Alabama Administrative Code Chapter 400-1-6 — Production

400 State Oil and Gas Board of Alabama

Ala. Admin. Code r. 400-1-6-.01 General

The design and construction of all wells and production facilities shall be based on sound engineering principles and must take into account the composition of the well stream, maximum pressures, and other pertinent engineering data and information. All flowing wells shall be produced through tubing anchored by a packer and shall be equipped with a master valve and adequate chokes or beans to properly control the flow thereof. The Supervisor may approve alternative procedures for properly controlling well flow, upon request by the operator.

History

• Author: State Oil and Gas Board
• Authority: Code of Ala. 1975, §§9-17-1, et seq.
• Filed September 30, 1982. Repealed and New Rule: Filed April 11, 2000; effective May 16, 2000.

Ala. Admin. Code r. 400-1-6-.02 Protection Of Oil And Gas

Before any oil or gas well is completed as a producer, the producing horizons shall be sealed or separated in order to prevent their contents from passing into another stratum. Except for test purposes approved by the Supervisor, no well shall be permitted to produce oil or gas simultaneously from different strata through the same string of casing, without the permission of the Board after notice and hearing.

History

• Author: State Oil and Gas Board
• Authority: Code of Ala. 1975, §§9-17-1, et seq.
• Filed September 30, 1982. Repealed and New Rule: Filed April 11, 2000; effective May 16, 2000.

Ala. Admin. Code r. 400-1-6-.03 Initial Bottom Hole Pressure Survey

Unless otherwise specified by the Supervisor, an operator completing a well in a new oil or gas pool shall perform an initial bottom hole pressure survey on said pool prior to receiving a temporary allowable from the Supervisor. The bottom hole pressure survey shall be performed with a bottom hole pressure gauge and results of the survey shall be reported to the Supervisor. The bottom hole pressure survey shall be conducted for at least twenty-four (24) hours and in accordance with industry standards.

History

• Author: State Oil and Gas Board
• Authority: Code of Ala. 1975, §§9-17-1, et seq.
• Filed September 30, 1982. Repealed and New Rule: Filed April 11, 2000; effective May 16, 2000.

Ala. Admin. Code r. 400-1-6-.04 Pressure-Volume-Temperature Analysis

Unless otherwise specified by the Supervisor, an operator completing a well in a new oil or gas-condensate pool at a measured depth of six thousand (6,000) feet or greater shall perform a pressure-volume-temperature (PVT) analysis on a subsurface sample or recombined surface sample of hydrocarbon fluids from said well prior to receiving a temporary allowable from the Supervisor. The analysis shall be performed in accordance with industry standards and the results shall be reported to the Supervisor.

History

• Author: State Oil and Gas Board
• Authority: Code of Ala. 1975, §§9-17-1, et seq.
• Filed September 30, 1982. Repealed and New Rule: Filed April 11, 2000; effective May 16, 2000.

Ala. Admin. Code r. 400-1-6-.05 Procedures For Multiple Completions

(1) Information shall be submitted to the Supervisor for approval showing the top and bottom of all zones proposed for completion, including a partial electrical log and a diagrammatic sketch showing such zones and equipment to be used.

(2) If zones approved for multiple completion become intercommunicated, the operator shall, after obtaining approval from the Supervisor, immediately repair the well so as to separate such zones.

History

• Author: State Oil and Gas Board
• Authority: Code of Ala. 1975, §§9-17-1, et seq.
• Filed September 30, 1982. Repealed and New Rule: Filed April 11, 2000; effective May 16, 2000.

Ala. Admin. Code r. 400-1-6-.06 Recompletion Or Reworking

(1) Prior to commencing recompletion or reworking operations, approval shall be obtained from the Supervisor. The Supervisor may require that the workover or recompletion procedure be submitted in writing. Unless an exception is granted by the Supervisor, an operator shall submit with such procedure statements addressing the following: the reason for the workover, calculated bottom hole pressure in the well, method of controlling pressure, expected hydrogen sulfide concentrations of the well stream, blow-out preventer arrangements, and the testing requirements for blow-out preventers to be used during the operations. If the workover or recompletion is being performed on a well which contains hydrogen sulfide and the work being performed requires that the wellhead be removed, then Form OGB-24, Operator’s Certificate of Compliance for Operations Involving Hydrogen Sulfide, shall accompany the workover or recompletion procedure. If the workover or recompletion is being performed on a well which contains hydrogen sulfide, then the hydrogen sulfide gas shall not be vented.

(2) If, after recompletion or reworking operations have begun, unexpected wellbore conditions are encountered the operator may, at his own risk, proceed with appropriate remedial action. As soon as practical, the Supervisor must be notified of such remedial action. Within thirty (30) days of recompletion or reworking operations, the operator shall submit a revised Form OGB-6, OGB-7, OGB-8, and OGB-9 where applicable, and one (1) copy of any additional logs.

History

• Author: State Oil and Gas Board
• Authority: Code of Ala. 1975, §§9-17-1, et seq.
• Filed September 30, 1982. Repealed and New Rule: Filed April 11, 2000; effective May 16, 2000. Amended: Filed August 5, 2005; effective September 9, 2005.

