SECTION 165:10-11-8. Procedures for identification and control of wellbores in which radioactive sources have been abandoned

(a)   Notice and permission to abandon.

(1)   When a radioactive source has been lost and abandoned in a well bore, the operator shall immediately notify the appropriate District Office and request permission to plug or plug-back and/or bypass to conform to the conditions set out in this Section. The District Manager or his designee may exercise the option of witnessing the procedure.

(2)   A radioactive source shall not be considered abandoned until all reasonable efforts have been expended to retrieve the source.

(b)   Method of plugging.

(1)   Wells in which radioactive sources have been abandoned shall be mechanically equipped and plugged in such a manner so as to prevent either accidental or intentional mechanical disintegration of the radioactive source.

(2)   When a radioactive source has been lost in a well bore and cannot be recovered, the tool shall be covered with a 100 foot plug consisting of standard oil field cement with an approved deflection tool cemented in place at the top of the plug. An additional 100 foot plug colored by red iron oxide shall be run on top of the deflection tool.

(c)   Approval for alternate plugging method. When an operator, after expending all reasonable efforts, finds that it is not possible to abandon the source as prescribed in (d) of this Section, an alternate plugging procedure must be approved by the Commission prior to use.

(d)   Markers for wells in which a radioactive source has been abandoned. Upon abandonment of a well in which a radioactive source has been abandoned, and the abandonment procedure has been approved by the Commission, the operator shall cause a permanent plaque to be attached to casing remaining in the well within thirty (30) days of such abandonment. The plaque shall be attached in such a manner that reentry could not be accomplished without disturbing it. The plaque shall be constructed of a long lasting material and shall contain the following information:

(1)   Well name and well number.

(2)   Name of operator.

(3)   The source material abandoned.

(4)   Total depth of the well.

(5)   The latitude and longitude and the true vertical depth of the location of the abandoned radioactive source in the well bore. For purposes of this Section, true vertical depth is measured at the surface location of the well bore in which the radioactive source has been abandoned.

(6)   The date of abandonment.

(7)   The activity of the source.

(8)   Trefoil radiation symbol with a radioactive warning.

(e)   Completion reports and plugging records of wells with lost radioactive sources. When a radioactive source has been lost and abandoned in a well bore, both the Form 1002A Completion Report and Form 1003 Plugging Record submitted by the well operator to the Commission pursuant to OAC 165:10-3-25 and OAC 165:10-11-7, respectively, shall contain all of the information required in (d) of this Section. The well operator shall also forward copies of the Form 1002A Completion Report and Form 1003 Plugging Record to the Radiation Management Section of the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality.

(f)   Record of abandoned radioactive sources. The Commission will maintain a current listing of all wells in which radioactive sources have been abandoned.

[Source: Amended at 9 Ok Reg 2337, eff 6-25-92; Amended at 14 Ok Reg 2198, eff 7-1-97; Amended at 28 Ok Reg 1949, eff 7-11-11]