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Geothermal Rules <br />Effective Date: September 30, 2004 <br />RULE 11 PLUGGING OF GEOTHERMAL WELLS <br />11.1 Well Owner Responsibility - The owner of any geothermal well shall be <br />responsible for the plugging of the well in accordance with these Rules. A plugging <br />report must be submitted pursuant to Rule 12.12. <br />11.2 Plugging Standards - A geothermal well shall be plugged at or near ground <br />level to prevent contaminants from entering and moving through the well bore. In order <br />to confine subsurface fluids to the aquifers and reservoirs in which they were <br />encountered, grout seals shall also be placed at each confining layer penetrated by the <br />borehole, subject to the provisions of Rules 11.3, 11.4, and 11.5 for specific types of <br />wells. <br />11.2.1 A minimum of fifty (50) feet of cement shall be placed at each confining <br />layer separating aquifers. All cement plugs shall have sufficient strength to withstand <br />maximum reservoir pressures. <br />11.3 Non -flowing Type A -OS Geothermal Well - A Type A -OS geothermal well, <br />which does not flow at the surface, shall be plugged according to the provisions of the <br />Water Well Construction Rules, 2 CCR 402-2. The plug lengths and locations, <br />placement method and grout material shall be the same as specified in those Rules. <br />11.4 Type B, Reinjection or Flowing Type A -OS Geothermal Well - Prior to <br />plugging a Type B, reinjection or a flowing Type A -OS geothermal well, the owner or <br />operator shall provide a written plugging plan to the State Engineer. The plan shall <br />describe in detail the equipment and materials to be removed from the well, the depth to <br />the top of all plugs to be placed in the hole, the type and amount of cement to be used <br />for each plug and the type and amount of materials to be placed between plugs. <br />11.5 Type A-CLH or Type A-CLV Well - Plugging shall be accomplished by pumping <br />a cement slurry through the loops until all loops are filled. A super plastisizer may be <br />added to the cement to improve pumpability. Clean water shall be circulated through <br />the system prior to plugging to ensure that there is no blockage in the loops to be <br />plugged. <br />RULE 12 RECORDS AND REPORTING REQUIREMENTS <br />12.1 Certification - All documents shall be signed by the person responsible for the <br />work performed, certifying the truthfulness and accuracy of the documents. All original <br />documents shall be submitted to the State Engineer. <br />12.2 Format of Reports - Reports shall be submitted on forms prescribed by the <br />State Engineer, legible reproductions thereof, or computer generated forms patterned <br />25 <br />