SECTION 165:10-11-4. Notification and witnessing of plugging

(a)   Wells without production casing. The appropriate Conservation Division District Office shall be notified at least 12 hours prior to commencement of plugging operations and a plugging procedure agreed upon for any well without production casing. Each plugging operation may be witnessed by an authorized representative of the Conservation Division.

(b)   Wells with production casing. A separate Notification of Intention to Plug (Form 1001) for each well with production casing shall be filed with the appropriate Conservation Division District Office at least five days prior to the commencement of plugging operations. The five day notice requirement may be reduced or waived:

(1)   If a qualified representative of the Conservation Division is available to witness the plugging operation.

(2)   At the discretion of the District Manager of the District in which the well is located or his supervisor.

(c)   Expiration.

(1)   Ninety-day period. The Notification of Intention to Plug (Form 1001) shall expire ninety days after it is filed with the appropriate Conservation Division District Office, unless plugging operations are commenced and thereafter continued with due diligence to completion.

(2)   Thirty-day extension. A thirty day extension of the Notification of Intention to Plug may be granted providing the Conservation Division staff determines that no material change of condition has occurred, if written request for the extension is received prior to the expiration date of the original Notification of Intention to Plug. Only one extension may be granted.

(d)   Penalty. An operator or licensed plugger plugging a well without notifying and agreeing on a plugging procedure with the District Office may be fined up to $1,000.00 and may be required by the appropriate District Manager to reenter and replug the well.

[Source: Amended at 11 Ok Reg 3691, eff 7-11-94; Amended at 14 Ok Reg 2198, eff 7-1-97; Amended at 30 Ok Reg 1041, eff 7-1-13; Amended at 33 Ok Reg 593, eff 8-25-16]