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New Drilling Regulations




Prior to April 1, 2020, all licensees shall obtain CEPs in order to be eligible for license renewal as follows: Prior to July 1, 2020, all applicants for renewal licenses shall demonstrate that they have completed at least seven CEPs, within the prior three-year periodCEPs shall be obtained a minimum of 90 days prior to license term expirationLicensees who have been licensed for less than three years shall not be required to demonstrate that they have completed the required number of CEPs prior to their first license renewal.


Beginning April 1, 2020, all licensees shall obtain CEPs in order to be eligible for license renewal as follows: On or after April 1, 2023, and every three years thereafter, all applicants for renewal licenses shall demonstrate that they have completed at least 21 CEPs, within the prior three-year periodCEPs shall be obtained a minimum of 90 days prior to license term expirationLicensees who have been licensed for less than three years shall not be required to demonstrate that they have completed the required number of CEPs prior to their first license renewal


Decommissioning materials shall be installed using one of the following methods: Pumped into the well under pressure through a tremie pipe that discharges at the bottom of the well. If an annular space is being sealed, the material shall discharge at the bottom of the annular space. During sealing, the tremie pipe may be raised from the bottom of the space being filled in a manner which insures that the discharge end of the tremie pipe is constantly submerged within the column of undiluted decommissioning material in the well. The decommissioning material shall be pumped into the well until all water has been displaced from the well and until the decommissioning material overflowing the well has a density within the acceptable density range for that materialSodium-based bentonite chips and bentonite pellets may be gravity poured in accordance with the manufacturer’s specifications: seal the annular space between casings or the annular space between the casing and the borehole to a maximum depth of 50 feet or inside the inner casing or borehole to a maximum depth of 100 feet; ii. After all fine material has been removed through screening or equivalent methods to prevent bridging; and iii. From bottom to top until all space that is to be sealed is completely filled. (o) The well driller who decommissions the well shall return to the well no sooner than 24 hours, or later than 72 hours, and fill any settlement of the decommissioning material in the well as follows: 1. By the pressure method, or by using sodium-based bentonite chips and shaped pellets in accordance with (n)2 above, for settlement less than 50 feet from ground surface; or 2. By pressure method, for any settlement of 50 feet or greater in accordance with (n)1 aboveAfter the completion of either (o)1 or 2 above, concrete shall be poured to form a slab which shall extend beyond the perimeter of the casing after any settlement is filled in accordance with (o)1 and 2 above. This slab shall be a minimum of six-inches thick and located at or below grade.


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