California Code of Regulations › Title 14 - Natural Resources › Division 2 - Department of Conservation › Chapter 4 - Development, Regulation, and Conservation of Oil and Gas Resources › Subchapter 1 - Onshore Well Regulations › Article 3 - Requirements › Section 1723 - Plugging and Abandonment-General Requirements

Current through Register 2024 Notice Reg. No. 28, July 12, 2024
(a) Cement Plugs. In general, cement plugs
					 will be placed across specified intervals to protect oil and gas zones, to
					 prevent degradation of usable waters, to protect surface conditions, and for
					 public health and safety purposes. Cement may be mixed with or replaced by
					 other substances with adequate physical properties, which substances shall be
					 approved by the Supervisor. The application of these mixed materials and other
					 substances to particular wells shall be at the discretion of the district
					 deputy.
(b) Hole Fluid. Mud fluid
					 having the proper weight and consistency to prevent movement of other fluids
					 into the well bore shall be placed across all intervals not plugged with
					 cement, and shall be surface poured into all open annuli.
(c) Plugging by Bailer. Placing of a cement
					 plug by bailer shall not be permitted at a depth greater than 3,000 feet. Water
					 is the only permissible hole fluid in which a cement plug shall be placed by
					 bailer.
(d) Surface Pours. A
					 surface cement-pour shall be permitted in an empty hole with a diameter of not
					 less than 5 inches. Depth limitations shall be determined on an individual well
					 basis by the district deputy.
(e)
					 Blowout Prevention Equipment. Blowout prevention equipment may be required
					 during plugging and abandonment operations. Any blowout prevention equipment
					 and inspection requirements determined necessary by the district deputy shall
					 appear on the approval to plug and abandon issued by the Division.
(f) Junk in Hole. Diligent effort shall be
					 made to recover junk when such junk may prevent proper plugging and abandonment
					 either in open hole or inside casing. In the event that junk cannot be removed
					 from the hole and fresh-saltwater contacts or oil or gas zones penetrated below
					 cannot therefore be properly abandoned, cement shall be downsqueezed through or
					 past the junk and a 100-foot cement plug shall be placed on top of the junk. If
					 it is not possible to downsqueeze through the junk, a 100-foot cement plug
					 shall be placed on top of the junk.
(g) Lost Radioactive Tool. In the event that
					 a source containing radioactive material cannot be retrieved from the hole, a
					 100-foot standard color dyed (red iron oxide or equivalent red cement dye)
					 cement plug shall be placed on top of the radioactive tool, and a whipstock or
					 other approved deflection device shall be placed on top of the cement plug to
					 prevent accidental or intentional mechanical disintegration of the radioactive
					 source. In addition, the operator shall comply with the California Department
					 of Health Services regulations in Section
					 30346 of Title 17, Division 1,
					 Chapter 5, Subchapter 4, Group 3, Article 7, of the California Code of
					 Regulations.
1.
						Amendment filed 9-21-76; effective thirtieth day thereafter (Register 76, No.
						39).
2. New NOTE filed 12-28-84; effective thirtieth day thereafter
						(Register 84, No. 52).
3. Change without regulatory effect amending
						subsections (e) and (f) filed 9-3-96 pursuant to section
						100, title 1, California Code of
						Regulations (Register 96, No. 36).
4. Amendment of subsection (a)
						and new subsection (g) filed 7-11-2006; operative 8-10-2006 (Register 2006, No.
						28).
5. Change without regulatory effect amending subsections (a)
						and (e) filed 12-26-2006 pursuant to section
						100, title 1, California Code of
						Regulations (Register 2006, No. 52).
Note: Authority cited: Sections
						  3013
						  and
						  3106,
						  Public Resources Code. Reference: Sections
						  3219
						  and
						  3228,
						  Public Resources Code.