TITLE 43 - PUBLIC LANDS: INTERIOR

SUBTITLE B - REGULATIONS RELATING TO PUBLIC LANDS

CHAPTER II - BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT, DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

SUBCHAPTER C - MINERALS MANAGEMENT (3000)

PART 3160 - ONSHORE OIL AND GAS OPERATIONS

subpart 3162 - REQUIREMENTS FOR OPERATING RIGHTS OWNERS AND OPERATORS

3162.3 - 2 - Subsequent well operations.

  (a) A proposal for further well operations shall be submitted by the operator on Form 31605 for approval by the authorized officer prior to commencing operations to redrill, deepen, perform casing repairs, plug-back, alter casing, perform nonroutine fracturing jobs, recomplete in a different interval, perform water shut off, commingling production between intervals and/or conversion to injection. If there is additional surface distubance, the proposal shall include a surface use plan of operations. A subsequent report on these operations also will be filed on Form 31605. The authorized officer may prescribe that each proposal contain all or a portion of the information set forth in 3162.31 of this title.

  (b) Unless additional surface disturbance is involved and if the operations conform to the standard of prudent operating practice, prior approval is not required for routine fracturing or acidizing jobs, or recompletion in the same interval; however, a subsequent report on these operations must be filed on Form 31605.

  (c) No prior approval or a subsequent report is required for well cleanout work, routine well maintenance, or bottom hole pressure surveys.

[47 FR 47765, Oct. 27, 1982. Redesignated and amended at 48 FR 3658336586, Aug. 12, 1983, further amended at 52 FR 5391, Feb. 20, 1987; 53 FR 17363, May 16, 1988; 53 FR 22847, June 17, 1988]