OAR 632-010-0015
Down Hole Loss and Decommissioning of a Radioactive Source


(1)

A permittee must notify the department within 2 hours of the down hole loss of a radioactive source (source or radioactive source). The notice must include the date of loss and location (county, survey name, abstract number, lease name, well API number, distances from survey boundaries, and Lambert Coordinates).

(2)

Procedures for recovery of the lost radioactive source must be furnished to the department, and the radioactive source may not be declared decommissioned until all reasonable effort has been expended to retrieve the radioactive source, as determined by the department.

(3)

Decommission procedures.

(a)

Wells with decommissioned radioactive sources must be mechanically equipped to prevent either accidental or intentional mechanical disintegration of the radioactive source.

(A)

Radioactive sources decommissioned in the bottom of a well must be covered with a cement plug, dyed a standard color red iron oxide at least 100 feet thick, on top of which a whipstock or other approved deflection device is set. The dye is to alert a reentry drilling engineer prior to encountering the source.

(B)

Upon decommissioning a well where a radioactive source has been cemented in place behind a casing string above total depth, a standard color-dyed cement plug must be placed opposite the decommissioned source and a whipstock or other approved deflection device placed on top of the plug. The standard color-dyed cement plug must have a minimum 100-foot cement plug set opposite the source, extending at least 50 feet above and 50 feet below the source.

(C)

In the event a permittee finds that after expending a reasonable effort it is not possible to decommission the source as prescribed in subparagraphs (A) and (B) of this section, the permittee may seek department approval for an alternate decommission procedure.

(D)

If the hole is later sidetracked above the source, the sidetracked hole must be controlled to ensure that it is at least 15 feet away from the source.

(b)

Upon permanent decommission of any well in which a radioactive source is left in the hole, and after removal of the wellhead, a permanent plaque must be attached to the top of the casing left in the hole in such a manner that reentry cannot be accomplished without disturbing the plaque. This plaque will serve as a visual warning that a radioactive source has been decommissioned in place in the well. The plaque must contain the trefoil radiation symbol with a radioactive warning and must be constructed of a long-lasting material such as monel or brass, in accordance with specifications established by the department. Additionally, the plaque must be labeled with the well name, API number, and “Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral Industries.”

(c)

A plugging report must be filed with the department and must identify the well as a decommissioned radioactive source well and include a signed affidavit stating that all plugging reports are accurate and comply with OAR 632-010-0015 (Down Hole Loss and Decommissioning of a Radioactive Source).

(d)

The permittee must erect, under supervision of the department, a standardized permanent surface marker as a visual warning showing that the well contains a radioactive source. This marker must contain the following information: well name, API number, surface location, name of the permittee, name of the lease, the source or material decommissioned in the well, the total depth of the well, the depth at which the source is decommissioned, the plug-back depth, the date of the decommission of the source, the activity of the source, and a warning not to drill below the plug-back depth;

(4)

The department will maintain a list of all decommissioned radioactive source wells.

Source: Rule 632-010-0015 — Down Hole Loss and Decommissioning of a Radioactive Source, https://secure.­sos.­state.­or.­us/oard/view.­action?ruleNumber=632-010-0015.

632‑010‑0002
General Rules
632‑010‑0004
Supremacy of Special Rules
632‑010‑0008
Definitions
632‑010‑0010
Application and Permit to Drill, Redrill, Deepen, Alter Casing, or Rework
632‑010‑0011
Active Permits
632‑010‑0012
Modifications to Drilling Permits
632‑010‑0014
Drilling Practices
632‑010‑0015
Down Hole Loss and Decommissioning of a Radioactive Source
632‑010‑0016
Enclosure and Identification of Wells, Tanks, and Other Oil Measuring Devices
632‑010‑0017
Well Records (Logs)
632‑010‑0018
Organization Reports
632‑010‑0020
Surface Equipment
632‑010‑0128
Boiler or Light Plant
632‑010‑0130
Rubbish or Debris
632‑010‑0132
Tubing
632‑010‑0134
Chokes
632‑010‑0136
Separators
632‑010‑0138
Fire Walls
632‑010‑0140
Reserve Pits, Sumps, and Above-Ground Tanks
632‑010‑0142
Directional Drilling
632‑010‑0144
Report of Perforating or Well Stimulation Treatment
632‑010‑0146
Vacuum Pumps Prohibited
632‑010‑0148
Production Practice
632‑010‑0150
Removal Of Casing
632‑010‑0151
Notification of Fire, Breaks, Leaks, or Blowouts
632‑010‑0152
Multiple Completion of Wells
632‑010‑0154
Determining and Naming Fields and Pools
632‑010‑0156
Spacing Units, Notification
632‑010‑0157
Exceptions to Special Rules
632‑010‑0159
Underground Reservoirs for Natural Gas Storage
632‑010‑0161
Compulsory Integration Orders
632‑010‑0162
Illegal Production
632‑010‑0163
Limitation of Production
632‑010‑0164
Commingling of Production Prohibited
632‑010‑0165
Allocation of Gas Pursuant to Special Pool Rules
632‑010‑0166
Reports by Purchasers and Producers
632‑010‑0167
Maximum Efficient Rate Hearings
632‑010‑0168
Use of Earthen Reservoirs
632‑010‑0170
Reservoir Surveys
632‑010‑0172
Operators to Assist in Reservoir Surveys
632‑010‑0174
Measurement of Potential Open-Flow of Gas Wells
632‑010‑0176
Supervision of Open-Flow and Pressure Tests
632‑010‑0178
Duration of Tests
632‑010‑0182
Gas to Be Metered
632‑010‑0184
Direct Well Pressure
632‑010‑0186
Gas-Oil Ratio
632‑010‑0188
Gas-Oil Ratio Surveys and Reports
632‑010‑0190
Gas Utilization
632‑010‑0192
Disposal of Brine or Salt Water
632‑010‑0194
Water Injection and Water Flooding of Oil and Gas Properties
632‑010‑0196
Gas Injection of Oil and Gas Properties
632‑010‑0198
Abandonment, Unlawful Abandonment, Suspension, Well Plugging
632‑010‑0205
Drilling Surety Bond
632‑010‑0210
Disposal of Solid and Liquid Wastes
632‑010‑0220
Measurement of Oil
632‑010‑0225
Spacing Plan
632‑010‑0230
Location of Wells
632‑010‑0235
Exceptions
Last Updated

Jun. 8, 2021

Rule 632-010-0015’s source at or​.us