CHAPTER 7. DRILLING
IC 14-37-7
Chapter 7. Drilling
IC 14-37-7-1
Documentation required by commission
Sec. 1. The commission may require a person drilling ormodifying a well for oil and gas purposes to furnish the following:
(1) A copy of the driller's log and completion report of the well.
(2) A copy of any geophysical or instrumental log.
(3) Drill cuttings or cores.
(4) Other information required by rule.
As added by P.L.1-1995, SEC.30. Amended by P.L.80-2005, SEC.5.
IC 14-37-7-2
Confidentiality of records
Sec. 2. Upon written request by the operator, the department shallkeep the records and materials submitted under section 1 of thischapter confidential for one (1) year from the date of completion.The records and materials become public records at the end of thisperiod.
As added by P.L.1-1995, SEC.30.
IC 14-37-7-3
Casing requirement for drilling oil or gas well on land withunderground mine; variance
Sec. 3. (a) Except as provided in subsection (b), if a well for oiland gas purposes is proposed to be drilled:
(1) on land underlaid by an inactive underground mine; or
(2) on land within the permit boundaries of an activeunderground mine permitted under IC 14-34;
an owner or operator shall, if the well is to be completed as aproducing well and regardless of whether the well is drilled througha pillar, run an intermediate string of casing from the surface to apoint at least fifty (50) feet below the base of the commerciallyminable coal resource or the mine floor.
(b) Upon written application to the director by a person thatproposes to drill a well described in subsection (a), the director maygrant a variance from the requirements of subsection (a) if:
(1) with respect to a proposed well on land described insubsection (a)(1), written consent to the variance is given by:
(A) the permittee under IC 14-34; or
(B) the person that has the right to develop the coal resource;or
(2) with respect to a proposed well on land described insubsection (a)(2), written consent to the variance is given by thecoal mine operator under IC 14-34.
(c) If a variance is granted under subsection (b), the well must becompleted:
(1) in the manner required under section 4 or 5 of this chapter;and (2) in a manner that prevents the following:
(A) Waste.
(B) Fresh water pollution.
(C) Blowouts.
(D) Cavings.
(E) Seepages.
(F) Fires.
(G) Unreasonably detrimental effects upon fish, wildlife, andbotanical resources.
As added by P.L.1-1995, SEC.30. Amended by P.L.80-2005, SEC.6.
IC 14-37-7-4
Well owner's or operator's duties regarding coal mines
Sec. 4. (a) If a well is drilled and completed as a producing well:
(1) through a commercially minable coal resource; and
(2) within an area for which a mine plan is filed with thecommission but for which an intermediate string is not requiredunder section 3 of this chapter;
an owner or operator shall set a production string of casing properlycentralized and cemented and documented by a sonic cementbond-variable density log.
(b) An owner or operator must provide at least forty-eight (48)hours notice to the:
(1) department; and
(2) person who filed the mine plan;
before commencing logging operations under this section.
(c) The person who filed the mine plan is entitled to:
(1) be present during the logging operations; and
(2) examine the log.
(d) The commission shall determine the adequacy of cementbonding. If there is a bonding failure between fifty (50) feet belowand one hundred (100) feet above the commercially minable coalresource, the owner or operator shall perform remedial action, asordered by the commission, that results in adequate bonding.
(e) Not later than thirty (30) days after commencing loggingoperations, the owner or operator shall provide the department andthe person who filed the mine plan with a copy of the sonic cementbond-variable density log.
(f) Preparation of the log and any remedial action required underthis section are at the expense of the owner or operator.
As added by P.L.1-1995, SEC.30.
IC 14-37-7-5
Protection of coal resource with production string of casing
Sec. 5. If a well is drilled and completed as a producing wellthrough a commercially minable coal resource, except a coalresource identified in section 3 or 4 of this chapter, the resource mustbe protected by a properly cemented, centralized production string ofcasing.
As added by P.L.1-1995, SEC.30.
IC 14-37-7-6
Owner's or operator's obligations for plugging operations notlimited
Sec. 6. This chapter does not limit the obligation of an owner oroperator for plugging operations under this article.
As added by P.L.1-1995, SEC.30.
IC 14-37-7-7
Pollution of drinking water
Sec. 7. An owner or operator may not construct, operate,maintain, convert, plug, abandon, or conduct another injectionactivity in a manner that allows the movement of fluid containingpollution into an underground source of drinking water if thepresence of the pollution may:
(1) cause a violation of a primary drinking water regulationunder 40 CFR Part 142; or
(2) otherwise adversely affect the health of a person.
As added by P.L.1-1995, SEC.30.