Ala. Admin. Code r. 400-1-6-.07 Tanks Or Tank Batteries

A sign shall be posted and maintained in a legible state, in a conspicuous place near a tank or tank battery. Such sign shall be posted when the tank or tank battery is installed and shall remain posted until the tank or tank battery is removed and the location restored. The sign shall include the name of the operator, the name or number designation of the battery, a listing of the permit number(s) from well(s) with fluids flowing into the battery, and the section, township, range, and county in which the tank or tank battery is located.

History

• Author: State Oil and Gas Board
• Authority: Code of Ala. 1975, §§9-17-1, et seq.
• Filed September 30, 1982. Repealed and New Rule: Filed April 11, 2000; effective May 16, 2000.

Ala. Admin. Code r. 400-1-6-.08 Dikes

All permanent tanks, tank outlets, treaters, or other facilities used to store oil, condensate, or salt water, must be surrounded by a dike which is constructed and maintained in a manner that is capable of retaining fluids. The containment area surrounded by the dike shall be lined with a material that is capable of retaining fluids. The containment area shall have a capacity of at least one-and-one-half (1 1/2) times that of the tank or other vessel containing fluids and in any event the dike shall be at least two (2) feet high on the inside wall unless otherwise approved by the Supervisor. The Supervisor may require dikes around other facilities that contain oil, condensate, salt water, or other fluids. In the case of tank batteries, the dike must have the capacity to contain a volume equal to one-and-one-half (1 1/2) times that of the largest tank in the battery and in any event the dike shall be at least two (2) feet high on the inside wall unless otherwise approved by the Supervisor. The top of the dike must be at least two (2) feet higher than the bottom of the lowest tank or other vessel containing fluids. The tanks or other vessels containing fluids must be elevated to provide enough gradient to allow drainage away from the tanks toward the dike. No oil, condensate, salt water, or other deleterious substances shall be allowed to remain within containment areas. Drainage of fluids from containment areas shall be authorized by appropriate permit(s) or regulations.

History

• Author: State Oil and Gas Board
• Authority: Code of Ala. 1975, §§9-17-1, et seq.
• New Rule: Filed April 11, 2000; effective May 16, 2000.

Ala. Admin. Code r. 400-1-6-.09 Berms

The Supervisor may require that a containment berm at least two (2) feet high on the inside wall be constructed on the downslope side of a well location or other location used to store oil, condensate, or salt water.

History

• Author: State Oil and Gas Board
• Authority: Code of Ala. 1975, §§9-17-1, et seq.
• New Rule: Filed April 11, 2000; effective May 16, 2000.

Ala. Admin. Code r. 400-1-6-.10 Site Maintenance

(1) Access roads shall be maintained to allow motor vehicle access to all sites, such as well sites, production facility sites, Class II injection facility sites and underground storage facility sites.

(2) All unusable materials or equipment shall be removed from sites.

(3) Any rubbish, debris, or vegetation that might constitute a fire hazard shall be removed to a distance of at least fifty (50) feet from the wellhead, production facilities, such as separators, heater treaters, and tanks, plants, pump stations, and meter run, or to the boundary of the well site, whichever is less.

(4) All wastes and other material including petroleum contaminated soil shall be removed from the location and disposed of in a lawfully approved facility, or recycled or disposed of in accordance with appropriate permit(s) or regulation(s); provided, however, that petroleum contaminated soil may be approved by the Supervisor for on-site remediation. All wastes being removed from location shall comply with the requirements of Rule 400-1-9-.03, Transportation of Wastes Associated with Oil and Gas Operations.

(5) All site conditions must meet the approval of the Supervisor.

History

• Author: State Oil and Gas Board
• Authority: Code of Ala. 1975, §§9-17-1, et seq.
• New Rule: Filed April 11, 2000; effective May 16, 2000.

Ala. Admin. Code r. 400-1-6-.11 Location Of Fired Vessels

All heaters, treaters, and other fired vessels placed in operation shall be located at least one hundred (100) feet from any well or liquid hydrocarbon storage tank. Provided, however, the Supervisor may grant an exception to this requirement upon submission of written justification by the operator.

History

• Author: State Oil and Gas Board
• Authority: Code of Ala. 1975, §§9-17-1, et seq.
• New Rule: Filed April 11, 2000; effective May 16, 2000.

Ala. Admin. Code r. 400-1-6-.12 Authorization To Clean Tanks

Any operator wishing to clean a tank must notify the Supervisor and submit Form OGB-21. Operations may begin after notification. The contents of a tank shall be manifested in accordance with Rule 400-1-9-.03, relating to Transportation of Wastes, and shall be disposed of as allowed by appropriate permit(s) or regulation(s).

History

• Author: State Oil and Gas Board
• Authority: Code of Ala. 1975, §§9-17-1, et seq.
• New Rule: Filed April 11, 2000; effective May 16, 2000.
• Editor's note: Previous Chapter 400-1-6 (Rules 400-1-6-.01 through 400-1-6-.07) Repealed and New Chapter (Rules 400-1-6-.01 through 400-1-6-.12) adopted in lieu thereof: Filed April 11, 2000.