OAR 632-020-0180
Blowout Prevention Rules for Prospect Wells Less than 2,000 Feet in Depth

All prospect wells must have adequate casing and wellhead controls installed, unless otherwise approved by the department. The casing must extend from the surface to at least ten percent of the proposed total depth of the well and be cemented back to the surface. Wellhead controls must consist of an annular preventer or double ram preventer or pipe rams and gate valve. Controls may be manual or hydraulic.

(1)

If hot water or flowing steam at 65° C. (150° F.) or greater is encountered, further drilling must stop immediately, the operator must notify the department, and the hole will be either:

(a)

Completed as an observation hole using steel tubing cemented from total depth to surface; or

(b)

Permanently decommissioned by plugging with cement from total depth to surface; or

(c)

Deepened only after a review of the adequacy of wellhead control equipment and approval from the department. If the prospect well is deepened as described in this section, it must be completed as described in subsections (a) and (b) of this section.

(2)

If cold flowing artesian water is encountered, the hole will be completed as in subsection (1)(a) or (b) of this rule, except that plastic tubing may be used, only with prior department approval.

(3)

Locations proposed in natural thermal areas within a 1,000 foot radius of hot springs, fumaroles, or other surface geothermal indicators, or in areas of known artesian water flow, will require a detailed drilling program for each hole approved by the department. The department may require special drilling and completion techniques, such as cemented surface casing and simple expansion type blowout preventers, to safely control formations containing geothermal or other resources that may be penetrated.

(4)

A supply of mud and lost circulation material must be kept on hand while drilling to control abnormal pressure if rotary equipment is used.

(5)

Prospect wells must not result in the co-mingling of fluids.

(6)

No prospect well may be constructed, maintained, or abandoned in such a manner as to constitute a health threat, health hazard, or nuisance to public safety.

Source: Rule 632-020-0180 — Blowout Prevention Rules for Prospect Wells Less than 2,000 Feet in Depth, https://secure.­sos.­state.­or.­us/oard/view.­action?ruleNumber=632-020-0180.

632‑020‑0005
Jurisdiction and Authority 632‑020‑0010
Definitions 632‑020‑0015
Inspection and Supervision 632‑020‑0020
General Rules 632‑020‑0025
Supremacy of Special Rules 632‑020‑0028
Permit Required 632‑020‑0030
Application for Geothermal or Prospect Well 632‑020‑0031
Annual Permit Fees 632‑020‑0032
Permit Conditions 632‑020‑0035
Drilling Financial Security 632‑020‑0040
Assignment, Transfers of Ownership 632‑020‑0060
Filing of Well Records, Confidentiality 632‑020‑0065
Applications to Modify 632‑020‑0070
Well Designations 632‑020‑0090
Noise Abatement 632‑020‑0095
Casing Requirements 632‑020‑0100
Removal of Casings 632‑020‑0105
Directional Drilling 632‑020‑0110
Serving Orders 632‑020‑0115
Measurement of Geothermal Resources 632‑020‑0117
Spacing Plan 632‑020‑0120
Production Reports 632‑020‑0125
Proper Completion, Plugging, and Decommissioning 632‑020‑0130
Subsequent Decommissioning Report 632‑020‑0134
Naming of Fields 632‑020‑0135
Well Spacing 632‑020‑0138
Unit Agreements 632‑020‑0140
Commingling Production 632‑020‑0145
Pits or Sumps 632‑020‑0150
Disposal of Solid and Liquid Wastes 632‑020‑0151
Handling of Test Fluids 632‑020‑0154
Injection and Conservation 632‑020‑0155
Application to Inject 632‑020‑0156
Permit for Injection 632‑020‑0157
Injection Well Construction, Protection and Mechanical Integrity 632‑020‑0158
Wellhead Equipment, Injection Wells 632‑020‑0159
Monitoring Injection 632‑020‑0165
Judicial Review of Board Actions 632‑020‑0170
Environmental Protection 632‑020‑0175
Blowout Prevention for Geothermal Wells and Prospect Wells 2,000 Feet or More in Depth 632‑020‑0180
Blowout Prevention Rules for Prospect Wells Less than 2,000 Feet in Depth
Last Updated

Jun. 8, 2021

Rule 632-020-0180’s source at or​.us