Regulatory Citation(s): 

 

78.84. Casing standards.

 

(c) Used casing may be approved for use as surface, intermediate, or production casing but shall be pressure tested after cementing and before continuation of drilling.  A passing pressure test is holding the anticipated maximum pressure to which it will be exposed for 30 minutes with not more than a 10% decrease in pressure. 

 

 

Question:

 

Used casing was installed and cemented for the intermediate string of a well under the old regulations. No pressure testing was conducted because this requirement was not in place under the old regulations.  The operator just drilled the production hole and is now running production pipe. Do they need to conduct the pressure test?

 

 

Question:

 

Pressure testing of the intermediate casing must be conducted.