Ohio Admin. Code 1501:9-9-05 - Producing operations

Rule 1501:9-9-05 of the Administrative Code with the exception of paragraphs (A)(10) and (D) of rule 1501:9-9-05 of the Administrative Code applies to all wells completed after the effective date of this chapter. Paragraph (E) of rule 1501:9-9-05 of the Administrative Code applies to all urbanized area wells where the permit was issued after the effective date of rule 1501:9-9-05 of the Administrative Code with the exception where the chief finds it necessary for protection of public health or safety or to prevent damage to natural resources, as provided by section 1509.23 of the Revised Code, the chief may apply any portion of paragraph (E) of rule 1501:9-9-05 of the Administrative Code to any well in an urbanized area. If additional tanks are added to a tank battery established prior to the effective date of rule 1501:9-9-05 of the Administrative Code, the placement of the new tank(s) must has to comply with paragraph (E) of rule 1501:9-9-05 of the Administrative Code.

(A) Surface equipment:

(1) All wells must have to be equipped so that no oil, gas or condensate is allowed to escape with the exception of gas flares as per paragraph (B) of rule 1501:9-9-05 of the Administrative Code.

(2) Oil production tanks shall will be set a minimum of fifty feet from the traveled portion of a public road and a minimum of one hundred feet from existing inhabited structures and a minimum of three feet between tanks and a minimum of fifty feet from any well.

(3) Indirect fire heaters shall will be set a minimum of fifty feet from the well and a minimum of fifty feet from oil production tanks and a minimum of one hundred feet from existing inhabited structures. Direct fire heaters, excluding under tank and internal tank heating, shall will be a minimum of fifty feet from the well and a minimum of fifty feet from oil production tanks and a minimum of one hundred feet from existing inhabited structures and a minimum of fifty feet from mechanical separators.

(4) Portable heaters may be closer than fifty feet to the oil production tanks providing an attendant is on hand and a chemical fire extinguisher in good working condition is provided.

(5) Mechanical separators shall will be set a minimum of fifty feet from the well, a minimum of ten feet from oil production tanks and a minimum of one hundred feet from existing inhabited structures.

(6) Under tank oil and internal tank heating are prohibited cannot occur while oil is being produced into the same tank.

(7) All oil production tanks must have to be located in a position so that any escaping oil cannot drain onto public roads or towards existing inhabited structures or other areas which could cause a safety hazard.

(8) All surface equipment must has to be pressure rated to withstand operating pressures to which it is subjected.

(9) In order to protect life, health, and property the chief may require where a clear and present hazard exists, the chief may direct a person to protect that any producing equipment at the well-head and related storage tanks be protected by an earthen dike or earthen pit which shall will have a capacity sufficient to contain any substances resulting, obtained, or produced in connection with the operation of the related oil or gas well.

The dike or pit shall will be maintained for the purpose for which it was constructed, and the reservoir within shall will be kept reasonably free of water and oil.

(10) All producing leases shall will be legibly identified in a conspicuous place on or near the well-head or the storage tank(s) as to owner, lease name, well number, permit number where available, county, and an emergency telephone number. If multiple wells are being produced into the common tank(s) each well-head shall will be identified as to owner, permit number where available, well number and lease name.

Any change of ownership shall will be shown at the well-head or storage tank(s) not later than sixty days after the date of the assignment or transfer.

(B) All gas vented to the atmosphere must has to be flared, with the exception of gas released by a properly functioning relief device and gas released by controlled venting for testing, blowing down and cleaning out wells. Flares must have to be a minimum of one hundred feet from the well, a minimum of one hundred feet from oil production tanks and all other surface equipment, and one hundred feet from existing inhabited structures and in a position so that any escaping oil or condensate cannot drain onto public roads or towards existing inhabited structures or other areas which could cause a safety hazard.

(C) Pits, pumps and flares must have to be safely fenced if within one hundred fifty feet of an existing inhabited structure and if in the opinion of the chief, such fence is necessary to protect life and limb.

(D) In order to protect life, health, and property the chief may require that direct a person to secure valves on storage facilities shall be kept secured by locks, bull plugs, or other similar devices in such a manner as to discourage vandalism. When the chief determines that valves on storage facilities should be secured, he shall the chief will so notify the owner(s) and include the reason why securing said valves will protect life, health, and property.

(E) Urbanized areas:

(1) Each identification sign, in lieu of the identification required set forth under paragraph (A) of rule 1501:9-9-05 of the Administrative Code, posted by the owner or their authorized representative shall will include, at a minimum, the following information in two inch or larger letters:

(a) Well owners name, address, and telephone number.

(b) County, township, name of village - city - town (where applicable).

(c) Property street address (or nearest address to the access road entrance. If "nearest" is used, it should be reflected on sign).

(d) State permit number, lease name, and well number.

(e) Local emergency response phone number and company emergency phone number.

