Compilation of Rules and Regulations of the State of Georgia › Department 391 - RULES OF GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES › Chapter 391-3 - ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION › Subject 391-3-13 - OIL AND GAS AND DEEP DRILLING › Rule 391-3-13-.12 - Plugging

Current through Rules and Regulations filed
				through June 27, 2024
(1) The owner or operator may keep a well
				open for additional testing after removal of the drilling rig, if the written
				approval of the Director is first obtained, and by demonstrating to the
				satisfaction of the Director that (a) the open well is constructed so as to
				assure that fresh water aquifers are protected from intraformational migration
				of fluids through the bore hole and (b) that the operator has adequate and
				readily available financial resources to plug the well.
(2) The owner or operator of any well shall
				be responsible for the plugging of any well after said well is abandoned,
				utilizing the services of a well cementing contractor. Any well declared
				abandoned by the Director shall be plugged within sixty (60) days by the
				operator, or the surety bond will be forfeited to the Division.
(3) Before any work is commenced to plug any
				well, the owner or operator thereof shall give 24-hours notice to the Director
				of this intent. Upon notification, the Division may send duly authorized
				representatives to the location at the time specified to witness the plugging
				of such well.
(4) The methods and
				procedure for plugging a well shall be as follows;
(a) Each oil or gas producing formation shall
				be sealed with a cement plug which extends not less than 100 feet above the
				producing formations nor less than 100 feet below the producing formations. The
				Director may allow a bridge plug with a minimum of 10 feet of cement on top to
				be placed immediately above each perforated horizon in cased holes.
(b) A cement plug of appropriate ingredients
				not less than 150 feet in length shall be placed at the base of all fresh water
				bearing strata unless the strata are protected by properly cemented surface
				casing. Where the natural contact between fresh and salt ground waters is
				transitional the cement plug shall be such length to extend at least 50 feet
				above and below the transition zone.
(c) A cement plug not less than 200 feet in
				length shall be placed 100 feet above to 100 feet below the base of the surface
				casing. This plug may be omitted if this interval is protected by smaller
				diameter casing which has been properly grouted.
(d) A 50 foot plug shall be placed near the
				surface of the ground in each hole to be plugged in such a manner as not to
				interfere with soil cultivation.
(e)
				The interval between plugs shall be filled with fluid weighing not less than
				nine and one-half (9.5) pounds per gallon.
(f) Additional cement plugs not specified
				above may required by the Director at other locations so as to prevent the
				commingling of oil, gas, salt, water, and fresh water from one formation to
				another.
(g) Other plugging methods
				may be used provided written approval is obtained from the Director.
(h) When a well to be plugged may be used
				safely as a fresh water well and such utilization is desired by the land or
				surface owner, the well need not be filled above the required sealing plug set
				at the base of fresh water, provided the land or surface owner agrees in
				writing to the Director to take full responsibility for the well, including
				correcting any plugging defects that result in the migration of salty water or
				oil or gas through the well, and to comply fully with all laws and rules and
				provided written approval is obtained from the Director.
(j) When a well to be plugged may be safely
				used as a ground water monitoring well by the Division, the well need not be
				filled above the required sealing plug set at the base of fresh water; provided
				the owner will permit the Division access to the well for testing
				purposes.