020-18 Wyo. Code R. §§ 18-10 - Requirements of Plugging of Drill Holes and Repair, Conversion, and Plugging of Wells

(a) A plan for drill holes and well repair, plugging and conversion shall be approved by the Administrator and included in the permit or Research and Development License application, as required by Section 6(v) of this Chapter and shall constitute a requirement of the permit.

(b) All drill holes and monitor wells shall be plugged in accordance with Land Quality Division, Rules and Regulations - Coal, Chapter 14 and W.S. § 35-11-404.

(c) If a well lacks mechanical integrity, repair or plugging of the well is required to prevent the movement of fluid into unauthorized zones or onto the surface caused by the lack of mechanical integrity. Repair or plugging of the well must be completed within 120 days of the testing which indicates the well lacks mechanical integrity. If the well is repaired rather than plugged, retesting of the well, in accordance with the requirements of Section 9 of this Chapter must be completed within 120 days after the repair is completed. The operator may resume injection upon written notification from the Administrator that the operator has demonstrated mechanical integrity.

(d) The operator shall notify the Administrator, as required by the permit or Research and Development Testing License, before plugging a well or wells within a permit area, or converting a well to uses other than those defined in Section 1(h) of this Chapter.

(e) All abandoned wells shall be plugged or converted in accordance with the Plugging/Conversion Plan in the permit or Research and Development Testing License, in order to assure that groundwater is protected and preserved for future use and to eliminate any potential physical hazard. A well is considered "abandoned" when it has not been used for a period of two years, unless the operator submits to the Administrator and receives approval for a non-significant revision demonstrating their intention to use the well again and the actions and procedures they will take to ensure that mechanical integrity of the well are maintained and the well will not endanger any unauthorized zone or water-bearing strata in accordance with the requirements of this Chapter.

(f) A well shall be plugged to meet the requirements below, using an approved sealant material as outlined in Land Quality Division Rules and Regulations - Coal, Chapter 14, to assure that plugging of the well will not allow the movement of fluids into or between unauthorized zones or water-bearing strata:

(i) The well shall be plugged using a method which prevents fluid communication and adverse changes in water quality or quantity. Sealant materials shall be emplaced in a manner that provides a water tight seal utilizing one of the approved methods detailed in Land Quality Division Rules and Regulations - Coal, Chapter 14, Section 2(e) through (g) and shall meet the following requirements:

(A) If specific sections of the casing are to be plugged with cement:

(I) The type and number of plugs to be used;

(II) The placement of each plug including the elevation of the top and bottom;

(III) The method of placement of the plugs, in accordance of Section 10(f);

(IV) That the well to be plugged shall be in a state of static equilibrium with the mud weight equalized top to bottom, either by circulating the mud in the well at least once or by a comparable methods prescribed by the Administrator prior to the placement of the cement plug(s); and

(V) That the placement of cement plugs shall be accomplished by one of the following:

(1.) The Balance method;

(2.) The Dump Bailer method;

(3.) The Two-Plug method; or

(4.) An alternative method approved by the Administrator, which:

a. Includes placement of plugging materials in the interval or intervals to be sealed by methods that prevent free fall, dilution and/or separation of aggregates from sealing methods; and

b. Provides a comparable level of reliable protection to the methods identified in Section 10(f).

(B) When the underground pressure head producing flow (i.e. gassy or artesian) is such that a counter-pressure must be applied to force a sealing material into the annular space, this counter-pressure shall be maintained for the length of time required for the plugging material to set or fully hydrate.

(C) The top of the plugging mixture of any plugged and abandoned well shall be backfilled to the surface with dry nonslurry materials or capped with a concrete cap set at least 2 below the ground surface and then backfilled to the surface with native earthen materials to ensure the safety of people, livestock, wildlife, and machinery in the area.

(g) In the case of an in situ operation which underlies or is in an aquifer which has been exempted under Section 11 of this Chapter, the Plugging/Conversion Plan in the permit or Research and Development Testing License shall also demonstrate adequate protection of USWs. The Administrator shall prescribe aquifer cleanup and monitoring where he deems it necessary and feasible to assure adequate protection of USWs.

(h) To ensure the locations of the abandoned wells are adequately identified:

(i) The location of each well shall be recorded as a deed notice with the appropriate county; and

(ii) The top of the plugging mixture in each abandoned well shall include a steel plate which clearly shows the well identification number, LQD permit number, and the date of plugging. All marking devices shall be installed a minimum depth of two feet below the land surface.

(i) Plugging and conversion activities shall be reported in accordance with the requirements in Section 15 of this Chapter.

Notes

020-18 Wyo. Code R. §§ 18-10

Adopted, Eff. 11/13/2018.