CHAPTER 7. DRILLING

IC 14-37-7
     Chapter 7. Drilling

IC 14-37-7-1
Documentation required by commission
    
Sec. 1. The commission may require a person drilling or modifying a well for oil and gas purposes to furnish the following:
        (1) A copy of the driller's log and completion report of the well.
        (2) A copy of any geophysical or instrumental log.
        (3) Drill cuttings or cores.
        (4) Other information required by rule.
As added by P.L.1-1995, SEC.30. Amended by P.L.80-2005, SEC.5.

IC 14-37-7-2
Confidentiality of records
    
Sec. 2. Upon written request by the operator, the department shall keep the records and materials submitted under section 1 of this chapter confidential for one (1) year from the date of completion. The records and materials become public records at the end of this period.
As added by P.L.1-1995, SEC.30.

IC 14-37-7-3
Casing requirement for drilling oil or gas well on land with underground mine; variance
    
Sec. 3. (a) Except as provided in subsection (b), if a well for oil and gas purposes is proposed to be drilled:
        (1) on land underlaid by an inactive underground mine; or
        (2) on land within the permit boundaries of an active underground mine permitted under IC 14-34;
an owner or operator shall, if the well is to be completed as a producing well and regardless of whether the well is drilled through a pillar, run an intermediate string of casing from the surface to a point at least fifty (50) feet below the base of the commercially minable coal resource or the mine floor.
    (b) Upon written application to the director by a person that proposes to drill a well described in subsection (a), the director may grant a variance from the requirements of subsection (a) if:
        (1) with respect to a proposed well on land described in subsection (a)(1), written consent to the variance is given by:
            (A) the permittee under IC 14-34; or
            (B) the person that has the right to develop the coal resource; or
        (2) with respect to a proposed well on land described in subsection (a)(2), written consent to the variance is given by the coal mine operator under IC 14-34.
    (c) If a variance is granted under subsection (b), the well must be completed:
        (1) in the manner required under section 4 or 5 of this chapter; and         (2) in a manner that prevents the following:
            (A) Waste.
            (B) Fresh water pollution.
            (C) Blowouts.
            (D) Cavings.
            (E) Seepages.
            (F) Fires.
            (G) Unreasonably detrimental effects upon fish, wildlife, and botanical resources.
As added by P.L.1-1995, SEC.30. Amended by P.L.80-2005, SEC.6.

IC 14-37-7-4
Well owner's or operator's duties regarding coal mines
    
Sec. 4. (a) If a well is drilled and completed as a producing well:
        (1) through a commercially minable coal resource; and
        (2) within an area for which a mine plan is filed with the commission but for which an intermediate string is not required under section 3 of this chapter;
an owner or operator shall set a production string of casing properly centralized and cemented and documented by a sonic cement bond-variable density log.
    (b) An owner or operator must provide at least forty-eight (48) hours notice to the:
        (1) department; and
        (2) person who filed the mine plan;
before commencing logging operations under this section.
    (c) The person who filed the mine plan is entitled to:
        (1) be present during the logging operations; and
        (2) examine the log.
    (d) The commission shall determine the adequacy of cement bonding. If there is a bonding failure between fifty (50) feet below and one hundred (100) feet above the commercially minable coal resource, the owner or operator shall perform remedial action, as ordered by the commission, that results in adequate bonding.
    (e) Not later than thirty (30) days after commencing logging operations, the owner or operator shall provide the department and the person who filed the mine plan with a copy of the sonic cement bond-variable density log.
    (f) Preparation of the log and any remedial action required under this section are at the expense of the owner or operator.
As added by P.L.1-1995, SEC.30.

IC 14-37-7-5
Protection of coal resource with production string of casing
    
Sec. 5. If a well is drilled and completed as a producing well through a commercially minable coal resource, except a coal resource identified in section 3 or 4 of this chapter, the resource must be protected by a properly cemented, centralized production string of casing.
As added by P.L.1-1995, SEC.30.
IC 14-37-7-6
Owner's or operator's obligations for plugging operations not limited
    
Sec. 6. This chapter does not limit the obligation of an owner or operator for plugging operations under this article.
As added by P.L.1-1995, SEC.30.

IC 14-37-7-7
Pollution of drinking water
    
Sec. 7. An owner or operator may not construct, operate, maintain, convert, plug, abandon, or conduct another injection activity in a manner that allows the movement of fluid containing pollution into an underground source of drinking water if the presence of the pollution may:
        (1) cause a violation of a primary drinking water regulation under 40 CFR Part 142; or
        (2) otherwise adversely affect the health of a person.
As added by P.L.1-1995, SEC.30.