(A) Abandoned wells. All wells shall be abandoned in accordance with the rules of the Railroad Commission; however, all well casings shall be cut and removed to a depth of at least ten feet below the surface unless the surface owner submits a written agreement otherwise. Three feet shall be the minimum depth. No buildings shall be built over an abandoned well.
(B) Surface requirements for plugged and abandoned well. Whenever abandonment occurs pursuant to the requirements of the Railroad Commission, the operator so abandoning shall be responsible for the restoration of the well site to its original condition as nearly as practicable, in conformity with the regulations of this chapter.
(C) Inspector’s discretion. Abandonment shall be approved by the Inspector after restoration of the drill site has been accomplished in conformity with the following requirements at the discretion of the Inspector:
(1) The derrick and all appurtenant equipment thereto shall be removed from drill site;
(2) All tanks, towers, and other surface installations shall be removed from the drill site;
(3) All concrete foundations, piping, wood, guy anchors and other foreign materials regardless of depth, except surface casing, shall be removed from the site, unless otherwise directed by the Railroad Commission;
(4) All holes and depressions shall be filled with clean, compactable soil;
(5) All waste, refuse or waste material shall be removed from the drill site; and
(6) During abandonment, operator shall comply with all applicable sections in this chapter.
(D) Abandoned well requirement. The operator shall furnish the following at the discretion of the Inspector:
(1) A copy of the W-3A notice of intention to plug and abandon and W-3 plugging record forms on the same date these forms are submitted to the Commission;
(2) A prior 48 hour notice of intention to plug and abandon under the provisions of this section and stating the date such work will be commenced. Abandonment may then be commenced on or subsequent to the date so stated; and
(3) All wells shall be plugged and abandoned in accordance with the rules of the Railroad Commission; however, all well casings and cellars shall be cut and removed to a depth of at least three feet below the surface. A permanent abandonment marker pipe, with the well identity and location permanently inscribed, shall be welded to the casing and shall be at least four inches in diameter with a length of four feet visible above the ground level.
(Ord. 326, passed 7-14-2011) Penalty, see § 154.999