1509.17 Encasing wells.

Any person who drills a well shall, before drilling into the principal or major producing formation therein, encase such well with good and sufficient wrought iron or steel casing so as to exclude all surface, fresh, or salt water from any part of such well penetrating the oil or gas bearing sand or rock or fresh water strata. The method of placing such casing shall be approved by the chief of the division of mineral resources management, and shall be in accord with the most approved method used in the operation of such type of well. The chief may, in lieu of the casing method outlined in this section, accept adequate mudding methods with prepared clay in the annular space behind such casing in sufficient quantities to shut off all gas or oil and that will exclude all surface, fresh, or salt water from any part of such well penetrating the oil, gas, or mineral bearing formation, or fresh water strata.

Written approval from the chief is required in each case. In the operation of a gas well, it is permissible, with the written consent of the chief, to withdraw all casing in such well, leaving only the tubing and the packer therein, provided that such well is filled with prepared clay from the top of such packer to the surface, as each succeeding string of casing in such well is withdrawn. When the well penetrates the excavations of a mine, the casing shall remain intact as provided in section 1509.18 of the Revised Code and be plugged and abandoned in accordance with section 1509.15 of the Revised Code.

Effective Date: 06-14-2000