Casing And Cementing Conditions
The casing and cementing conditions below are designed for typical casing and cementing. DEC will require additional measures for wells drilled in environmentally or technically sensitive areas (i.e. primary or principal aquifers).
DEC recognizes that variations to the below procedures may be indicated in site specific instances. Such variations will require the prior approval of the Regional Mineral Resources Manager.
When requested by DEC in writing, each Operator must submit cement tickets and/or other documents that indicate the below specifications have been followed.
1. The diameter of the drilled surface casing hole must be large enough to allow the running of centralizers in recommended hole sizes.
| Centralizer Size (Inches) | Minimum Hole Sizes (Inches) | Minimum Clearance (Inches) |
|---|---|---|
| 4-1/2 | 6-1/8 | 1-5/8 |
| 5-1/2 | 7-3/8 | 1-7/8 |
| 6-5/8 | 8-1/2 | 1-7/8 |
| 7 | 8-3/4 | 1-3/4 |
| 8-5/8 | 10-5/8 | 2 |
| 9-5/8 | 12-1/4 | 2-5/8 |
| 13-3/8 | 17-1/2 | 4-1/8 |
notes: (1) If a manufacturer's specifications call for a larger hole size than indicated in the above table, then the manufacturer's specs take precedence. (2) Check with the appropriate regional office for sizes not listed above.
2. Surface casing must extend at least 75 feet beyond the deepest fresh water zone encountered or 75 feet into competent rock (bedrock), whichever is deeper. However, the surface pipe must be set deeply enough to allow the BOP stack to contain any formation pressures that may be encountered before the next casing is run.
3. Surface casing must not extend into zones known to contain measurable quantities of shallow gas. In the event that such a zone is encountered before the fresh water is cased off, the Operator must notify DEC and, with DEC's approval, take whatever actions are necessary to protect the fresh water zone(s).
4. All surface casing must be a string of new pipe with a mill test of at least 1,100 pounds per square inch (psi). Used casing may be approved for use, but must be pressure tested before drilling out the casing shoe or, if there is no casing shoe, before drilling out the cement in the bottom joint of casing. If plain end pipe is welded together for use, it too must be pressure tested. The minimum pressure for testing used casing or casing joined together by welding will be determined by DEC at the time of permit application. The appropriate Regional Mineral Resources office staff must be notified 6 hours prior to making the test. The results will be entered on the drilling log.
5. Centralizers must be spaced at least one per every 120 feet; a minimum of 2 centralizers must be run on surface casing. Cement baskets must be installed appropriately above major lost circulation zones.
6. Prior to cementing any casing strings, all gas flows must be killed and the Operator must attempt to establish circulation by pumping the calculated volume necessary to circulate. If the hole is dry, the calculated volume would include the pipe volume and 125% of the annular volume. Circulation is deemed to have been established once fluid reaches the surface. A flush, spacer or extra cement shall be used to separate the cement from the bore hole spacer or extra cement must be used to separate the cement from the bore hole fluids to prevent dilution. If cement returns are not present at the surface, the Operator may be required to run a log to determine the top of the cement.
7. The pump and plug method must be used, unless an alternative method is approved by DEC, to cement surface casing. The amount of cement will be determined on a site specific basis and a minimum of 25% excess cement shall be used, with appropriate lost circulation materials, unless additional excesses are specified by DEC.
8. The Operator must test or require the cementing contractor to test the mixing water for pH and temperature prior to mixing the cement and to record the results on the cementing ticket.
9. The cement slurry must be prepared according to the manufacturer's or contractor's specifications to minimize free water content in the cement.
10. After the cement is placed and the cementing equipment is disconnected, the Operator must wait until the cement achieves a calculated compressive strength of 500 psi before the casing is disturbed in any way. The WOC time must be recorded on the drilling log.
11. When drive pipe (conductor casing) is left in the ground, a pad of cement must be placed around the well bore to block the downward migration of surface pollutants. The pad shall be 3 feet square or, if circular, 3 feet in diameter and must be crowned up to the drive pipe (conductor casing).
Intermediate Casing
Intermediate casing string(s) and the cementing requirements for that casing string(s) will be reviewed and approved by Regional Mineral Resources office staff on an individual well basis.
Production Casing
12. The production casing cement must extend at least 500 feet above the casing shoe or tie into the previous casing string, whichever is less. If any oil or gas shows are encountered or known to be present in the area, as determined by DEC at the time of permit application, or subsequently encountered during drilling, the production casing cement must extend at least 100 feet above any such shows. DEC may allow the use of a weighted fluid in the annulus to prevent gas migration in specific instances when the weight of the cement column could be a problem.
13. Centralizers must be placed at the base and at the top of the production interval if casing is run and extends through that interval, with one additional centralizer every 300 feet of the cemented interval. A minimum of 25% excess cement must be used. When caliper logs are run, a 10% excess will suffice. Additional excesses may be required by DEC in certain areas.
14. The pump and plug method must be used for all production casing cement jobs deeper than 1,500 feet. If the pump and plug technique is not used (less than 1,500 feet), the Operator must not displace the cement closer than 35 feet above the bottom of the casing. If plugs are used, the plug catcher must be placed at the top of the lowest (deepest) full joint of casing.
15. The casing must be of sufficient strength to contain any expected formation or stimulation pressures.
16. Following cementing and removal of cementing equipment, the Operator must wait until a compressive strength of 500 psi is achieved before the casing is disturbed in any way. The Operator must test or require the cementing contractor to test the mixing water for pH and temperature prior to mixing the cement and to record the results on the cementing tickets and/or the drilling log. WOC time must be adjusted based on the results of the test.
17. The annular space between the surface casing and the production string must be vented at all times. If the annular gas is to be produced, a pressure relief valve must be installed in an appropriate manner and set at a pressure approved by Regional Mineral Resources office.
DMN, Bureau of Oil and Gas Regulation
625 Broadway
Albany, NY 12233
