Ariz. Admin. Code § 12-7-110

Current through Register Vol. 30, No. 49, December 6, 2024

Section R12-7-110 - Surface Casing Requirements

A. Surface casing shall be set at a sufficient depth to protect and isolate all known or reasonably estimated freshwater zones and to prevent blowouts or uncontrolled flows. The surface casing shall:

1. Be of sufficient size to permit the use of an intermediate string or strings of casing;

2. Be set in or through an impervious formation and shall be cemented by the pump and plug, displacement, or other method approved by the Commission;

3. Be cemented back to surface either during the primary cement job or by remedial action; and

4. Have API-approved centralizers on the bottom three joints as a minimum.

B. Cement shall be allowed to set a minimum of 12 hours under the lowest necessary pressure before drilling the cementing plugs or initiating tests.

C. Surface casing shall be pressure tested for at least 30 minutes to 70% of internal yield pressure or one psi per foot of casing depth, whichever is less. If a drop of more than 10% of the test pressure should occur, the casing shall be considered defective and corrective measures shall be applied. In wells drilled with cable tools, casing may be tested by bailing the well dry. The hole shall remain satisfactorily dry for one hour before commencing further operations. Results of the above test and any remedial action shall be reported in writing to the Commission within 15 days following the test.

D. The operator of a well shall notify the Commission at least 48 hours before setting surface casing so that a representative of the Commission may witness all or a part of the operations required in this Section.

Ariz. Admin. Code § R12-7-110

Former Rule 109; Former Section R12-7-110 renumbered and amended as Section R12-7-111, former Section R12-7-109 renumbered and amended as Section R12-7-110 effective September 29, 1982 (Supp. 82-5). Amended effective January 19, 1994 (Supp. 94-1).