Utah Admin. Code R655-1-8 - Temperature Gradient Wells
8.1 General:
Wells may be drilled upon approval of the State Engineer for measurement of
subsurface temperatures and conductive heat flow.
8.2 Information: Request for a temperature
gradient well program shall include the following information:
(a) Well number.
(b) Well location, elevation and expected
depth.
(c) Geologic interpretation
of area under investigation, including any known or inferred temperature
data.
(d) Proposed drilling
program, including method and casing schedule.
(e) Proposed method of abandonment.
(f) The State Engineer may require other data
and impose restrictions or supervision by the Division as his studies may
indicate.
8.3
Conditions: The following general conditions shall apply to temperature
gradient wells:
(a) The depth of the hole
shall not exceed 1,000 feet unless otherwise authorized by the State
Engineer.
(b) The wells are to be
cased and sealed against the water in the formations to be drilled.
(c) Return mud or air temperatures shall be
monitored at, at least 30 foot intervals and should the temperature reach 125
degrees F. the drilling shall cease and the casing installed or the hole
abandoned. Plastic casing may be used at temperatures under 125 degrees F.;
otherwise, steel casing shall be used.
(d) Upon completion of the testing program,
the casings are to be capped, or the casings are to be pulled and the holes
cemented from bottom to top.
(e)
The driller must have a current well driller's license from the State Engineer
in accordance with R655-4 UAC. The driller shall also comply with the rules and
regulations of R644-4 UAC when drilling temperature gradient wells. At least 48
hours before starting, the driller must give this Division notice of the day
that drilling will commence.
(f) A
well completion report, including temperature data, shall be submitted to the
State Engineer within 90-days of completion. The well completion report shall
be public record unless the owner or operator requests, in writing, that the
records be held confidential in accordance with Section
73-22-6(1)(c).
(g) The driller shall exercise due caution in
all drilling operations to prevent blowouts, explosions or fires.
Notes
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