25 Pa. Code § 78a.95 - Wells in noncoal areas-surface casing is cemented
(a) The owner or operator shall plug a well,
where the surface casing is cemented and the production casing is not cemented
or 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 extends 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 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 all 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. Another plug
of cement, or other equally nonporous material approved by the Department,
shall be placed extending at least 50 feet above that point.
(3) After setting the 50-foot plug, the hole
shall be filled from the top of the 50-foot plug to the surface with a
noncementing material or the operator shall set a 100-foot cement plug which
extends 50-feet into the surface casing and fill the hole to the surface with
noncementing material.
(b)
The owner or operator shall plug a noncoal well, where the surface casing and
production casing are 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 the 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 materials 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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