§ 78a.73. General provision for well construction and operation.
(a) The operator shall construct and operate the well in accordance with this chapter and ensure that the integrity of the well is maintained and health, safety, environment and property are protected.
(b) The operator shall prevent gas, oil, brine, completion and servicing fluids, and any other fluids or materials from below the casing seat from entering fresh groundwater, and shall otherwise prevent pollution or diminution of fresh groundwater.
(c) The operators of active, inactive, abandoned, and plugged and abandoned wells identified as part of an area of review survey conducted under § 78a.52a (relating to area of review) that likely penetrate within 1,500 feet measured vertically from the stimulation perforations, if known, shall be notified. Notice shall be provided at least 30 days prior to the start of drilling the well or at the time the permit application is submitted to the Department if the start of drilling is planned less than 30 days from the date of permit issuance. Orphan wells, abandoned wells, and plugged and abandoned wells identified as part of an area of review survey conducted under § 78a.52a that either penetrate within 1,500 feet measured vertically from the stimulation perforations or have an unknown true vertical depth shall be visually monitored during stimulation activities. The operator shall immediately notify the Department of any change to a well being monitored, of any treatment pressure or volume changes indicative of abnormal fracture propagation at the well being stimulated or if otherwise made aware of a confirmed well communication incident associated with their stimulation activities. Notice shall be provided to the Department electronically through the Department’s web site. In an event such as this, the operator shall cease stimulating the well that is the subject of the area of review survey and take action to prevent pollution of waters of the Commonwealth or discharges to the surface. The operator may not resume stimulation of the well that is the subject of the area of review survey without Department approval.
(d) An operator that alters an orphan well, or an abandoned well or plugged and abandoned well by hydraulic fracturing shall plug the altered well in accordance with this chapter, or the operator may adopt the altered well and place it into production.
(e) After a well has been completed, recompleted, reconditioned or altered the operator shall prevent surface shut-in pressure and surface producing back pressure inside the surface casing or coal protective casing from exceeding the following pressure: 80% multiplied by 0.433 psi per foot multiplied by the casing length (in feet) of the applicable casing.
(f) After a well has been completed, recompleted, reconditioned or altered, if the surface shut-in pressure or surface producing back pressure exceeds the pressure as calculated in subsection (e), the operator shall take action to prevent the migration of gas and other fluids from lower formations into fresh groundwater. To meet this standard the operator may cement or install on a packer sufficient intermediate or production casing or take other actions approved by the Department. This section does not apply during testing for mechanical integrity in accordance with State or Federal requirements.
(g) Excess gas encountered during drilling, completion or stimulation shall be flared, captured or diverted away from the drilling rig in a manner that does not create a hazard to the public health or safety.
(h) The well must be equipped with a check valve to prevent backflow from the pipelines into the well.
Cross References This section cited in 25 Pa. Code § 78a.52a (relating to area of review); 25 Pa. Code § 78a.83 (relating to surface and coal protective casing and cementing procedures); 25 Pa. Code § 78a.83b (relating to casing and cementing—lost circulation); and 25 Pa. Code § 78a.88 (relating to mechanical integrity of operating wells).
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