ASTM D6285-99(2012)e1
(Guide)Standard Guide for Locating Abandoned Wells
Standard Guide for Locating Abandoned Wells
SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
4.1 Millions of oil and gas wells, water supply wells, and wells installed for environmental monitoring and remediation purposes, have been abandoned. The need to determine the locations of these abandoned wells is based on safety and threats to the environment. Improperly constructed or abandoned wells may pose a safety threat to humans and animals, may be sources of brines and other undesirable fluids coming to the surface, may be conduits for transport of contamination from the surface to the substrate, or may cross-contaminate water-bearing zones in the subsurface. All states do not require documentation of the abandonment of wells and may not have specific requirements for abandonment procedures.
SCOPE
1.1 This guide provides an approach to selecting and implementing a program to identify the locations of abandoned wells. This guide provides descriptions of methods to be used as starting points in the search for these locations. It is not intended to be a step-by-step procedure to conduct the search program.
1.2 The described methods are approaches that have been used at many sites in the past. Other methods may be appropriate. Typically, several approaches are used to obtain acceptable confirmation of well locations. This guide is not limited to specific wells. The method chosen should be appropriate for the size of the area being searched and the type of well being located. Some well types and construction materials may preclude their detection by any of the methods described.
1.3 This guide offers an organized collection of information or series of options and does not recommend a specific course of action. This guide cannot replace education and experience and should be used in conjunction with professional judgment.
1.4 This guide does not purport to address all aspects of exploration and site safety. It is the responsibility of the user of this guide to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations before its use.
1.5 This guide offers an organized collection of information or a series of options and does not recommend a specific course of action. This document cannot replace education or experience and should be used in conjunction with professional judgment. Not all aspects of this guide may be applicable in all circumstances. This ASTM standard is not intended to represent or replace the standard of care by which the adequacy of a given professional services must be judged nor should this document be applied without consideration of a project’s many unique aspects. The word Standard in the title of this document means only that the document has been approved through the ASTM consensus process.
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Designation: D6285 − 99 (Reapproved 2012)
Standard Guide for
Locating Abandoned Wells
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D6285; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
ε NOTE—Editorial changes were made throughout in February 2012.
INTRODUCTION
This guide for locating abandoned wells, provides general procedures and suggestions for
identifying the locations of wells that are installed for the purposes of oil and gas exploration or
production, or for groundwater exploration, supply, monitoring, remediation, or injection, and
subsequently have been abandoned. Not all areas require documentation of such abandonment; thus,
this guide has been prepared to provide direction for determining the locations of those abandoned
wells.
1. Scope 1.5 This guide offers an organized collection of information
oraseriesofoptionsanddoesnotrecommendaspecificcourse
1.1 This guide provides an approach to selecting and imple-
of action. This document cannot replace education or experi-
menting a program to identify the locations of abandoned
ence and should be used in conjunction with professional
wells. This guide provides descriptions of methods to be used
judgment. Not all aspects of this guide may be applicable in all
as starting points in the search for these locations. It is not
circumstances. This ASTM standard is not intended to repre-
intended to be a step-by-step procedure to conduct the search
sent or replace the standard of care by which the adequacy of
program.
a given professional services must be judged nor should this
1.2 The described methods are approaches that have been
document be applied without consideration of a project’s many
used at many sites in the past. Other methods may be
unique aspects.The word Standard in the title of this document
appropriate. Typically, several approaches are used to obtain
means only that the document has been approved through the
acceptable confirmation of well locations. This guide is not
ASTM consensus process.
limited to specific wells. The method chosen should be
2. Referenced Documents
appropriate for the size of the area being searched and the type
of well being located. Some well types and construction
2.1 ASTM Standards:
materials may preclude their detection by any of the methods
D653 Terminology Relating to Soil, Rock, and Contained
described.
Fluids
D5092 Practice for Design and Installation of Ground Water
1.3 This guide offers an organized collection of information
Monitoring Wells
or series of options and does not recommend a specific course
D5299 Guide for Decommissioning of Groundwater Wells,
of action. This guide cannot replace education and experience
Vadose Zone Monitoring Devices, Boreholes, and Other
and should be used in conjunction with professional judgment.
Devices for Environmental Activities
1.4 This guide does not purport to address all aspects of
3. Terminology
exploration and site safety. It is the responsibility of the user of
this guide to establish appropriate safety and health practices
3.1 Definitions—For definitions of common technical terms
and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations before
in this standard, refer to Terminology D653.
its use.
