Louisiana Administrative Code › Title 56 - PUBLIC WORKS › Part I - Water Wells › Chapter 5 - Plugging and Sealing of Abandoned Water Well Holes › Section I-531 - Methods and Standards for Plugging Abandoned Water Wells and Holes

Current through Register Vol. 50, No. 6, June 20, 2024
A. The following
				methods and standards shall be used for the plugging of abandoned water wells
				and holes. If there is a need for variance from these regulations and/or
				clarification is required, departmental approval shall be obtained in writing,
				before the plugging operation is begun. For variance requests, refer to §513
B. Methods and Standards for
				Plugging Abandoned Water Wells. The following methods and standards shall apply
				to all abandoned water wells, regardless of use or type.
C. Removal of Obstructions from the Well.
				Before the plugging operation is begun, the drilling and construction records
				for the well should be obtained and studied (see §525). An investigation of the
				well shall be made to determine if there is any obstruction in the well that
				would interfere with the plugging operation. Any obstruction in the well shall
				be removed, using an acceptable method, before initiating the plugging
				operation.
D. Cutting off the Top
				of the Casing. In areas subject to subsidence and/or farming, the top of the
				casing shall be cut off a minimum of 3 feet below the surface of the ground
				before plugging operation begins. After filling the well with cement-bentonite
				slurry, the excavation above the top of the cement plug shall be filled with
				compacted soil to minimize future hazards to farming equipment, etc. In other
				areas, the top of the casing shall be cut off at or below the ground surface.
				Under no circumstances shall the top of the casing protrude above the surface
				of ground.
E. Plugging Material for
				the Screen. The screen or the area opposite the production aquifer (as in open
				hole construction) may be filled with filler materials specified in §529. B in
				lieu of cement-bentonite slurry.
F.
				Plugging Method. The entire well shall be plugged with cement-bentonite slurry
				from bottom of the well up to the ground surface using the pump-down method,
				preferably in one continuous operation. Placement of plugging material by
				pouring or dropping through the water shall not be permitted.
G. Annular Space. If the annular space of the
				abandoned well is not already sealed, the plugging material shall be brought up
				to the surface and allowed to spill over the top of the casing and into the
				annulus, sealing the annular space between the casing and the borehole. If the
				annular space is already sealed, the plugging material shall be brought up to
				the ground surface, unless specified otherwise.
H. Temporary Shut Down. When plugging of an
				abandoned water well or hole is temporarily suspended, such as overnight shut
				down or awaiting material, the well or hole shall be covered and the immediate
				area conspicuously marked to protect and warn the public. The cover shall be
				sufficiently strong and anchored to prevent easy or unintentional entry. The
				well or hole shall be sealed to prevent the seepage of surface water and
				foreign material into the well or hole.
I. Areas of Confirmed Contamination. In areas
				of confirmed ground water or soil contamination, the entire well shall be
				plugged with cement-bentonite slurry. The annular space of the well, if not
				already sealed, shall be sealed by perforating or ripping the casing and
				forcing cement-bentonite slurry under pressure into the annular space and
				surrounding formation to prevent the entry of contaminated fluids into an
				aquifer and to prevent the movement of water from one aquifer to
				another.
J. Areas of Potential
				Contamination. In areas of potential ground water or soil contamination, the
				entire well shall be plugged with cement-bentonite slurry. It is recommended
				that the annular space of the well, if not already sealed, be perforated or
				ripped and cement-bentonite slurry forced under pressure into the annular space
				and surrounding formation to safeguard against any possible entry of
				contaminated fluids into an aquifer and to prevent the movement of water from
				one aquifer to another.
K. Plugging
				of Abandoned Water Well from Which Some or All of the Casing Has Been Removed
1. If the casing remaining is in the upper
				part of the well, the well shall be sounded to determine the amount, if any, of
				"cave in." The part of the hole filled with "cave in" material shall be reamed
				or drilled out of the original depth of the well and then the entire hole shall
				be plugged with cement-bentonite slurry from the bottom, up to the ground
				surface, using the pump-down method.
2. If the casing (including the screen)
				remaining is in the lower part of the well, the well and hole shall be
				completely filled with cement-bentonite slurry from the bottom up to the ground
				surface, using the pump-down method.
3. If all the casing and screen is removed,
				the hole for the entire original depth of the well shall be plugged with
				cement-bentonite slurry from the bottom, up to the ground surface, using the
				pumpdown method.