the well to 
form a plug which runs from the original arrowset packer installed just 
above the ``kick off point'' in the well to 400 feet below the 
Pittsburgh #8 coal seam. The cement shall be placed in the well under a 
pressure of at least 200 pounds per square inch (psi). The mine 
operator shall pump expanding cement slurry down the well to form a 
plug which runs from 400 feet below the coal seam to the surface. The 
District Manager can modify the cementing plan based on the geological 
strata or the pressure within the well.
    (3) The mine operator shall embed steel turnings or other small 
magnetic particles in the top of the cement near the surface to serve 
as a permanent magnetic monument of the well. In the alternative, a 4-
inch or larger diameter casing, set in cement, shall extend at least 36 
inches above the ground level with the API well number engraved or 
welded on the casing. When the hole cannot be marked with a physical 
monument (e.g., prime farmland), high-resolution GPS coordinates (one-
half meter resolution) are required.
    (f) The following procedures shall be followed for preparing and 
plugging or re-plugging the Alpha Unit 2 1H, 1.1H, 2H, 3H, 5H, 6H, 7H 
and 8H gas wells:
    (1) If it is not possible to remove all the casing, the District 
Manager shall be notified before any other work is performed.
    (2) If the well cannot be cleaned out or the casing removed, the 
well shall be prepared from the surface to at least 400 feet below the 
base of the Pittsburgh #8 coal seam, unless the District Manager 
requires cleaning out and removal of casing to a greater depth based on 
the geological strata or the pressure within the well.
    (3) If the casing cannot be removed from the total depth, the well 
shall be filled with cement from the lowest possible depth to 400 feet 
below the Pittsburgh #8 coal seam, and the other applicable provisions 
in the PDO granted by MSHA shall apply.
    (4) If the casing cannot be removed, the casing shall be perforated 
from 400 feet below the Pittsburgh #8 coal seam, the annuli shall be 
cemented or otherwise filled, and the other applicable provisions in 
the PDO granted by MSHA shall apply.
    (5) If the casing cannot be removed, the casing shall be cut, 
milled, perforated, or ripped at sufficient intervals to facilitate the 
removal of any remaining casing in the coal seam by the mining 
equipment. Any casing which remains shall be cut, perforated, or ripped 
to permit the injection of cement into voids within and around the 
well. All casing remaining at the Pittsburgh #8 coal seam shall be cut, 
perforated, or ripped at least every 5 feet from 10 feet below the coal 
seam to 10 feet above the coal seam.
    (g) The following procedures shall be followed when mining within a 
100-foot diameter barrier around the Alpha Unit 2 1H, 1.1H, 2H, 3H, 5H, 
6H, 7H and 8H gas wells.

[[Page 80947]]

    (1) A representative of the mine operator, a representative of the 
miners, the appropriate State agency, or the MSHA District Manager may 
request that a conference be conducted prior to intersecting any 
plugged well. The party requesting the conference shall notify all 
other parties listed above within a reasonable time prior to the 
conference to provide opportunity for participation. The purpose of the 
conference shall be to review, evaluate, and accommodate any abnormal 
or unusual circumstance related to the condition of the well or 
surrounding strata when such conditions are encountered.
    (2) Each well shall be intersected on a shift approved by the 
District Manager. The District Manager and the miners' representative 
shall be notified in sufficient time prior to intersecting a well to 
provide an opportunity to have representatives present.
    (3) Drivage sites shall be installed at the last open crosscut near 
the place to be mined to ensure intersection of the well when using 
continuous mining methods. The drivage sites shall not be more than 50 
feet from the well. When using longwall-mining methods, distance 
markers shall be installed on 5-foot centers for a distance of 50 feet 
in advance of the well in the headgate entry and in the tailgate entry.
    (4) When either the conventional or continuous mining method is 
used, firefighting equipment including fire extinguishers, rock dust, 
and sufficient fire hose to reach the working face area of the well 
intersection shall be available and operable during all well 
intersections. The fire hose shall be located in the last open crosscut 
of the entry or room. A water line shall be maintained to the belt 
conveyor tailpiece along with a sufficient amount of fire hose to reach 
the farthest point of penetration on the section. When the longwall 
mining method is used, a hose to the longwall water supply is 
sufficient.
