Pennsylvania Code › Title 25 - ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION › Part I - Department of Environmental Protection › Subpart C - Protection of Natural Resources › Article I - Land Resources › Chapter 78a - UNCONVENTIONAL WELLS › Subchapter D - WELL DRILLING, OPERATION AND PLUGGING › GENERAL › Section 78a.73 - General provision for well construction and operation

Current through Register Vol. 54, No. 28, July 13, 2024
(a) The operator shall construct and operate
						  the well in accordance with this chapter and ensure that the integrity of the
						  well is maintained and health, safety, environment and property are
						  protected.
(b) The operator shall
						  prevent gas, oil, brine, completion and servicing fluids, and any other fluids
						  or materials from below the casing seat from entering fresh groundwater, and
						  shall otherwise prevent pollution or diminution of fresh groundwater.
(c) The operators of active, inactive,
						  abandoned, and plugged and abandoned wells identified as part of an area of
						  review survey conducted under §
													78a.52a (relating to area of
						  review) that likely penetrate within 1,500 feet measured vertically from the
						  stimulation perforations, if known, shall be notified. Notice shall be provided
						  at least 30 days prior to the start of drilling the well or at the time the
						  permit application is submitted to the Department if the start of drilling is
						  planned less than 30 days from the date of permit issuance. Orphan wells,
						  abandoned wells, and plugged and abandoned wells identified as part of an area
						  of review survey conducted under §
													78a.52a that either penetrate
						  within 1,500 feet measured vertically from the stimulation perforations or have
						  an unknown true vertical depth shall be visually monitored during stimulation
						  activities. The operator shall immediately notify the Department of any change
						  to a well being monitored, of any treatment pressure or volume changes
						  indicative of abnormal fracture propagation at the well being stimulated or if
						  otherwise made aware of a confirmed well communication incident associated with
						  their stimulation activities. Notice shall be provided to the Department
						  electronically through the Department's web site. In an event such as this, the
						  operator shall cease stimulating the well that is the subject of the area of
						  review survey and take action to prevent pollution of waters of the
						  Commonwealth or discharges to the surface. The operator may not resume
						  stimulation of the well that is the subject of the area of review survey
						  without Department approval.
(d) An
						  operator that alters an orphan well, or an abandoned well or plugged and
						  abandoned well by hydraulic fracturing shall plug the altered well in
						  accordance with this chapter, or the operator may adopt the altered well and
						  place it into production.
(e) After
						  a well has been completed, recompleted, reconditioned or altered the operator
						  shall prevent surface shut-in pressure and surface producing back pressure
						  inside the surface casing or coal protective casing from exceeding the
						  following pressure: 80% multiplied by 0.433 psi per foot multiplied by the
						  casing length (in feet) of the applicable casing.
(f) After a well has been completed,
						  recompleted, reconditioned or altered, if the surface shut-in pressure or
						  surface producing back pressure exceeds the pressure as calculated in
						  subsection (e), the operator shall take action to prevent the migration of gas
						  and other fluids from lower formations into fresh groundwater. To meet this
						  standard the operator may cement or install on a packer sufficient intermediate
						  or production casing or take other actions approved by the Department. This
						  section does not apply during testing for mechanical integrity in accordance
						  with State or Federal requirements.
(g) Excess gas encountered during drilling,
						  completion or stimulation shall be flared, captured or diverted away from the
						  drilling rig in a manner that does not create a hazard to the public health or
						  safety.
(h) The well must be
						  equipped with a check valve to prevent backflow from the pipelines into the
						  well.
This section cited in 25 Pa. Code §
															78a.52a (relating to area of
								review); 25 Pa. Code §
															78a.83 (relating to surface and
								coal protective casing and cementing procedures); 25 Pa. Code §
															78a.83b (relating to casing and
								cementing-lost circulation); and 25 Pa. Code §
															78a.88 (relating to mechanical
								integrity of operating wells).