Regulatory Citation(s): 

 

78.83. Surface and coal protective casing and cementing procedures.

 

(c) The operator shall drill to approximately 50 feet below the deepest fresh groundwater or at least 50 feet into consolidated rock, whichever is deeper, and immediately set and permanently cement a string of surface casing to that depth.  Except as provided in subsection (f), the surface casing may not be set more than 200 feet below the deepest fresh groundwater except if necessary to set the casing in consolidated rock.

 

 

Question:

 

How deep below the deepest fresh groundwater do you have to set surface casing, 50 or 200 feet?

 

 

Response:

 

Surface casing must be set at least 50 but no more than 200 feet below the deepest fresh groundwater formation unless it is necessary to drill deeper to set the casing in competent bedrock.