43 C.F.R. Subpart 3263—Well Abandonment
Title 43 - Public Lands: Interior
No, you must have an approved sundry notice which documents your plugging and abandonment program before you start abandoning any well. You must also notify the local BLM office before you begin abandonment, so we may witness the work. Contact your local BLM office before starting to abandon your well to find out what notification we need. Send us a sundry notice with: (a) All the information required in the well completion report (see 43 CFR 3264.10), unless we already have that information; (b) A detailed description of the proposed work, including: (1) Type, depth, length, and interval of plugs; (2) Methods you will use to verify the plugs (tagging, pressure testing, etc.); (3) Weight and viscosity of mud that you will use in the uncemented portions; (4) Perforating or removing casing; and (5) Restoring the surface; and (c) Any other information that we may require. (a) When we receive your sundry notice, we will make sure it is complete and review it for compliance with the requirements of 43 CFR 3200.4. We will notify you if we need more information or require additional procedures. If we need any further information to complete our review, we will contact you in writing and suspend our review until we receive the information. If we approve your sundry notice, we will send you an approved copy once our review is complete. Do not start abandonment of the well until we approve your sundry notice. (b) We may verbally approve plugging procedures for a well which requires immediate action. If we do, you must submit the information required in 43 CFR 3263.11 within 48 hours after we give verbal approval. You must remove all equipment and materials and restore the site to BLM's satisfaction. Yes, if we determine your well is no longer needed for geothermal resource production, injection, or monitoring, or if we determine that the well is not mechanically sound. In either case, if you disagree you may explain to us why the well should not be abandoned. We will consider your reasons before we issue any final order. Only if you receive BLM's approval. To abandon a producing well, send us the information listed in 43 CFR 3263.11. We may also require you to explain why you want to abandon the well. We may deny your request if we determine the well is needed to protect a Federal lease from drainage, or to protect the environment or other resources of the United States.
Title 43: Public Lands: Interior
PART 3200—GEOTHERMAL RESOURCE LEASING
Subpart 3263—Well Abandonment
§ 3263.10 May I abandon a well without BLM's approval?
§ 3263.11 What must I give BLM to approve my sundry notice for abandoning a well?
§ 3263.12 How will BLM review my sundry notice to abandon my well and notify me of their decision?
§ 3263.13 What must I do to restore the site?
§ 3263.14 May BLM require me to abandon a well?
§ 3263.15 May I abandon a producible well?
