Section 240.1132  Plugging and Temporary Abandonment of Inactive Class II UIC Wells

a)         Any Class II UIC well located on an active lease, equipped with tubing and packer and that has previously established mechanical integrity in accordance with Section 240.760 shall maintain mechanical integrity in accordance with Section 240.760 or shall be plugged in accordance with Section 240.1140 unless the well has been approved for Temporary Abandonment status in accordance with subsection (e).

b)         Any inactive Class II UIC well located on an inactive lease, when the lease has not been in operation for 24 consecutive months, shall be deemed abandoned and not eligible for Temporary Abandonment status pending a hearing held in accordance with Section 240.1610.

c)         Any inactive Class II UIC well located on an active lease, without tubing and packer, and that has previously established mechanical integrity in accordance with Section 240.760 shall be plugged in accordance with Section 240.1140 unless the well is approved for Temporary Abandonment status in accordance with subsection (e).

d)         Any inactive Class II UIC well located on an active lease, equipped with tubing and packer or without tubing and packer, and that has not previously established mechanical integrity in accordance with Section 240.760 shall be plugged in accordance with Section 240.1140 unless the well is approved for Temporary Abandonment status in accordance with subsections (e)(1), (2) and (3) and establishes mechanical integrity as follows:

1)         a cast iron plug shall be set within 200 feet above the perforated or open hole interval in the cemented portion of the production casing, but no less than 100 feet below the base of the fresh water, and the casing shall be pressure tested by maintaining a pressure of 300 PSIG (which may vary no more than 5%) for a period of 30 minutes; or

2)         install tubing and a packer and conduct a passing internal mechanical integrity test in accordance with Section 240.760.

e)         The permittee shall apply for Temporary Abandonment status by making written application on forms provided by the Department.  The Department may place the well on Temporary Abandonment status if the following conditions (which shall be continuing requirements) are met:

1)         The well shall:

A)        have proper bond in effect in accordance with the Act if applicable; and

B)        not be the subject of any final administrative decision for abandonment.

2)         The well shall have an intact, leak free wellhead, or be capped with a valve, be configured to monitor casing or annular pressure, and have injection lines disconnected.

3)         The wellhead shall be above ground level.

4)         The permittee complies with the requirements of subsection (f).

f)         Prior to the Department placing the well on Temporary Abandonment status, the permittee shall conduct a fluid level test upon the fluid in the well bore, after notice to and under the supervision of a Department representative, using acoustical or wire line measuring methods.  If the Department authorizes the permittee to conduct a fluid level test without the presence of a Department representative, the permittee shall report the fluid level test on a form prescribed by the Department.

1)         If the fluid level in the wellbore is no higher than 100 feet below the base of the fresh water, the Department may grant Temporary Abandonment status if the conditions in subsections (e)(1) through (3) are met.  Unless the permittee elects to satisfy the conditions of subsections (f)(3)(A) or (B), the permittee shall perform additional fluid level tests, as prescribed in this subsection (f), every 2 years or until the well is removed from Temporary Abandonment status.

2)         If the fluid level, as tested, is higher than 100 feet below the base of the fresh water and, at the time of the Temporary Abandonment request, the well is listed in Active status in the Department's records, the permittee may:

A)        After notice to, and under the supervision of, a Department representative, remove any fluid to a level 100 feet below the base of the fresh water.  At least 48 hours, but not more than 96 hours, after the fluid has been removed, the permittee shall measure the fluid level as prescribed in this subsection (f).

i)          If the fluid level is higher than 100 feet below the base of fresh water, the permittee shall follow the requirements in this subsections (f)(3)(A) or (B); or

ii)         If the fluid level remains more than 100 feet below the base of fresh water, at least 9, but no longer than 12 months from the date that fluid was removed from the well bore, the permittee shall obtain the fluid level in accordance with subsection (f).  If, after the subsequent fluid level test, the fluid level within the wellbore has remained at least 100 feet below the base of fresh water, and the conditions in subsections (e)(1) through (3) continue to be met, the Department shall grant temporary abandonment status for 2 years from the date of the subsequent fluid level test.  Thereafter, the permittee shall perform additional fluid level tests, as prescribed in this subsection (f), every 2 years or until the well is removed from Temporary Abandonment status.

B)        Elect to follow the requirements of subsections (f)(3)(A) or (B).

3)         If the fluid level, as tested, is higher than 100 feet below the base of the fresh water and, at the time of the Temporary Abandonment request, the well is listed in Temporary Abandonment status in the Department's records, the permittee may, after notice to and under the supervision of, a Department representative:

A)        set a cast iron plug within 200 feet above the uppermost perforated or open hole interval in the cemented portion of the production casing, but no less than 100 feet below the base of the fresh water, remove any fluid to a level at least 100 feet below the base of the freshwater zone, and monitor the fluid level every 2 years in accordance with this subsection (f); or

B)        set a cast iron plug within 200 feet above the uppermost perforated or open hole interval in the cemented portion of the production casing, but no less than 100 feet below the base of the fresh water, and pressure test the casing by maintaining a pressure of 300 PSIG (which may vary no more than 5%) for a period of 30 minutes.  Subsequent pressure tests shall be conducted every 5 years or until the well is removed from Temporary Abandonment status.

g)         If a Temporary Abandonment request is denied, the permittee shall, within 90 days, plug the well or correct the deficiency that caused the denial and secure an approved Temporary Abandonment permit.

h)         Temporary Abandonment status for production wells shall not be terminated until the well has been inspected by an Office well inspector and a Temporary Abandonment termination request is approved by the Department.  Temporary Abandonment termination requests shall be on a form prescribed by the Department.

i)          Temporary Abandonment status will be granted every 2 years provided the wells remain in compliance with subsections (e) and (f) and the lease or unit on which the wells are located remains active, except for wells that fulfill the requirements of subsection (f)(3)(B), which will be granted every 5 years.

(Source:  Amended at 42 Ill. Reg. 5811, effective March 14, 2018)