    (5) Sufficient supplies of roof support and ventilation materials 
shall be available and located at the last open crosscut. In addition, 
emergency plugs and suitable sealing materials shall be available in 
the immediate area of the well intersection.
    (6) Testing and permissibility examinations of all equipment shall 
be made on the shift prior to intersecting the well. Water sprays, 
water pressures, and water flow rates used for dust and spark 
suppression shall be examined and any deficiencies corrected.
    (7) The methane monitor(s) on the longwall, continuous mining 
machine, or cutting machine and loading machine shall be calibrated on 
the shift prior to intersecting the well.
    (8) When mining is in progress, tests for methane shall be made 
with a handheld methane detector at least every 10 minutes from when 
mining with the continuous mining machine or longwall face is within 30 
feet of the well until the well is intersected. During the actual 
cutting process, no individual shall be allowed on the return side 
until the well intersection has been completed and the area has been 
examined and declared safe. All workplace examinations on the return 
side of the shearer shall be conducted while the shearer is idle. The 
most current Approved Ventilation Plan shall be followed at all times 
unless the District Manager requires a greater air velocity for the 
intersect.
    (9) When using continuous or conventional mining methods, the 
working place shall be free from accumulations of coal dust and coal 
spillages. Rock dust shall be placed on the roof, rib, and floor to 
within 20 feet of the face when intersecting the well. On longwall 
sections, rock dusting shall be conducted and placed on the roof, rib, 
and floor up to both the headgate and tailgate gob.
    (10) When the well is intersected, all equipment shall be de-
energized and thoroughly examined and the area determined to be safe 
before permitting mining to resume.
    (11) After a well has been intersected and the working place 
determined to be safe, mining shall continue inby the well a sufficient 
distance to permit adequate ventilation around the area of the well.
    (12) If the casing is cut or milled at the coal seam level, the use 
of torches should not be necessary. When necessary, torches may be used 
for inadequately or inaccurately cut or milled casings. No open flame 
shall be permitted in the area until adequate ventilation has been 
established around the well bore and methane levels of less than 1.0 
percent are present in all areas that will be exposed to flames and 
sparks from the torch. A thick layer of rock dust shall be applied to 
the roof, face, floor, ribs, and any exposed coal within 20 feet of the 
casing prior to the use of torches.
    (13) Non-sparking (brass) tools shall be available and used 
exclusively to expose and examine cased wells.
    (14) No person shall be permitted in the area of the well 
intersection except those actually engaged in the operation, including 
company personnel, representatives of the miners, personnel from MSHA, 
and personnel from the appropriate State agency.
    (15) All personnel in the mine shall be alerted to the planned 
intersection of the well prior to their going underground if the 
planned intersection is to occur during their shift. This warning shall 
be repeated for all shifts until the well has been mined through.
    (16) The well intersection shall be under the direct supervision of 
a certified individual. Instructions concerning the well intersection 
shall be issued only by the certified individual in charge.
    (17) If the well in the longwall panel cannot be located or if a 
development section misses the anticipated intersection, mining shall 
cease, and an examination for hazardous conditions at the projected 
location of the well shall be conducted, the District Manager shall be 
notified, and reasonable measures shall be taken to locate the well, 
including visual observation/inspection or through survey data. Mining 
may resume if the well is located, and no hazardous conditions exist. 
If the well cannot be located, the mine operator shall work with 
District Manager to resolve any issues before mining resumes.
    (18) The provisions of the requested petition do not impair the 
authority of representatives of MSHA to interrupt or halt the well 
intersection and to issue a withdrawal order when they deem it 
necessary for the safety of the miners. MSHA may order an interruption 
or cessation of the well intersection and/or a withdrawal of personnel 
by issuing either a verbal or written order to that effect to a 
representative of the mine operator. Operations in the affected area of 
the mine may not resume until a representative of MSHA permits 
resumption. The mine operator and miners shall comply with verbal or 
written MSHA orders immediately. All verbal orders shall be committed 
to writing within a reasonable time as conditions permit.
