Regulatory Citation(s):

 

78.83. Surface and coal protective casing and cementing procedures.

 

(c) When drilling a new well or redrilling an existing well, the operator shall install at least one centralizer in intervals no greater than every 150 feet above the first centralizer (surface casing string).

 

(f) The operator shall install at least one centralizer within 50 feet of the casing seat and then install a centralizer at intervals no greater than, if possible, every 150 feet above the first centralizer (additional water protective casing string).

 

(g) The operator shall install at least two centralizers.  One centralizer shall be within 50 feet of the casing seat and the second centralizer shall be within 100 feet of the surface (coal protective casing string installed through workable coal seam).

 

(i) The operator shall install at least one centralizer within 50 feet of the casing seat and then install a centralizer at intervals no greater than, if possible, every 150 feet above the first centralizer (additional water protective casing string extending below coal protective string).

 

 

Question:

 

An operator is currently running surface, coal protective, or water protective casing.  The new regulations require centralizers placed in certain locations and specify a minimum installation frequency. Do they need to order more centralizers and wait?

 

 

Response:

 

If they are currently running casing, they do not need to order more centralizers and postpone well construction activities.  However, for any casing installations that were scheduled to start after the effective date of the new regulations (February 5, 2011), an appropriate number of centralizers must be ordered prior to running the casing and installed in accordance with the regulations.