Alabama Administrative Code › Title 400 - STATE OIL AND GAS BOARD OF ALABAMA › GOVERNING ONSHORE LANDS OPERATIONS › Chapter 400-1-4 - DRILLING › Section 400-1-4-.17 - Request To Classify Wells As Temporarily Abandoned Or Shut-In

Current through Register Vol. 42, No. 9, June 28, 2024
(1)
Temporary
				Abandonment Status.
An operator may request that a well be placed in a
				temporarily abandoned status by submitting a written request to the Supervisor
				describing its future utility. A well may be classified as a temporarily
				abandoned well upon a showing that the well has future utility. Upon approval
				of a request by the Supervisor, the well will be placed in a temporarily
				abandoned status for a period of not more than one (1) year. The operator must
				submit a subsequent request to the Supervisor prior to the end of such period
				in order to extend the temporarily abandoned status for an additional period of
				time of not more than one (1) year. Such request for an extension must be
				justified in writing and include a statement when the well is scheduled to be
				utilized. Upon approval of the request by the Supervisor, the temporarily
				abandoned status will be extended for a period of not more than one (1) year.
				Thereafter, the Board may, after notice and hearing, extend further the
				temporarily abandoned status for a well. The Supervisor or Board may require
				the operator to temporarily or partially plug the well, to verify the
				mechanical integrity of the casing in the well, and to implement a monitoring
				program before approving a request to classify a well as temporarily abandoned.
				The well location shall be maintained in accordance with Rule
				400-1-4-.01, relating to
				Identification of Wells, and Rule
				400-1-6-.10, relating to Site
				Maintenance. Additional safeguards and requirements may be imposed on the
				operator by the Supervisor or Board.
(2)
Shut-in Status.
An operator
				may request that a well be placed in a shut-in status by submitting a written
				statement to the Supervisor stating that the well is capable of producing
				hydrocarbons but must remain shut in until connected to a gathering system,
				pipeline or processing facility, or for some other reason. A request to
				classify a well as shut-in will not be considered until the official test
				results have been received by the Board on Form OGB-9, First Production or
				Retest Report. Such request must be submitted in writing to the Supervisor
				stating why the well is shut in and the date when production is expected to
				commence. Upon approval by the Supervisor, the well will be placed in a shut-in
				status for a period of not more than one (1) year. The operator must submit a
				subsequent request to the Supervisor prior to the end of such period in order
				to extend the shut-in status for an additional period of time of not more than
				one (1) year. Such request for an extension must describe the progress that has
				been made toward placing the well on production and when production is expected
				to commence. Upon approval of the request by the Supervisor, the shut-in status
				will be extended for a period of not more than one (1) year. Thereafter, the
				Board may, after notice and hearing, extend further the shut-in status for a
				well. The Supervisor or Board may require the operator to temporarily or
				partially plug the well, to verify the mechanical integrity of the casing in
				the well, and to implement a monitoring system before approving a request to
				classify a well as shut-in. The well location shall be maintained in accordance
				with Rule
				400-1-4-.01, relating to
				Identification of Wells, and Rule
				400-1-6-.10, relating to Site
				Maintenance. Additional safeguards and requirements may be imposed on the
				operator by the Supervisor or Board.
Author:
Kirk McQuillan
Statutory Authority:
Code of Ala.
					 1975
, §§
											9-17-1,
et
seq
.