Document Citation: 62C-27.001, F.A.C.

Header:
FLORIDA ADMINISTRATIVE CODE
TITLE 62 DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
62C DIVISION OF RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
CHAPTER 62C-27 CONSERVATION OF OIL AND GAS: DRILLING

Date:
08/31/2009

Document:

62C-27.001 General.

(1) Identification of Wells. Every person drilling or operating an oil or gas well shall keep posted in a conspicuous place near the well a sign legible from 100 feet and displaying the name of the operator, fee owner, well number, Department permit number, county name, section, township, and range. This sign shall remain until the well is plugged and the site restored.

(2) Continuous Operations. Once commenced, drilling operations shall not be suspended except in emergency situations created by hurricanes, flooding, fire, etc. and shall be resumed as soon as the emergency passes. All wells under construction on which drilling activities have been suspended in non-emergency situations shall be considered abandoned and shall be plugged in accordance with Rule 62C-29.009, F.A.C.

(a) Shut-in Periods. Every well not plugged and abandoned must have an operating permit. Once an operating permit has been granted, the operator may shut the well in for the life of the operating permit after first pressure testing the well in accordance with Rule 62C-29.007, F.A.C. Every shut in well must be retested prior to recertification of its operating permit.

(b) Security. All shut in wells shall be continuously covered by security as specified in Rule 62C-26.003, F.A.C.

(3) Reporting Requirements. The operator shall submit post paid to the Department a Well Record (Form 8), abbreviated driller's log, a cut of all samples and cores taken, two complete sets of all well logs, a mud log, and a core or sample analysis report, if made.

(a) Logs. The operator shall keep at the well site a complete driller's log and a copy of all well logs run on the well.

(b) Water Quality Analysis. If necessary to determine the depth to the base of the deepest USDW, the Department shall require resistivity and porosity logs be run before setting surface casing and a representative water sample taken immediately after drilling out of the surface casing.

(4) Mud Tanks, Reserve Pits, and Dikes. Before spudding the well, mud tanks of sufficient size to hold the active mud volume at the surface shall be installed for containment of all active drilling fluids. Earthen mud pits shall not be used for this purpose.

(a) Additional Requirements. In national and state forests and parks, in wetlands, and in other sensitive areas, prefabricated tanks and drip pans shall be required for the containment of all waste fluids and, on a site specific basis, reserve pits must be either lined with impermeable material or reserve pit fluids intermittently pumped down the wellbore to reduce hydrostatic head.

(b) Pit Volume. If the volume of fluid in the reserve pit exceeds 75% of pit capacity, all drilling operations shall be suspended until additional pit volume is provided or the level reduced.

(c) Dikes. Dikes of sufficient size and strength to prevent rain water from washing onto and inundating pads and to contain any spills that may occur during drilling operations shall be constructed around well sites. For productive wells drilled subsequent to this rule and located where potential spillage, flooding or drainage problems exist, such as in closed drainage basins, floodplains, hillsides overlooking rivers, etc. the Department shall require the dike to remain until permanent abandonment.

(5) Control of Wells. The operator shall take all necessary precautions to keep all wells under control at all times, shall utilize only contractors or employees trained and competent to drill and operate such wells, and shall use only oil field equipment and practices generally used in the industry. The design of the integrated casing, cementing, drilling mud, and blowout prevention programs shall be based upon sound engineering principles, and shall take into account all relevant geologic and engineering data and information.

(6) Drill Stem Tests. All drill stem tests shall be conducted in accordance with generally accepted industry standards and practices and shall be concluded only during daylight hours. Prefabricated tanks shall be used to contain all produced fluids and a gas flare system with automatic ignition and scrubbers shall be used to safely flare gas and prevent spills. Flare pits shall be lined and the fluid level kept to a minimum. Earthen flare pits shall not be used for long-term production.

(7) Operations Involving Hydrogen Sulfide. When rig operations are undertaken where H2 S is likely, operators shall use only materials and equipment rated for sour service and shall develop a plan to safely and effectively control any H2 S encountered. Such plan shall meet generally accepted industry standards and practices and shall include well and mud design, a personnel training and safety program, and a contingency plan for notifying authorities and evacuating civilians in the event of an accident.