W. Va. Code R. § 64-46-12 - Water Well Abandonment

12.1. When a water well is abandoned, the work shall be performed by a West Virginia Certified Water Well Driller.

12.2. All wells shall be completely filled with grout to prevent contamination from entering the subsurface water bearing formations and ground water mixing with one aquifer to another. Bentonite or cement grout shall be used for grouting material. If the well is so large that, the use of these materials is not practical, the Commissioner shall determine a proper plugging process. Methods and materials shall be selected only after careful consideration of casing material, casing condition, the diameter of the casing, the quality and quantity of the original grout seal, the depth of the well, well plumbness, the hydrogeologic setting, the level of contamination, and the zones where contamination occurs. All abandonment of a water well procedures shall prevent groundwater contamination.

12.3. Screens, casings, and liner pipes shall be pulled whenever possible to assure placement of an effective seal. The borehole shall be completely sealed in such a manner that the vertical movement of water within the annular space is effectively and permanently prevented. When the casing is removed and the borehole is unstable, grout shall be simultaneously emplaced as the casing is removed to prevent collapse of the borehole; however, if the casing is left in place, the borehole shall be completely grouted from the bottom to the top with approved grouting material to reduce the possibility of annular channeling.

12.4. All pumps, wiring, pipes, valves, accessories, and hardware that may interfere with abandonment of a water well operations shall be removed prior to abandonment of a water well.

12.5. Water wells in consolidated formations shall be completely filled with grout to prevent contaminating materials from entering the subsurface water bearing formations and ground water from one aquifer mixing with that of another aquifer.

12.6. Water wells in unconsolidated formations shall be sealed with bentonite, cement, or a bentonite-cement mixture from bottom to top.

12.7. For abandoned water wells that penetrate limestone or other creviced or channelized rock formations that show a loss of grout while filling; stone, pea gravel, or other approved bridging agents may be used to seal these zones.

12.8. Hand dug or bucket drilled water wells exceeding twenty-four (24) inches in diameter shall be abandoned by the same method and with the same grouting materials as used in unconsolidated formations.

12.9. Flowing artesian wells shall be abandoned with grout from the bottom of the well to the ground surface, using a tremie pipe and pump. The added slurry weight of the cement-based or bentonite materials shall be necessary to overcome the naturally occurring pressuring characteristic of artesian flowing wells. For a large artesian flowing well (pressure head), it may be necessary to control the head or flow while placing the sealing material with the use of an inflatable packer to stop or restrict the flow of water.

12.10. Boreholes drilled for any geothermal uses or for a potential system that are unused in the final system shall be abandoned in accordance with this section.

Notes

W. Va. Code R. § 64-46-12