(f) Where a gate exists on the access road, the identification sign shall will be placed on the gate as well as the tank battery.

(g) The identification shall will be posted securely on the outside of the fence for the wellhead and tank battery fence in a conspicuous location.

(h) The identification shall will be on a metal or wooden sign with the sign maintained to remain legible at all times. The sign may be placed on a post securely placed in the ground at the gate and/or adjacent to the fence at the wellhead or tank battery in lieu of on the fence/gate.

(i) "Danger, Keep Out" (or similar wording) and no smoking signs shall will be securely attached to each side of the fencing used to screen the tank battery and wellhead.

(2) Prior to placing the well in production, the owner shall will install a fence around the wellhead and tank battery/separator and associated production equipment. The fence shall will be a chain link fence no less than eight feet in height, nine gauge and topped with three strands of barbed wire, if necessary. In lieu of chain link fence, a cedar board on board (or similar material) fence, eight feet in height may be used. All fence shall will be securely anchored in the ground.

(a) The fence shall will be placed no closer than four feet to the wellhead or any portion of the tank battery/separator. The wellhead may be "caged" or vaulted. The cage or vault cover shall will provide for easy removal for well servicing and/or emergency access. Clearance between the cage or vault cover or sides and the wellhead should be sufficient to maintain safe operations.

(b) The gate to the wellhead and tank battery/separator shall will be no less than four feet in width and lockable. Where there are two or more tanks in a tank battery, two gates on opposite sides of the facility shall will be placed.

(c) Where a lease/access road to the wellhead and/or tank battery extends a significant distance from the ingress access point a locked gate made of tubular steel or material similar in strength shall will be placed near the entrance to the access road restricting access to the well site. Keys or the combination to the lock shall will be provided to the state inspector or local emergency response officials on request.

(d) The well owner may request in writing to the chief, a variance to placing a fence and/or to the specifications for fence placement around the wellhead, tank battery/separator and associated equipment. In the future where a variance has been granted or if site conditions warrant, the chief may require direct a person to place the placement of a fence.

(3) All gates, electrical boxes and brine/oil pick-up lines shall will be locked unless in use, under repair, or company staff or representatives are on-site. Keys or combinations to the locks shall will be provided to the state inspector and local emergency response staff on request.

(4) Tanks:

(a) Tanks shall not cannot be buried.

(b) Activated charcoal filters shall will be installed on the vent stack and filters replaced as needed.

(c) Vent stacks shall will have a functioning low-pressure relief valve.

(d) Tank hatch lids shall will have a functioning seal and the hatch shall will be secured at all times when the well owner or his the owner's representative is not on-site.

(e) Each oil storage tank shall have a functioning lightning arrestor.

(f) Low profile tanks are recommended and the tanks shall not cannot extend more than three feet above the highest portion of the fence.

(g) Storage tanks shall not cannot be equipped with glass or plastic sitting tubes.

(h) The tank battery, separator and associated equipment may not cannot be placed closer than seventy-five feet from any property not part of the drilling unit unless the property owner and resident of the property grants approval in writing of any proposed location closer than seventy-five feet, or the chief waives the seventy-five foot set-back requirements specifications.

(i) Where more than six tanks (total capacity exceeding seven hundred bbl) are to be located nearer than seventy-five feet to property not included in the drilling unit, the adjacent property owner and resident of the property shall will approve the location of the tanks in writing including a reference to the total number of tanks or, the chief may waive the seventy-five foot set-back requirement mandate.

(5) Operations and maintenance:

(a) Servicing and maintenance of the well shall will occur between the hours of seven a.m. and seven p.m. (emergency repairs may occur at any time).

(b) Equipment not used in the production of the well shall not cannot be stored at the well site. Replacement equipment or replaced equipment shall not cannot be stored on-site for more than thirty days.

(c) Equipment and vegetation shall will be maintained consistent with reasonably prudent operations, including being free of refuse, in order to assure protection of public health or safety or to prevent damage to natural resources.

(6) Landscaping

(a) All landscaping placed to screen the tank battery or wellhead shall will be placed to permit reasonable access for well servicing and emergency access.

(b) Evergreen or similar stock no less than six feet in height placed no more than ten feet on center shall will be placed around the tank battery and wellhead fence.

(c) The chief, upon request by the well owner, may grant a variance on the placement of screening around the tank battery and/or wellhead.

Notes

Ohio Admin. Code 1501:9-9-05

Effective: 6/30/2024
Five Year Review (FYR) Dates: 10/13/2025
Promulgated Under: 119.03
Statutory Authority: 1509.02, 1509.03, 1509.23
Rule Amplifies: 1509.01, 1509.02, 1509.03, 1509.05, 1509.06, 1509.073, 1509.20, 1509.221509.23
Prior Effective Dates: 01/03/1969, 08/11/2005