312 IAC 29-11-1 - Purpose
Authority: IC 14-10-2-4; IC 14-37-3
Affected: IC 14-37
Sec. 1.
(a) This
section establishes additional requirements for the drilling of a well for oil
and gas purposes in locations identified as karst prone areas. An owner or
operator shall drill all wells drilled in an identified karst prone area in
accordance with this rule.
(b) The
owner or operator shall determine if the well for oil and gas will be drilled
in an identified karst prone area from maps maintained by the
division.
(c) For wells drilled in
karst prone areas an owner or operator shall do the following:
(1) Use a cable tool rig or a rotary drilling
rig using air or water, without drilling mud, to circulate cuttings when
drilling the interval between the surface and the depth where surface casing is
to be set.
(2) Set surface casing
in an impervious formation that:
(A) is at
least thirty (30) feet below the depth in which karst features or
lost-circulation zones are likely to be encountered based on a review of local
geology and oil, gas, and water well drilling records for wells previously
drilled within one half (½) mile of the proposed well location;
or
(B) if previous drilling has not
occurred within one-half (½) mile of the proposed well location, the
minimum surface casing depth shall be into an impervious formation at least
thirty (30) feet into the top of the Borden Group for karst developed upon
Mississippian aged rocks or thirty (30) feet into the Maquoketa Group for karst
developed upon Devonian and Silurian aged rocks.
(d) The driller shall note and record in the
drillers log and the completion report the depth of any areas where voids or
lost-circulation zones were encountered while drilling.
(e) Prior to cementing the surface casing,
cement baskets shall be installed on the casing at the first joint above each
area where voids or lost-circulation zones were encountered. Lost-circulation
materials or commonly used cement additives shall also be used where practical
to reduce cement loss into karst features.
(f) If voids or lost-circulation zones are
encountered while drilling below the surface casing seat, the owner or operator
shall take appropriate measures to minimize cement loss into karst features as
follows:
(1) Set an intermediate casing string
at least thirty (30) feet below the void or lost-circulation zone with a cement
basket installed at the first casing joint above each area where a void or
lost-circulation zone is encountered. If this method is used, care shall be
taken to pump the minimum amount of cement necessary to fill the annulus up to
the bottom of the void. Cement shall be placed from the surface by tremie pipe
in the casing annulus to cement the interval above the cement basket.
(2) Use lost-circulation materials or cement
additives alone or in combination with sufficient cement baskets installed at
the first casing joint above each area where a void or lost circulation zone is
encountered.
Notes
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No prior version found.