Mississippi Administrative Code › Title 26 - Oil and Gas › Part 3 - RULES AND REGULATIONS GOVERNING OIL AND GAS DRILLING, PRODUCING AND PIPELINE OPERATIONS IN SUBMERGED OFFSHORE LAND OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI › Chapter 1 › Rule 26-3-1.4 - APPLICATION TO DRILL AND DRILLING PROCEDURES

Current through June 25, 2024
All exploratory wells drilled for oil and gas shall be drilled in accordance with the provisions of this order. Initial development wells drilled for oil and gas shall be drilled in accordance with the provisions of this order which shall continue in effect until special field rules are issued. After special field rules have been established by the Board after notice and hearing, development wells shall be drilled in accordance with such rules.
Where sufficient geologic and engineering information is obtained through exploratory drilling, operators may petition the Board for a hearing to establish special field rules, but the operator(s) shall make such application before more than five (5) development wells have been drilled in the field. Each Application to Drill, submitted in duplicate, for exploratory wells and development wells not covered by special field rules shall include the following information:
(a) A
				statement that all zones which contain oil, gas or fresh water shall be fully
				protected by casing and cement.
(b)
				The complete, integrated casing (size, weight, grade and setting depth),
				cementing (quantity and kind), mud (weight, viscosity and water loss), and
				blowout prevention program (number, kind, pressure rating and accompanying
				equipment).
(c) Surface location
				and projected bottom-hole location in feet from the lease boundaries.
(d) Elevation of the derrick floor (or KB),
				water depth and depth to which the well is proposed to be drilled.
(e) Estimated depths to the top of
				significant paleontological and/or lithological markers.
(f) If on a platform, information as to how
				many wells have been drilled and how many more are presently planned from the
				platform.
(g) Two (2) copies of a
				certified plat on a scale of 2,000 feet to the inch, showing surface and
				subsurface location of the proposed well and all other wells previously drilled
				in the vicinity for which information is available.
(h) An exploratory drilling or development
				plan for the lease must accompany the application. If such a plan has been
				submitted, make a statement to that effect indicating the date submitted and/or
				approved.
Note:
A company well prognosis, covering any of
				  the above items, will be acceptable if attached to the application.
An Application to drill must be covered by an exploratory
				  drilling or development plan for the lease. These plans shall be submitted to
				  the Supervisor for approval. Each exploratory plan for the leased area shall
				  include (1) a description of drilling vessels, platforms or other structures
				  showing the location, the design and the major features thereof, including
				  features pertaining to pollution prevention and control, and (2) the general
				  location of each well drilled or to be drilled including surface and projected
				  bottom-hole location. Where warranted and after consultation with the operator,
				  the Supervisor may request additional information pertaining to any anticipated
				  abnormal pressured formations, anticipated formation tops and structural data.
				  Each development plan shall include the same type of information as prescribed
				  for the exploratory plan, also incorporating necessary revisions.
In supplying the information for (1), refer to Rule OS-8 and
				  OS-9 for guidance. To simplify submittals and to avoid duplication we suggest
				  that every effort be made to incorporate the application for approval of
				  platforms or fixed structures required by rule OS-9 in the development plans.
				  Also, the filing of the emergency plan and the approval of pollution equipment
				  and location as required for each lease under Rule OS-8 should be incorporated,
				  likewise, in both the exploratory and development plans. We realize that the
				  emergency plan and type and location of equipment may be a general company plan
				  that will cover all leases. In this event, after the initial filing and
				  approval, it could be referred to in subsequent submittals, modifying as
				  necessary. In addition, an application for establishment of, or modification
				  of, special field rules may be an appropriate part of the development plans.
				  The Application to Drill and accompanying location plat would supply most of
				  the information required under (2). Each plan should specify the time interval
				  covered by such plan, and a revised plan shall be submitted and approved prior
				  to the expiration of the existing plan.
In addition to the above, the Application to Drill shall
				  include the integrated casing, cementing, mud and blowout prevention program
				  for the well and shall comply with the following requirements:
1. Well Casing and Cementing
The Application to Drill shall contain a statement that all
				  zones which contain oil, gas or fresh water shall be fully protected by casing
				  and cement. For the purpose of this rule, the several casing strings in order
				  of normal installation are drive or structural casing, conductor casing,
				  surface casing, intermediate casing and production casing. All depths refer to
				  true vertical depth (TVD).
A. Drive or
				Structural Casing
This casing shall be set by drilling, driving or jetting to a
				  minimum depth of 100 feet below the waters' floor or to such greater depth
				  required to support unconsolidated deposits and to provide hole stability for
				  initial drilling operations. If drilled in, the drilling fluid shall be a type
				  that will not pollute the waters, and a quantity of cement sufficient to fill
				  the annular space back to the waters' floor must be used.
