New Mexico Administrative Code › Title 19 - NATURAL RESOURCES AND WILDLIFE › Chapter 27 - UNDERGROUND WATER › Part 4 - WELL DRILLER LICENSING; CONSTRUCTION, REPAIR AND PLUGGING OF WELLS › Section 19.27.4.33 - WELL DRILLING REQUIREMENTS FOR DEEP WELLS IN NON-POTABLE AQUIFERS

Current through Register Vol. 35, No. 13, July 16, 2024
Deep non-potable wells are wells administered under Article
				  12, Chapter 72-12-25 through Chapter 72-12-28 NMSA, and are defined as wells
				  drilled or recompleted into an aquifer, the top of which aquifer is at a depth
				  of 2500 feet or more below the ground surface at any location at which a well
				  is drilled and which aquifer contains only non-potable water. Non-potable water
				  means water containing greater than or equal to 1,000 part per million (or
				  milligrams per liter) total dissolved solids (TDS
>
1,000 mg/L). A well driller shall ensure that well drilling activities
				  associated with the drilling of deep non-potable wells are made in accordance
				  with
				  19.27.4.29
				  NMAC and
				  19.27.4.31
				  NMAC and the following:
A.
Deep
				non-potable well plan of operations:
Before conducting the drilling of a
				deep non-potable well, a deep non-potable well plan of operations describing
				the proposed work shall be provided on a form prescribed by the state engineer.
				The deep non-potable well plan of operations shall provide information on the
				well design and materials to be used in the well construction, including the
				cementing and testing procedures, and any other pertinent data required by the
				state engineer. If the materials or cementing and testing procedures are not
				provided for in these rules and regulations, then the deep non-potable well
				plan of operations must provide documentation to support their use. The deep
				non-potable well plan of operations shall be signed by the well driller
				conducting the well drilling activities. A deep non-potable well plan of
				operations must be approved by the state engineer before the drilling of any
				deep non-potable well. Drilling of a deep non-potable well shall be conducted
				in accordance with the deep non-potable well plan of operations as approved and
				conditioned by the state engineer. While conducting well drilling activities
				the well driller shall have a copy of the approved permit and deep non-potable
				well plan of operations on site and available for inspection upon
				request.
B.
Longevity of
				casing:
The deep non-potable well plan of operations required under
				subsection A must provide information that supports the longevity of the
				selected casing in response to potentially corrosive salt concentrations. Deep
				non-potable wells must use centralizers and H-55, J-55 grade casing equivalent
				or better.
C.
Annular seals
				to prevent the contamination of potable water:
Wells where non-potable,
				contaminated, or polluted water is anticipated or encountered at any depth
				shall have the well annulus sealed and the well properly screened to prevent
				the commingling of the undesirable water with any potable or uncontaminated
				water. The use of salt-tolerant sealing materials may be required by the state
				engineer in wells where highly mineralized water is anticipated or
				encountered.
D.
Well
				schematic:
The deep non-potable well plan of operations required under
				subsection A must provide a well schematic illustrating proposed construction
				depths, dimensions, materials, and methods as well as the target aquifer,
				stratigraphy and hydrogeology to be encountered during drilling.
E.
Sealing off formations:
Cement must be allowed to set a minimum of 48 hours before well drilling is
				resumed. Shorter set times may be requested if approved alternate sealants or
				accelerants are used. If shorter set times are requested, documentation shall
				be provided in the deep non-potable well plan of operations substantiating the
				appropriate cement curing time to meet the compressive strengths necessary,
				consistent with anticipated shut-in pressures. Shorter set times shall not be
				permitted unless prior approval is granted by the state engineer. Sealing off
				of the formations shall be checked by a method acceptable to the state
				engineer.
F.
Cementing
				service reports:
The well driller shall provide any cementing service
				reports with the submission of the well log within 30 days. The state engineer
				may require preliminary information as it becomes available.
G.
Cement bond logging:
The well
				driller shall provide the results of any cement bond logging conducted with the
				submission of the well log within 30 days. The state engineer may require
				results of cement bond logging within 24 hours of completion.
H.
Mud logging and Geophysical
				logging:
The well driller shall provide any mud logging and geophysical
				logging reports created with the submission of the well log within 30 days. The
				state engineer may require results of geophysical logging within 24 hours of
				completion. The state engineer may require periodic mud logging or lithologic
				logging during the course of the project.
I.
Drill cuttings or core:
The
				well driller shall submit copies of the well record and geophysical logs, and
				representative samples of drill cuttings or core collected during drilling of
				any deep non-potable well to the New Mexico bureau of geology and mineral
				resources for archiving in the bureau's library of subsurface data.
J.
Specialized Drilling
				Equipment:
The deep non-potable well plan of operations required under
				Subsection A of 19.27.4.33 NMAC must contain a request from the well driller to
				use of any specialized drilling equipment for the well construction.
				Specialized drilling equipment may not be used for well construction unless
				prior approval is granted by the state engineer.