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 › PLUGGING › Section 78a.93 - Wells in coal areas-surface or coal protective casing anchored with a packer or cement

Current through Register Vol. 54, No. 28, July 13, 2024
(a) In a well
						  where the surface casing or coal protective casing and production casing are
						  anchored with a packer or cement, the owner or operator shall plug the well as
						  follows:
(1) The retrievable production
						  casing shall be removed by applying a pulling force at least equal to the
						  casing weight plus 5,000 pounds or 120%, whichever is greater. If this fails,
						  an attempt shall be made to separate the casing by cutting, ripping, shooting
						  or other method approved by the Department, and making a second attempt to
						  remove the casing by exerting a pulling force equal to the casing weight plus
						  5,000 pounds or 120% of the casing weight, whichever is greater. The well shall
						  be filled with nonporous material from the total depth or attainable bottom of
						  the well to a point 50 feet below the lowest stratum bearing or having borne
						  oil, gas or water. At this point there shall be placed a plug of cement, which
						  must extend for at least 50 feet above this stratum. Each overlying formation
						  bearing or having borne oil, gas or water shall be plugged with cement a
						  minimum of 50 feet below this formation to a point 50 feet above this
						  formation. The zone between cement plugs shall be filled with nonporous
						  material. The cement plugs shall be placed in a manner that will completely
						  seal the hole. The operator may treat multiple strata as one stratum and plug
						  as described in this subsection with a single column of cement or other
						  material as approved by the Department. When the production casing is not
						  retrievable, the operator shall plug this portion of the well under §
														78a.91(d)
						  (relating to general provisions).
(2) The well shall then be filled with
						  nonporous material to a point approximately 200 feet below the lowest workable
						  coal seam, or surface or coal protective casing seat, whichever is deeper.
						  Beginning at this point a 100-foot plug of cement shall be installed.
(3) After it has been established that the
						  surface casing or coal protective casing is free and can be retrieved, the
						  surface or coal protective casing shall be retrieved by applying a pulling
						  force at least equal to the casing weight plus 5,000 pounds or 120%, whichever
						  is greater. If this fails, an attempt shall be made to separate the casing by
						  cutting, ripping, shooting or other method approved by the Department, and
						  making a second attempt to remove the casing by exerting a pulling force equal
						  to the casing weight plus 5,000 pounds or 120% of the casing weight, whichever
						  is greater. A string of casing with an outside diameter of at least 4 1/2
						  inches for gas wells, or at least 2 inches for oil wells, shall be run to the
						  top of the 100-foot plug described in paragraph (2) and cemented to the
						  surface.
(4) If the surface or coal
						  protective string is not free and cannot be retrieved, it shall be perforated
						  or cut below the lowest workable coal to allow the cement used to cement the 4
						  1/2-inch or 2-inch casing to communicate between the surface casing or coal
						  protective casing, or both, and the well bore. A string of casing of at least 4
						  1/2 inches for gas wells or at least 2 inches for oil wells shall be run to the
						  top of the 100-foot plug described in paragraph (2) and cemented to the
						  surface.
(5) The inner casing shall
						  then be emptied of liquid and cement from the base of the casing to the surface
						  and a vent or other device approved by the Department shall be installed on the
						  top of the casing to prevent liquids and solids from entering the well, but
						  permit ready access to the full internal diameter of the inner casing. The
						  inner string of casing and the vent or other device approved by the Department
						  must extend, when finally in place, a distance of at least 72 inches above
						  ground level and the permit or registration number must be permanently affixed
						  to the vent.