Okla. Admin. Code § 165:10-7-14

Current through Vol. 42, No. 6, December 2, 2024

Section 165:10-7-14 - Anode groundbeds

(a)Definitions. The following words or terms, when used in this Section, shall have the following meaning, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:

(1)"Anode'' means the electrode of an electrochemical cell at which oxidation occurs.

(2)"Cathodic protection"means a technique used to reduce the corrosion of a metal surface by making that surface the cathode of an electrochemical cell.

(3)"Deep anode groundbed"means one or more anodes installed vertically at a depth of fifty (50) feet or more below the earth's surface in a drilled hole for the purpose of providing cathodic protection.

(4)"Shallow anode groundbed" means one or more anodes installed either vertically or horizontally at a nominal depth of less than fifty (50) feet.

(5)"Annular space" means the space between the surface casing and the borewall or the space between two or more strings of casing placed in the borehole.

(6)"Operator" means the person who is duly authorized and in charge of the development of the operation of the pipeline or the development of a lease for the production of hydrocarbons.

(b)Permit to drill.

(1) The operator shall make application on Form 1000B and obtain a permit to drill a deep anode groundbed.

(2) A permit to drill shall be valid only for one or more deep anode groundbeds within a designated 10 acre tract.

(3) The Commission shall approve or deny the application within 30 days of date of receipt.

(4) Any contractor drilling a deep anode groundbed shall be licensed within the State of Oklahoma.

(5) Any operator who drills a deep anode groundbed without a permit may be fined up to one thousand dollars ($1,000.00).

(c)Expiration. A permit to drill shall expire six (6) months from the date of issuance, unless drilling operations are commenced.

(d)Posting of permit to drill at the site. During any activity subject to this Section the operator shall maintain at the site a legible copy of the permit to drill for inspection.

(e)Notice. The Commission's District Manager or Field Inspector shall be given at least twenty-four (24) hours notice prior to commencing drilling operations.

(f)Notice of failure to comply with permit conditions. The operator shall notify the district office or the field inspector within twenty-four (24) hours of any failure to comply with the construction requirements approved on the permit.

(g)Deep anode groundbed abandonment.

(1) In the event the hole is lost during drilling, the hole will be plugged as soon as possible.

(2) Upon abandonment of a deep anode groundbed, the hole shall be plugged within thirty (30) days of abandonment.

(h)Construction standards.

(1)Shallow anode groundbeds.

(A) Shallow anode groundbeds shall be constructed in order to prevent runoff water from entering the anode system or the commingling of water from separate groundwater bearing formations.

(B) Vertical shallow groundbeds shall be sealed by backfilling the hole with native cuttings or an approved sealing material.

(2)Deep anode groundbeds.

(A) Deep anode groundbeds shall be constructed in order to prevent runoff water from entering the anode system or the commingling of groundwater formations with different water quality.

(B) Surface casing shall be set a minimum of twenty (20) feet below ground level, or at a depth previously approved by the Oil and Gas Division's Technical Department.

(C) If surface casing is not placed in the hole, the hole shall be filled with bentonite or cement from the top of the Coke Breeze Column to three (3) feet below surface. Native cuttings or soil shall be used to fill the remaining portion of the hole.

(D) The annular space between the casing and drilled hole shall be a minimum of two (2) inches to allow for a proper seal.

(E) The sealing material for the annular space for surface casing shall be bentonite, cement or a material previously approved by the Oil and Gas Division's Technical Department.

(F) Centralizers shall be used at a minimum of one (1) for every twenty-five (25) feet of surface casing run in the hole unless previously approved by the Oil and Gas Division's Technical Department on form 1000B.

(G) The groundbed shall be capped to prevent the entry of foreign material. Allowances for a vent pipe will be approved.

(i)Groundbed materials. Groundbed materials that do not contaminate groundwater shall be required at all times.

(j)Plugging requirements.

(1) All wires and vent pipe must be cut off at the top of the ten (10) foot surface plug, and the vent pipe must be securely capped and plugged.

(2) Cased holes shall be filled to at least ten (10) feet from the surface with native cuttings, anode materials, cement or with a material approved by the Pollution Abatement Department.

(3) Cement or bentonite shall be placed in the hole at a minimum of ten (10) feet below the surface to within three (3) feet of the surface. The remainder of the hole shall be filled with native cuttings, soil or a material approved by the Pollution Abatement Department.

(4) If the standard method is inadequate to stop artesian flow, alternate remedies must be employed to do so.

(5) All holes shall be properly completed or plugged to protect groundwater.

Okla. Admin. Code § 165:10-7-14

Added at 14 Ok Reg 2198, eff 7-1-97; Amended at 28 Ok Reg 1949, eff 7-11-11

Amended by Oklahoma Register, Volume 32, Issue 23, August 17, 2015, eff. 8/27/2015.