Part IV. Ground-Disturbing Geophysical Exploration
Article 6
Plugging and Abandonment
4VAC25-150-660. Applicability, ground-disturbing geophysical activity.
Part IV (4VAC25-150-660 et seq.) of this chapter sets forth requirements unique to ground-disturbing geophysical exploration.
Statutory Authority
§§ 45.1-161.3 and 45.1-361.27 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from VR480-05-22.1 § 4.1, eff. September 25, 1991; amended, Virginia Register Volume 15, Issue 2, eff. November 11, 1998; Volume 29, Issue 3, eff. November 8, 2012; Volume 30, Issue 1, eff. October 10, 2013.
4VAC25-150-670. Application for a permit, geophysical activity or coreholes.
A. In accordance with 4VAC25-150-80 and 4VAC25-150-110, a permit shall be required for ground-disturbing geophysical exploration.
B. In addition to the requirements of 4VAC25-150-80 or 4VAC25-150-110, every application for a corehole permit or permit modification under this part shall contain:
1. The approximate depth to which the corehole is proposed to be drilled or deepened, or the actual depth if the corehole has been drilled;
2. The approximate depth and thickness, if applicable, of all known coal seams, known groundwater-bearing strata, and other known gas or oil strata between the surface and the depth to which the corehole is proposed to be drilled;
3. If casing is proposed to be set, the entire casing program, including the diameter of each string of casing, the starting point and depth to which each string is to be set, whether or not the casing is to remain in the hole after the completion of drilling, and the extent to which each string is to be cemented, if applicable;
4. A plan which shows the proposed manner of plugging or replugging the corehole; and
5. The procedures to be followed to protect the safety of persons working in an underground coal mine for any corehole to be drilled within 200 feet of or into active workings. The permittee shall give notice of such drilling to the mine operator and the chief at least two working days prior to drilling.
Statutory Authority
§§ 45.1-161.3 and 45.1-361.27 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from VR480-05-22.1 § 4.2, eff. September 25, 1991; amended, Virginia Register Volume 15, Issue 2, eff. November 11, 1998; Volume 29, Issue 3, eff. November 8, 2012; Volume 30, Issue 1, eff. October 10, 2013.
4VAC25-150-680. Plats, coreholes.
A. In addition to the requirements of 4VAC25-150-90, every plat for a corehole shall show:
1. The boundaries of the tract on which the corehole is located or is to be located;
2. Surface owners on the tract to be drilled and surface owners on the tracts where the surface is to be disturbed;
3. Coal owners and mineral owners on the tract to be drilled;
4. Coal operators who have registered operations plans with the department for activities located on the tract to be drilled; and
5. Any inhabited building, highway, railroad, stream, permitted surface mine or permitted mine opening within 500 feet of the proposed corehole.
B. If the corehole location is underlain by known coal seams, the plat shall locate the corehole and two permanent points or landmarks with reference to the mine coordinate system if one has been established for the area of the corehole location, and shall in any event show all other wells within the scope of the plat.
Statutory Authority
§§ 45.1-161.3 and 45.1-361.27 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from VR480-05-22.1 § 4.3, eff. September 25, 1991; amended, Virginia Register Volume 15, Issue 2, eff. November 11, 1998; Volume 29, Issue 3, eff. November 8, 2012; Volume 30, Issue 1, eff. October 10, 2013.
4VAC25-150-690. Operations plans, coreholes..
In addition to the requirements of 4VAC25-150-100, every operations plan for a corehole shall describe the measures to be followed to protect water quality during the drilling, and the measures to be followed to protect any voids encountered during drilling.
Statutory Authority
§§ 45.1-161.3 and 45.1-361.27 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from VR480-05-22.1 § 4.4, eff. September 25, 1991; amended, Virginia Register Volume 15, Issue 2, eff. November 11, 1998; Errata, 15:6 VA.R. 938 December 7, 1998; amended, Volume 29, Issue 3, eff. November 8, 2012; Volume 30, Issue 1, eff. October 10, 2013.
4VAC25-150-700. Setback restrictions, coreholes.
No permit shall be issued for any corehole to be drilled closer than 200 feet from an inhabited building, unless site conditions as approved by the director warrant the permission of a lesser distance, and there exists a lease or agreement between the operator and the owner of the inhabited building. A copy of the lease or agreement shall accompany the application for a permit.
Statutory Authority
§§ 45.1-161.3 and 45.1-361.27 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from VR480-05-22.1 § 4.5, eff. September 25, 1991; amended, Virginia Register Volume 15, Issue 2, eff. November 11, 1998; Volume 29, Issue 3, eff. November 8, 2012; Volume 30, Issue 1, eff. October 10, 2013.
4VAC25-150-710. (Repealed.)
Historical Notes
Derived from VR480-05-22.1 § 4.6, eff. September 25, 1991; repealed, Virginia Register Volume 15, Issue 2, eff. November 11, 1998.
4VAC25-150-711. Voids and lost circulation zones.
A. Casing through voids.
1. When a corehole is drilled through a void, the hole shall be drilled at least 30 feet below the void. The annular space shall be cemented from the base of the casing up to the void and every reasonable attempt shall be made to fill the annular space from the top of the void to the surface; or it shall be cemented at least 50 feet into the next higher string or strings of casing that are cemented to the surface and be verified by a cement top log.
2. For good cause shown, the director may approve alternate casing procedures proposed by the permittee, provided that the director is satisfied that the alternative casing procedures are operationally equivalent to the requirements imposed by this section.
3. For good cause shown, the director may impose special requirements on the permittee to prevent communication between two or more voids.
B. Reporting of lost circulation zones. The permittee shall report to the director as soon as possible when an unanticipated void or groundwater horizon is encountered that results in lost circulation during drilling. The permittee shall take every necessary action to protect the lost circulation zone.
Statutory Authority
§§ 45.1-161.3 and 45.1-361.27 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 15, Issue 2, eff. November 11, 1998; amended, Volume 29, Issue 3, eff. November 8, 2012; Volume 30, Issue 1, eff. October 10, 2013.