25 Pa. Code § 78a.94 - Wells in noncoal areas-surface casing is not cemented or not present
(a) The owner or
operator shall plug a noncoal well, where the surface casing and production
casing are not cemented, or is not present 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
paragraph with a single column of cement or other materials 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) After plugging strata bearing or having
borne oil, gas or water, the well shall be filled with nonporous material to
approximately 100 feet below the surface casing seat and there shall be placed
another plug of cement or other equally nonporous material approved by the
Department extending at least 50 feet above that point.
(3) After setting the uppermost 50-foot plug,
the retrievable surface 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 hole shall be filled from the top of the 50-foot plug to the
surface with nonporous material other than gel. If the surface casing is not
retrievable, the hole shall be filled from the top of the 50-foot plug to the
surface with a noncementing material.
(b) The owner or operator shall plug a well,
where the surface casing is not cemented or not present, and the production
casing is cemented as follows:
(1) If the
total depth or attainable bottom is deeper than the cemented production casing
seat, the operator shall plug that portion of the well under subsection
(a)(1).
(2) Cement plugs shall be
set in the cemented portion of the production casing so that each plug extends
from at least 50 feet below each stratum bearing or having borne oil, gas or
water to a point at least 100 feet above each stratum. A Department-approved
mechanical plug may be used as a substitute for the plug of cement. The
mechanical plug shall be set 20 feet above each stratum having borne oil, gas
or water. 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
approved by the Department.
(3)
Following the plugging of the cemented portion of the production casing, the
uncemented portion of the production string shall be separated from the
cemented portion and retrieved. The maximum distance the stub of the uncemented
portion of the production casing may extend is 100 feet below the surface
casing. In no case may the uncemented portion of the production casing left in
the hole extend through stratum bearing or having borne oil, gas or water.
Other stratum bearing or having borne oil, gas or water shall be plugged by
filling the hole with nonporous material to 20 feet above the stratum and
setting a 50-foot plug of cement. When the uncemented portion of the production
casing is not retrievable, the operator shall plug that portion of the well
under §
78a.91(d).
(4) The remainder of the well shall be
plugged under subsection (a)(2) and (3).
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