4. Significance and Use
4.1 Millions of oil and gas wells, water supply wells, and
wells installed for environmental monitoring and remediation
This guide is under the jurisdiction ofASTM Committee D18 on Soil and Rock
and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D18.21 on Groundwater and
Vadose Zone Investigations. For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
Current edition approved Feb. 15, 2012. Published December 2012. Originally contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM
approved in 1998. Last previous edition approved in 2005 as D6285 – 99(2005). Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
DOI: 10.1520/D6285-99R12E1. the ASTM website.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
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D6285 − 99 (2012)
purposes, have been abandoned. The need to determine the 5.5 Interviews—Conversations or interviews with local
locations of these abandoned wells is based on safety and property owners, longtime residents, and drilling contractors
threats to the environment. Improperly constructed or aban-
often provide information about the locations of abandoned
doned wells may pose a safety threat to humans and animals, wells. Property owners often can identify specific well loca-
may be sources of brines and other undesirable fluids coming
tions. Drilling contractors often maintain internal records of
to the surface, may be conduits for transport of contamination
well locations. A careful explanation of the need for locating
from the surface to the substrate, or may cross-contaminate
certain wells is necessary sometimes to obtain access to these
water-bearing zones in the subsurface.All states do not require
proprietary data. The initial purpose for conducting the inter-
documentation of the abandonment of wells and may not have
view should dictate the type and format of interview documen-
specific requirements for abandonment procedures.
tation.
5.6 Reconnaissance—Actual site visits may identify the
5. Methods for Locating Abandoned Wells Whose
locations of abandoned wells whose surface locations have
Locations Have Been Recorded, Observed, or Marked
been marked or whose installation or abandonment have left
at the Surface
soil disturbances that are identifiable as well-related.
5.1 Records Search—Information regarding the potential
location, type, age, method of abandonment, and other perti-
6. Airborne and Space-Based Photographic and Other
nent information about wells often can be determined by a
Methods for Locating Abandoned Wells Whose
thorough review of local, state, or federal records. Many
Locations Are Unknown
governmental agencies have reporting requirements for both
the installation and abandonment of all types of wells. 6.1 Aerial Photographs—Aerial photographs may be used
to detect the surface disturbance associated with well drilling
Typically, oil and gas wells are controlled by separate agencies
from water and environmental wells. With the recent prolifera- activities or the actual surface equipment. Historical photo-
tion of environmental studies, the number of agencies that may graphs may document the actual drilling of now-abandoned
maintain these records has increased. wells. Aerial photographs may be available at many different
scales and from many different sources.
5.2 Local Agencies—Local (city and county) agencies typi-
6.1.1 Thelargerthescaleoftheaerialphotograph,theeasier
cally retain records of oil and gas leasing agreements, tax
it is to identify features. Photographs usually are available at a
records, plat maps, property ownership maps, and other related
low cost. Photographs, however, may not be available for a
information. Information on municipal wells often is retained
given area or may not be at an appropriate scale. Interpretation
in local courthouses.
of the photographs should be performed by trained personnel.
5.3 StateorRegionalAgencies—Moststatesorregionshave
6.1.2 Sources of Aerial and Satellite Photographs—Many
several agencies that maintain records of drilled wells. Some
local and state or regional governmental agencies have ar-
maintain sophisticated computer databases, others maintain
chives of aerial photographs of their area of jurisdiction. In
paper records. Location information also varies by jurisdiction
addition, a review of the local telephone directory listing of
and can be by township, range and section, state plane
companies that provide aerial photographic services may
coordinatesystem,UTMcoordinates,orlatitudeandlongitude.
provide sources of aerial and satellite photographs.
Drilling logs, installation diagrams, production records, me-
chanical integrity testing reports, and other information often
6.2 Other Remotely Sensed Data—Surface disturbances,
are available. Injection wells information typically also is
associated either with the original well installation or with
available.
leaking fluids from an improperly abandoned well, may be
5.3.1 A starting place for well record information is a
detectable using various remotely sensed data. These data
Geological Survey agency. If they do not maintain well
include,butarenotlimitedtospectral,radar,andcolorinfrared
records, they typically can provide direction to the proper
data acquired by satellite or aircraft. Spectral imagery may be
agency.
used to detect vegetative stress resulting from either drilling
5.3.2 Water well records are required in most jurisdictions.
activities or from the presence of saline or contaminated water
The sophistication of record keeping and location detail is
leaking from an abandoned well. Thermal infrared imagery
variable. Health agencies often maintain records for public
maybeusedtodetecttemperatureanomaliesresultingfromthe
water supply wells.
presence of metal casing. Spectral, color infrared, and radar
5.3.3 Within the areas that produce oil and gas, a specific
imageryalsomaybeusedintexturalanalysistodeducesurface
agency usually has been given the responsibility for maintain-
disturbances that may have resulted from drilling and well
ing well information.
installation activities.
5.4 Environmental monitoring wells have become more 6.2.1 Most
...
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