Nebraska Administrative Code › Topic - OIL AND GAS CONSERVATION COMMISSION › Title 267 - NEBRASKA OIL AND GAS CONSERVATION COMMISSION › Chapter 3 - DRILLING, DEVELOPMENT, PRODUCING AND ABANDONMENT › Section 267-3-012 - GENERAL DRILLING RULES

Current through June 17, 2024
Unless altered, modified or changed for a particular pool or
				  pools, upon hearing before the Commission, the following shall apply to the
				  drilling of all wells:
012.01 When
				drilling where high pressures are likely to exist, the operator shall take all
				reasonable precautions for keeping the well under control at all times and
				shall provide at the time the well is started proper high pressure fittings and
				equipment. Under such conditions, the conductor string of casing must be
				cemented throughout its length, unless other procedure is authorized by the
				Director or authorized agent, and all strings of casing must be securely
				anchored.
012.02 In areas where
				pressures and formations are unknown, sufficient surface casing shall be run to
				reach a depth below the base of formations generally contributing water
				supplies for domestic, agricultural and municipal use as well as water bearing
				formations reasonably expected to be utilized for domestic, agricultural and
				municipal use if not presently utilized. The amount of surface casing run shall
				be approved by the Director or authorized agent and sufficient to prevent
				blowouts and uncontrolled flows at reasonable depths and of sufficient size to
				permit the use of an intermediate string or strings of casing where necessary
				to control deeper blowout or uncontrolled flow sources. Surface casing shall be
				set in a relatively impervious formation and shall be cemented by the plug or
				displacement or other approved method with sufficient cement to fill the
				annulus to the top of the hole except in cases where unusually long strings of
				surface casing are required and approval is secured from the Director or his
				authorized agent to use other adequate methods of cementation.
012.03 In wells drilled in areas where
				subsurface conditions are known through drilling experience, surface casing
				shall be set at a depth approved by the Director or authorized agent and
				cemented to the surface by the pump and plug or displacement or other approved
				methods at a depth sufficient to protect all domestic, agricultural or
				municipal water supplies and to insure against blowouts or uncontrolled
				flows.
012.04 Cement shall be
				allowed to stand under pressure until the cement has reached a compressive
				strength of five hundred (500) pounds per square inch before drilling the plug.
				The term "under pressure" as used herein, will be complied with if one float
				valve is used or if pressure is otherwise held. All cement and cement additives
				used shall have been tested in accordance with API RP 10B-2 (R2010),
				"Recommended Practices for Testing Oil-Well Cements and Cement Additives," and
				the results reported to the Director prior to use.
012.05 In all proven areas, the use of
				blowout equipment shall be in accordance with the established practice in the
				area.
012.06 In areas where high
				pressures may be reasonably anticipated, all drilling wells shall be equipped
				with a master-gate or its equivalent, an adequate blowout preventer, together
				with choke and kill line or lines of the proper size and working pressure. The
				entire control equipment shall be in good working condition at all
				times.
012.07 If a well is deepened
				for the purpose of producing oil and gas from the lower stratum, such deepening
				to and completion in the lower stratum shall be conducted in such a manner as
				to protect all upper productive strata.
012.08 All wells shall be so drilled that the
				horizontal distance between the bottom of the hole and the location at the top
				of the hole shall be at all times at a practical minimum.
012.09 If and when it becomes necessary to
				run a production string, such production string shall be cemented by the pump
				and plug method.
012.10 By approved
				reasonable methods, the operator shall shut off and exclude all alien water
				from any oil or gas bearing stratum; and to determine the effectiveness of such
				operations, the operator shall make a casing test before suspending drilling
				operations or drilling into the oil or gas bearing stratum and completing the
				well.
012.11 Before commencing to
				drill, proper and adequate pits shall be constructed for the reception and
				confinement of mud and cuttings. Reserve pits used in the drilling and
				completion of oil and gas wells shall be designed and constructed to protect
				the surface and the waters of the state from pollution.
For all reserve pits the minimum criteria shall be as
				  follows:
* Minimum of two (2) foot freeboard is required.
* All topsoil shall be stockpiled on or adjacent to the
				  location and be used for reclamation after drilling operations have been
				  completed when practical.
* Reserve pits shall not contain, at anytime, any non-exempt
				  E&P waste.
The Commission may administratively approve field-wide or
				  area-wide applications covering drilling reserve pit design and
				  construction.
012.12 For
				those reserve pits located within one-half (1/2) mile of surface waters of the
				state, the operator shall meet the requirements set forth in Section 012.11.
				Additionally, an application filed with Form 2 shall include:
* Drilling location layout plan.
* Pit size.
* Type of mud program.
* Anticipated time pit will be in use.
* Scaled topographic map showing the surface drainage and
				  distance to any lakes, rivers, streams or springs.
012.13 If salt based or oil based muds are
				used during the drilling program or if a salt section of sufficient thickness
				to affect the mud quality is anticipated, then the reserve pit design and
				construction shall meet the requirements of this rule and an application shall
				be submitted along with Form 2 for approval. Minimum design criteria shall be
				as follows:
* Steel working tanks will be required on the drilling rig
				  circulating system.
* Reserve pits shall be designed to accommodate those fluids
				  while protecting the lands and waters of the state.
* Soil mixture liners, recompacted clay liners and
				  manufactured liners must be compatible with the wastes contained.
* The application shall include the type and specifications
				  of the liner to be used. All liners constructed of manufactured materials must
				  meet or exceed the specifications set forth by the Commission.
* Synthetic liners must be installed over smooth fill
				  sub-grade which is free of pockets, loose rocks, or other materials which could
				  damage the liner. Sand, sifted dirt, or bentonite are suggested as cushion
				  material if needed.
* The application shall contain a plan for disposal of
				  liquids and solids.
* Liner edges must be secured to prevent wind damage.
The Director or authorized agent may authorize alternative
				  methods upon review of the application.
012.14 All pits shall be backfilled within
				one year after completion of drilling operations.
The disposal of drilling fluids, stimulation fluids or any
				  oil field waste into any well shall be prohibited unless approved by the
				  Director prior to disposal.
Within thirty (30) days after cessation of drilling
				  operations, non-exempt E&P waste materials including but not limited to
				  crankcase oil shall be contained in non-leaking containers and disposed of in
				  accordance with DEQ or any applicable federal regulations.
In those areas where acceptable, and upon application and
				  approval, land farming or land spreading of fresh water based drilling mud may
				  be allowed on the lease with the written permission obtained from the landowner
				  and submitted to the Director.
012.15 After the reserve pits have been
				properly backfilled, a biodegradable mulch may be required if soil erosion or
				the establishment of vegetation is determined to be a problem by the Director
				or authorized agent.