15A NCAC 05H .1620      REQUIREMENTS FOR SHUTTING-IN OIL or GAS WELLS

(a)  Oil or gas wells completed according to Rule .1607 of this Section, equipped with a wellhead according to Rule .1614 of this Section, and capable of production may be shut-in in accordance with this Rule.

(b)  The permittee shall complete and submit Form 15 – Oil or Gas Well Status to the Department via mail, email or fax within 14 calendar days of closing the master valve on the wellhead.  The contact information is set forth in Rule .0201 of this Subchapter.  The Form 15 – Oil or Gas Well Status shall include the following information:

(1)           the permittee's name, address, telephone number, fax number, and email address;

(2)           the county and nearest city or town where the oil or gas well is located;

(3)           the property street address, or nearest address to the ingress and egress point leading from a public road to the well pad;

(4)           the API number, the lease name, and the oil or gas well name and number;

(5)           if the request is for initial shut-in status or an annual extension of shut-in status;

(6)           the type of oil or gas well;

(7)           the diameter and length for each casing string;

(8)           the diameter and length of tubing string(s);

(9)           the type and amount of cement used for each casing string;

(10)         the current pressure for tubing and casing strings;

(11)         the current annulus pressure between tubing and production casing;

(12)         the current annulus pressure between production casing and surface casing;

(13)         if any annuli are open to atmosphere;

(14)         a description of how the current condition of the oil or gas well is capable of the following:

(A)          preventing damage to the production zone;

(B)          preventing surface leakage of fluids;

(C)          protecting groundwaters; and

(D)          protecting health and safety of persons, property, or the environment;

(15)         a description of the future utilization of the oil or gas well; and

(16)         a description of how the oil or gas well is in compliance with the requirements of Rules .1614 and .1615 of this Section.

(c)  The master valve shall remain closed and locked until the oil or gas well is either permanently plugged and abandoned or placed into production. 

(d)  The permittee shall maintain bonding required by Section .1400 of this Subchapter until the oil or gas well is permanently plugged and abandoned.

(e)  The permittee shall conduct monthly site inspections of the well site in accordance with Rule .2201 of this Subchapter.

(f)  The permittee shall conduct an annual mechanical integrity test of each shut-in oil or gas well in accordance with Rule .2201(j), (k) and (l) of this Subchapter and submit the test results to the Department using Form 16 – Mechanical Integrity Test Results.

(g)  Shut-in status shall be valid for a period of one year with an annual renewal required if the permittee desires to maintain shut-in status beyond one year.  The annual renewal application shall demonstrate one of the following:

(1)           inadequate infrastructure development; or

(2)           sub-economic producing conditions.

(h)  The Department shall revoke shut-in status of an oil or gas well if the permittee fails to maintain all of the requirements of this Rule.  The Department shall require the permittee to either place the oil or gas well into production or plug and abandon the oil or gas well at the permittee's discretion.

(i)  The permittee shall complete and submit Form 17 – Notification of Return of Oil or Gas Well to Active Status, to the Department by mail, email, fax within 14 calendar days of producing from an oil or gas well that has been shut-in.  The contact information is set forth in Rule .0201 of this Subchapter.  The permittee shall include the following in the completed Form 17 – Notification of Return of Oil or Gas Well to Active Status:

(1)           the permittee's name, address, telephone number, fax number, and email address;

(2)           the county and nearest city or town where the oil or gas well is located;

(3)           the property street address, or nearest address to the ingress and egress point leading from a public road to the well pad;

(4)           the API number, the lease name, and the oil or gas well name and number; and

(5)           the date of return to active status.

History Note:        Authority 113-391(a)(2);

Eff. March 17, 2015.