    (19) A copy of the PDO granted by MSHA shall be maintained at the 
mine and available to the miners.
    (20) If the well is not plugged to the total depth of all minable 
coal seams identified in the core hole logs, any coal seams beneath the 
lowest plug shall remain subject to the bander requirements of 30 CFR 
75.1700, should those coal seams be developed in the future.
    (21) All necessary safety precautions and safe practices according 
to industry standards and required by MSHA regulations and State 
regulatory agencies having jurisdiction over the plugging site shall be 
followed to provide the upmost protection to the miners involved in the 
process.

[[Page 80948]]

    (22) All miners involved in the plugging or re-plugging operations 
shall be trained on the contents of the PDO granted by MSHA prior to 
starting the process. A copy of the PDO granted by MSHA shall be posted 
at the well site until the plugging or re-plugging has been completed.
    (23) Mechanical bridge plugs shall incorporate the best available 
technologies that are either required or recognized by the State 
regulatory agency and/or oil and gas industry.
    (24) Within 30 days after the PDO granted by MSHA becomes final, 
proposed revisions for the approved 30 CFR part 48 training plan shall 
be submitted to the District Manager. These proposed revisions shall 
include initial and refresher training on compliance with the terms and 
conditions stated in the PDO granted by MSHA. All miners involved in 
well intersection shall be provided with training on the requirements 
of the PDO granted by MSHA prior to mining within 150 feet of the well 
intended to be mined through.
    (25) The responsible person required under 30 CFR 75.1501, shall be 
responsible for well intersection emergencies. The well intersection 
procedures shall be reviewed by the responsible person prior to any 
planned intersection.
    (26) Within 30 days after the PDO granted by MSHA becomes final, 
proposed revisions shall be submitted for the approved mine emergency 
evacuation and firefighting program of instruction required under 30 
CFR 75.1502. The program of instruction shall be revised to include the 
hazards and evacuation procedures to be used for well intersections. 
All underground miners shall be trained in this revised plan within 30 
days of submittal.
    (h) The following detailed cleaning and plugging procedures are 
additional specifics and guidelines for cleaning out and preparing the 
Alpha Unit 2 IH, 1.1H, 3H, 5H, 6H, 7H and 8H gas wells prior to 
plugging and for plugging the Alpha Unit 2 gas wells to the surface:
    (1) Record the shut-in pressure and monitor the casing pressure.
    (2) Move in equipment. Rig up the wireline rig and the pumping unit 
to the well head. Load fresh water (8.3 lbs/gallon) and weighted brine 
water (10.0 lbs/gallon) into their respective tanks.
    (3) Pump sufficient amount of weighted brine water into the 
wellbore first. Switch to fresh water and finish loading the wellbore. 
Fresh and brine water shall be pumped until the well is officially 
``killed,'' which means the well is dead and has no gas delivered to 
the surface.
    (4) Rig up the wireline well head control. Run into the hole with a 
5\1/2\''-10,000 psi rated Cast Iron Bridge Plug (CIBP) and set the CIBP 
within the 5\1/2\'' production tubing at the location where the 
existing arrowset packer is installed (located just above the ``kick 
off point'' in the well). Pull out of the hole and rig down the 
wireline rig.
    (5) Pressure test the installed 5\1/2\''-10,000 psi CIBP up to 80 
percent of its working pressure for a minimum of one hour (surface + 
hydrostatic). Record pressure test results.
    (6) Rig up the drill rig and install a 10,000 psi Wellhead Blowout 
Preventer.
    (7) Pressure test the Wellhead Blowout Preventer up to 90 percent 
of its working pressure for one hour. Record pressure test results.
    (8) Rig up the wireline rig and perform a cement bond log to 
determine the ``top of cement'' within the annulus of the 5\1/2\'' 
casing. Pull out of the hole and rig down the wireline rig. 
