SECTION 800:30-3-5. Regulations for producing wells

(a)   Within thirty days after completion of the well, the operator will provide the Department a copy of the completion notice (Corporation Commission Form 1002A) and/or Plugging Report (Corporation Commission Form 1003).

(b)   A service area of 150 feet x 150 feet will be allowed around the well head unless special conditions justify a larger area and are approved by the Department.

(1)   The remainder of the area will be covered with topsoil and restored by tilling, fertilizing (at rate and formula recommended by the nearest NRCS office), and seeding with a seed mixture rate, and time as recommended by the Department.

(2)   Where livestock grazing occurs, the service area may be required to be fenced with four strands of barb wire on steel posts. If the well is located within 300 feet of a residence, camping area, shooting range, or other high use area, the service area and tank batteries may be required to be enclosed with a six foot chain link fence.

(3)   All pumps, storage tanks and other containers containing potential pollutants will be surrounded by a berm or metal retainment wall of sufficient height to contain 1 ½ times the entire volume of the largest container inside. These berms must be graveled or fertilized and seeded as authorized by the Department.

(4)   Any valves and equipment that could cause pollution to the surrounding area will be secured to prevent discharge. All leaks from tanks, lines, pipes and stuffing boxes must be stopped immediately upon detection or notification and repaired as soon as possible.

(5)   All permanent equipment must be powered electrically or equipped with "hospital zone" or buried muffler systems that are maintained in good working condition so noise level does not exceed 42 dBA. Noise reducing measures may include but are not necessarily limited to hush boxes, sound curtains and mufflers.

(6)   All equipment in the service area must be kept painted and maintained regularly. An earthtone paint color as authorized by the Department must be used.

(7)   Pipelines outside of the immediate service area must be buried at least 36 inches below the surface unless prohibited by rocks as authorized by the Department.

(8)   The service area shall be kept clean of trash, debris, empty barrels, old pipes and any other equipment or materials not being used and shall be stabilized according to the Department recommendations. Spilled salt water and hydrocarbons shall be promptly cleaned up and removed from the areas as prescribed by the Corporation Commission and the Department.

(9)   Unused topsoil in stockpile shall be fertilized and seeded to preserve it.

(10)   Vents and exhaust systems, such as on heater treaters, shall have screens placed on them to prevent birds and/or bats from entering.

(11)   Signs will be installed and maintained at the well site. These signs shall include: name, address, and telephone number of operator, plus the well name and legal location.

(12)   Prescribed burning is a vital part of the land management on wildlife management areas. All permanent above ground facilities, including valves, will be engineered, constructed and maintained to withstand prescribed fire. All permanent above ground facilities must meet these standards:

(A)   On well sites, vegetation will not be present within a 25 ft. radius of equipment. In the 25-50 ft. radius outside of equipment, vegetation will be kept below 4" in height during the growing season defined as May through September, and below 2" in the dormant season defined as October through April. No woody vegetation will be present within 75 feet of above ground equipment.

(B)   On above ground equipment off of the well site, including flow lines and electrical lines, no vegetation will be present within 1 ft. of any above ground equipment. In the 1-5 ft. radius around above ground equipment, vegetation will be kept below 4" in height during the growing season defined as May through September, and below 2" in the dormant season defined as October through April.

(c)   Reserve Pits. No reserve pit will be constructed on Department lands. A Closed system shall be used in lieu of a pit.

(d)   Roads. Roads constructed by or used by the operator, including culverts ditches, turnouts, water bars, gates and cattle guards will be maintained at operator's expense.

(1)   All locks and keys issued by the Department will be at cost and the operator will provide the area biologist a list of names of persons with keys.

(2)   Operator is required to maintain access road(s) and wildlife management area road(s) that are used by the operator, their employees, or anyone working for the operator or anyone hauling oil, gas, salt water, or equipment to or from the well. Roads will need to be graded at least once a year with ditches, turnouts and culverts repaired and gravel added as needed or requested by the Department.

(3)   Roads not needed for access to the producing well and not part of the wildlife area road system will be restored to approximate original contour, reterraced, covered with topsoil, and revegetated as described in (b), (1) above at operator's expense. And, when necessary, materials may be relocated as directed by the Department.

[Source: Amended at 23 Ok Reg 1591, eff 7-1-06; Amended at 25 Ok Reg 2128, eff 7-1-08; Amended at 33 Ok Reg 1131, eff 8-25-16]