Oklahoma Administrative Code › Title 785 - Oklahoma Water Resources Board › Chapter 35 - Well Driller and Pump Installer Licensing › Subchapter 11 - Plugging and Capping Requirements for Wells and Test Holes › Section 785:35-11-1 - Plugging and capping requirements for groundwater wells, fresh water observation wells, heat exchange wells and water well test holes

Current through Vol. 41, No. 20, July 1, 2024
(a)
Temporary capping.
When a groundwater well or fresh water
										observation well is temporarily removed from service, the top of the well casing will be properly sealed with
										a pitless adapter cap, sanitary well seal, or well casing cap that cannot easily be removed. A new well shall
										be properly capped before the well driller leaves the drilling site.
(b)
Time for plugging or completing water well test holes.
Water well test holes shall be properly plugged as provided in this section by the well driller prior to
										removal of drilling equipment unless the test hole is completed as an observation well for aquifer testing,
										including the installation of surface casing and cement seals. In the alternative and prior to drilling
										equipment being removed from site, water well test holes may be temporarily cased with SDR 26 water well
										casing a minimum of 10 feet below ground and 12 inches above ground. Bentonite shall be installed from 10
										feet to 2 feet below land surface and cement grout installed from 2 feet to land surface. The top of casing
										shall be properly sealed or capped. Permanent completion or plugging shall become the responsibility of the
										landowner and shall be completed within 60 days of drilling equipment being removed from the site. A written
										statement from the landowner acknowledging such responsibility shall be obtained and submitted to the Board
										with the multipurpose completion report. The multi-purpose completion report shall be submitted to the Board
										within sixty (60) days after plugging or temporary completion of each water well test hole.
(c)
Permanent abandonment.
The following plugging requirements
										apply if a groundwater well, fresh water observation well, heat exchange well or water well test hole is
										permanently abandoned, was drilled by a person not holding a valid license or operator certification from the
										Board, or if the Board determines that the well or test hole was not drilled or completed in compliance with
										the applicable minimum standards set forth in this Chapter or may otherwise allow pollution to groundwater.
(1) The well driller shall be responsible for plugging the well or test
										hole if the well drilling equipment is on the drilling site. If a well is abandoned after the well drilling
										equipment has been removed from the drilling site, the owner of the land where the well or test hole is
										located shall be responsible for plugging.
(2) If the well or
										test hole is uncontaminated and unless paragraph 3 or paragraph 5 below applies, fill such well or water well
										test hole with uncontaminated, compacted drill cuttings and/or uncontaminated surface clay, cement, bentonite
										pellets or granules, or high solids (a minimum of twenty percent (20%) solids by dry weight) bentonite grout
										to within fourteen (14) feet of the land surface, and a minimum of ten (10) feet of the annular space and
										interior of the well casing shall be filled with cement grout to at least four (4) feet below the land
										surface.
(3) To plug uncontaminated groundwater wells, fresh
										water observation wells, or heat exchange wells in the alluvium and terrace deposits of the Arkansas,
										Cimarron, Salt Fork of the Arkansas, North Canadian, Canadian, Washita, North Fork of the Red, Salt Fork of
										the Red River, Red River, and other streams or rivers authorized by the Board, fill the well with clean,
										uncontaminated silica sand to within sixteen (16) feet of the land surface, then two (2) feet of bentonite
										pellets or granules shall be placed on the uncontaminated silica sand, and finally, a minimum of ten (10)
										feet of cement grout shall be installed in the annular space and interior of the well casing to at least four
										(4) feet below the land surface.
(4) Hand dug water wells shall
										be filled with uncontaminated surface clay or grout to within six (6) feet of land surface. The lining of the
										well shall be removed from the top five (5) feet and a minimum of two (2) feet of cement grout shall be
										installed. The top four (4) feet shall be filled with compacted uncontaminated native soil, unless otherwise
										directed by the Board.
(5) If the well or water well test hole is
										contaminated, or if the well or test hole is located at an underground tank site or within 300 feet of the
										outside perimeter of an existing wastewater lagoon or is located on a tract of land where a wastewater lagoon
										is proposed, the casing shall be removed or perforated from the bottom of the casing to twenty (20) feet
										below land surface. The well or test hole shall be plugged with cement grout from the bottom to within four
										(4) feet of the land surface. If the total depth of the well is in excess of twenty feet (20') below land
										surface, the cement grout shall be placed by pumping from the bottom of the hole to within four (4) feet of
										the land surface. If the well does not meet current minimum construction standards for grouting and sealing
										the annulus, the casing shall be removed from twenty (20) feet below land surface to the surface.
(6) Vertical closed loop heat exchange wells shall be plugged according to
										standards set forth by Clause 10.9 of ANSI/CSA/IGSHPA C448.3.