Preliminarily, based on the existing bond logs, the ``top of cement'' 
is expected to be located below the 9\5/8\'' casing seat.
    (9) Pick up the drill pipe and trip in the hole down to the 
installed 5\1/2\'' CIBP. Set a cement plug with a gas blocker additive 
from the existing 5\1/2\'' CIBP up to the ``top of cement'' of the 5\1/
2\'' casing (determined by the new bond log results). Wait on cement to 
cure for a minimum of eight hours.
    (10) Rig up the wireline rig, run into the hole to the top of the 
existing cement plug and cut the 5\1/2\'' casing. Run out of the hole 
and rig down the wireline rig.
    (11) Using the drill rig, pull all of the free 5\1/2\'' casing out 
of the hole. Load the hole with fresh water as required.
    (12) After removing the 5\1/2\'' casing, shut-in the well and 
monitor the gas pressure for a minimum of one hour. Record shut-in test 
results. If any gas pressure is encountered during the shut-in test, an 
additional CIBP or packers may be used to mitigate gas migration. (No 
gas pressure is acceptable.)
    (13) Rig up the wireline rig and perform a cement bond log on the 
9\5/8\'' casing. Pull out of the hole and rig down the wireline rig. 
Preliminarily, the 9\5/8\'' casing is expected to be fully cemented 
within the annulus. It was reported that cement was circulated to the 
surface upon install for the 9\5/8\'' casing, the 13\3/8\'' casing, and 
the 20'' casing. Any voids encountered within the 9\5/8\'' annulus 
shall be addressed appropriately.
    (14) Pick up the drill pipe and trip in the hole down to the 
previous cement plug. Set an additional cement plug with a gas blocker 
additive from the existing cement plug up to 100' above the 9\5/8\'' 
casing seat. Wait on cement to cure for a minimum of eight hours.
    (15) Shut-in the well and monitor the gas pressure while the cement 
is curing. Record shut-in test results. If additional gas pressure is 
encountered during the shut-in test, an additional CIBP or packers may 
be used to mitigate gas migration.
    (16) Pick up the drill pipe and trip in the hole down to the 
previous cement plug. Set an additional cement plug with a gas blocker 
additive from the existing cement plug up to 400' below the bottom of 
the Pittsburgh #8 coal seam. Wait on cement to cure for a minimum of 
eight hours.
    (17) Shut-in the well and monitor the gas pressure while the cement 
is curing. Record shut-in test results. If any gas pressure is 
encountered during the shut-in test, an additional CIBP or packers may 
be used to mitigate gas migration. (No gas pressure is acceptable.)
    (18) At this point, the well has been effectively plugged from the 
original arrowset packer which was installed just above the ``kick off 
point'' (vertical to horizontal) up to 400' below the Pittsburgh #8 
coal seam. (Effectively plugged means no sign of any gas detected in 
the well bore.) The remaining procedures to complete the plugging 
process from 400' below the Pittsburgh #8 coal seam to the surface can 
be found above.
    (i) The miners at Cumberland mine are currently represented by a 
labor organization and this petition is posted at the mine and has been 
served on the miners' representative on May 8, 2024, as indicated in 
the Certificate of Service.
    In support of the proposed alternative method, the petitioner has 
also submitted: a schematic for cutting, milling, perforating or 
ripping well casing above and below the Pittsburgh #8 coal seam; a 
schematic for general proposed permanent plugging for an unconventional 
gas well; a copy of a previously granted PDO; a map of the proposed 
workings in Willow Grove District; a map showing the AU2 geologic 
summary (well location plats and well site); well record and completion 
data; and other relevant facts.
    The petitioner asserts that the alternative method proposed will at 
all times guarantee no less than the same measure of protection 
afforded the miners under the mandatory standard.

Song-ae Aromie Noe,
Director, Office of Standards, Regulations, and Variances.
[FR Doc. 2024-22975 Filed 10-3-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4520-43-P


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