B. Conductor and Surface Casing - General
				Principles
Determination of proper casing setting depths shall be based
				  upon all geologic factors including the presence or absence of hydrocarbons and
				  water depths on a well-for-well basis. The setting depths of all casing strings
				  shall be determined by taking into account formation fracture gradients and
				  hydrostatic pressure to be contained within the well bore. The conductor and
				  surface casing shall be new pipe or reconditioned pipe that has been tested and
				  inspected to verify a new condition.
(1) Conductor Casing
This casing shall be set in accordance with the table below.
				  A quantity of cement sufficient to fill the annular space back to the waters'
				  floor must be used. The cement may be washed out or displaced to a depth of
				  forty (40) feet below the waters' floor to facilitate casing removal upon well
				  abandonment.
(2) Surface
				Casing
This casing shall be set at a depth in accordance with the
				  table below and cemented in a manner necessary to protect all fresh water sands
				  and provide well control until the next string of casing is set. This casing
				  shall be cemented with a quantity sufficient to fill the calculated annular
				  space back to the waters' floor. Whenever there are any indications of improper
				  cementing, such as lost returns, cement channeling or mechanical failure of
				  equipment, a temperature or cement bond survey shall be run, either before or
				  after remedial cementing, to aid in determining whether the casing is properly
				  cemented. Where warranted, the Supervisor may specify that a temperature or
				  cement bond survey be run on any or all wells. If the annular space is not
				  adequately cemented by the primary operation, the operator shall either squeeze
				  cement or re-cement the shoe after drilling out.
(3) Conductor and Surface Casing Setting
				Depths These strings of casing shall be set at the depths specified in the
				following table subject to minor variation to permit the casing to be set in a
				competent bed; provided, however, that the conductor casing shall be set before
				drilling into shallow formations known to contain oil or gas or, if unknown,
				upon encountering such formations. These casing strings shall be run and
				cemented prior to drilling below the specified setting depths. For those wells
				which may encounter abnormal pressure conditions, after consultation with the
				operator, the Supervisor may vary the setting depths to exceed the ranges
				specified below.
Required Setting Depth Below Waters' Floor (TVD in
				  feet)
Proposed Total Depth of Well or Depth of First
						  Full String of Intermediate Casing (TVD) Casing in Feet from Rotary
						  Table
Surface Casing
Minimum
						  Maximum
Conductor Casing
Minimum
						  Maximum
0 - 7,000
1,500 - 2,500
300 - 800
7,000 - 9,000
1,750 - 3,000
400 - 800
9,000 -11,000
2,250 - 3,500
500 - 900
11,000 - 13,000
3,000 - 4,000
600 - 900
13,000 - Below
3,500 - 4,500
700 - 1,000
C. Intermediate Casing
This string of casing shall be set when required by
				  anticipated abnormal pressure, mud weights, sediment and other well conditions.
				  The intermediate casing shall be new pipe or reconditioned pipe that has been
				  tested and ins pected to verify a new condition. A quantity of cement
				  sufficient to cover and isolate all hydrocarbon zones and to isolate abnormal
				  pressure intervals from normal pressure intervals shall be used. If a liner is
				  used as an intermediate string, the cement shall be tested by a fluid entry or
				  pressure test to determine whether a seal between the liner top and next larger
				  string has been achieved. The test shall be recorded on the driller's log. When
				  such liner is used as production casing, it shall be extended to the surface
				  and cemented to avoid surface casing being used as production casing.
D. Production Casing
This string of casing shall be set before completing the
				  well for production. The production casing shall be new pipe or recondition ed
				  pipe that has been tested and inspected to verify a new condition. It shall be
				  cemented in a manner necessary to cover or isolate all zones which contain
				  hydrocarbons, but in any case, a calculated volume sufficient to fill the
				  annular space at least 5 00 feet above the uppermost producible hydrocarbon
				  zone must be used. When a liner is used as production casing, the testing of
				  the seal between the liner top and next larger string shall be conducted as in
				  the case of intermediate liners.
E. Pressure Testing
Prior to drilling the plug after cementing, all casing
				  strings, except the drive or structural casing, shall be pressure tested as
				  shown in the table below. This test shall not exceed the working pressure of
				  the casing. The surface casing shall be tested with water in the top 100 feet
				  of the casing. If the pressure declines more than ten percent (10%) in thirty
				  (30) minutes, or if there is other indication of a leak, the casing shall be
				  recemented, repaired or an additional casing string run, and the casing shall
				  be tested again in the same manner.
Casing String
Minimum Pressure Test (psi)
Conductor
200
Surface
1,000
Intermediate
1,500 or 0.2 psi/ft., whichever is greater
Liner
1,500 or 0.2 psi/ft., whichever is greater
Production
1,500 or 0.2 psi/ft., whichever is greater
After cementing any of the above strings, drilling shall not
				  be commenced until a time lapse of:
(1) Twenty-four (24) hours, or
(2) Eight (8) hours under pressure for
				conductor casing string. Twelve (12) hours under pressure for all other
				strings. (Cement is considered under pressure if one (1) or more float valves
				are employed and are shown to be holding the cement in place or when other
				means of holding pressure are used.)
All casing pressure tests shall be recorded on the driller's
				  log.