OILgas
OILgas
OILgas
P-417 BLM/WO/ST-06/021+3071/REV 07 Production services were provided by the BLM National Science and Technology Center Branch of Publishing Services This document is available online at www.blm.gov
Prepared By: United States Department of the Interior Bureau of Land Management United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service Fourth Edition Revised 2007
Suggested Citation United States Department of the Interior and United States Department of Agriculture. 2007. Surface Operating Standards and Guidelines for Oil and Gas Exploration and Development. BLM/WO/ST-06/021+3071/REV 07. Bureau of Land Management. Denver, Colorado. 84 pp.
Surface Operating Standards and Guidelines for Oil and Gas Exploration and Development
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Table of Contents
Chapter 1 Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Surface Management Agency . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Filing Plans . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Environmental Analysis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Onsite Inspection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Interim and Final Reclamation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Environmental Best Management Practices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Stipulations and Conditions of Approval . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Other Federal, State, Tribal, or Local Permits or Authorizations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 1 2 2 2 2 3 3
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Surface Operating Standards and Guidelines for Oil and Gas Exploration and Development
Chapter 7 Appeals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51
Bureau of Land Management Administrative Relief . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51 Forest Service Appeals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51 Bureau of Indian Affairs Appeals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51
List of Commonly Used Abbreviations and Acronyms . . . 53 Appendix 1 BLM/FS Ofce Locations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55
Surface Operating Standards and Guidelines for Oil and Gas Exploration and Development
List of Figures
Figure 1 Recommended construction standards for exclosure fences in livestock areas . . . . . . . . . Figure 2 Illustration of commonly used terms in road design . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Figure 3 Cross-sections and plans for typical road sections representative of BLM resource or FS local and higher-class roads . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Figure 4 Typical road plan and prole drawing for an oil and gas road . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Figure 5 Typical drainage dip and construction specications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Figure 6 Culvert spacing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Figure 7 Diagrams for proper culvert installation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 19 20 29 32 33 34
Surface Operating Standards and Guidelines for Oil and Gas Exploration and Development
Chapter 1 Introduction
The Surface Operating Standards and Guidelines for Oil and Gas Exploration and Development (commonly referred to as The Gold Book) was developed to assist operators by providing information on the requirements for obtaining permit approval and conducting environmentally responsible oil and gas operations on Federal lands and on private surface over Federal minerals. Operations include exploration, production, reclamation, associated rights-of-way (ROWs), and Special Use Authorizations (SUAs).
The Gold Book provides operators with a combination of guidance and standards for ensuring compliance with agency policies and operating requirements, such as those found in the Code of Federal Regulations at 43 CFR 3000 and 36 CFR 228 Subpart E; Onshore Oil and Gas Orders (Onshore Orders); and Notices to Lessees (NTLs). Agency eld ofces and websites can provide more detailed discussions of specic procedures and requirements and copies of regulations, Onshore Orders, Notices to Lessees, and other agency policies currently in effect. Every operation authorized under a Federal oil and gas lease should conform to USDI Bureau of Land Management (BLM), USDA Forest Service (FS), or other agency standards and reect relevant, site-specic conditions. Knowledge of BLM resource management plans (RMPs) and FS land and resource management plans, as well as agency operational standards, procedures, and environmental protection requirements will help operators meet those standards. appropriate Federal surface management agency or non-Federal surface owner. On National Forest System (NFS) lands, the FS has approval authority for the surface use portion of Federal oil and gas operations and for appeals related to FS decisions and approvals. Early coordination with the BLM and the appropriate surface management agency or Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) ofce is encouraged as procedures and requirements vary by agency or reservation. Appendix 1 provides a map showing BLM State Ofces and Regional FS Ofces with addresses and telephone numbers.
Filing Plans
Onshore Oil and Gas Order No. 1 describes the procedure for ling either an Application for Permit to Drill or Reenter (APD), Form 3160-3, or a Notice of Staking (NOS) followed by an APD (Appendix 2 Forms and Formats for Required Information). Early contact and discussions with the BLM and the surface management agency are highly encouraged and will expedite approval of the APD. It is recommended that this contact be made prior to the commitment of dates, equipment, access route acquisition, and preparation of the APD.
Surface Operating Standards and Guidelines for Oil and Gas Exploration and Development
The operator is required to le the complete APD package for all operations, including those on National Forest System lands, with the appropriate BLM ofce. The completed APD package must include APD Form 3160-3, a well plat, a Drilling Plan, a Surface Use Plan of Operations (SUPO), evidence of bond coverage, and operator certication in accordance with the requirements of Onshore Order No. 1. Drilling and related surface-disturbing operations are not allowed without an approved APD. Requests for changes to an approved APD must be submitted to the BLM for prior approval on a Sundry Notice (SN) (Form 3160-5). Operators are encouraged to le APDs, Sundry Notices, and Well Completion Reports (Form 3160-4) through the BLMs electronic ling system. Contact any BLM State or Field Ofce for further information on electronic ling options.
identify site-specic resource protection concerns and requirements. Prior to, or in conjunction with, the onsite inspection, the surface management agency will advise the operator if any special inventories or studies are required, such as for cultural resources or threatened and endangered species.
Environmental Analysis
The BLM, and if applicable, the FS, is responsible for ensuring compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). Upon receipt of a complete APD or formal proposal that encompasses multiple wells in a specic area, the BLM, the surface management agency, or the agencys or operators envi ronmental contractor will conduct an environmental analysis and prepare an environmental document in conformance with the requirements of NEPA and the regulations of the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ). Regardless of which agency, entity, or individual prepares the environmental analysis document, the BLM (and FS, for actions on National Forest System lands) must concur with the content prior to issuing a decision document. In the case of National Forest System lands, where the environmental analysis is conducted jointly with the BLM, each agency will issue its own decision. The extent of the environmental analysis process and the time frame for issuance of a decision will depend upon the complexity of the proposed action and resulting analysis, the signicance of the environmental effects disclosed, and the completion of appropriate consultation processes.
Onsite Inspection
Before approval of the APD, an onsite inspection will be conducted with the operator to further
Surface Operating Standards and Guidelines for Oil and Gas Exploration and Development
Best Management Practices in this photograph include a two-track, primitive road with full interim reclamation of the road and well pad; owlines and electrical lines buried deep within the road; remote monitoring to reduce trafc to the well; a submersible pump; and a small well box painted to blend in with the background.
process, increased operating efciency, reduced long-term operating costs, reduced nal reclamation needs, and less impact to the environment.
Surface Operating Standards and Guidelines for Oil and Gas Exploration and Development
Surface Operating Standards and Guidelines for Oil and Gas Exploration and Development
pre-work eld conference is recommended and may be conducted by the surface management agency. Earth moving equipment shall not be used without prior approval. Upon completion of operations,
including any required reclamation, the operator is required to le a Notice of Completion (NOC) of Oil and Gas Geophysical Exploration Operations (BLM Form 3150-5/FS Form 2800-16a).
Authorized Ofcer The authorized ofcer will contact the operator after the Notice of Intent (BLM Form 3150-4/FS Form 2800-16) is led and inform the operator of the practices and procedures to be followed and the estimated time frame for approval. On National Forest System lands, a user fee will be assessed for operations on Federal lands that are not under lease by the operator. The authorized ofcer will complete a nal post-work inspection of the site and notify the operator that the terms and conditions of the Notice of Intent have been met or that additional action is required by the operator. Consent to release the
bond or terminate liability will not be granted by the surface management agency until the operator has met the terms and conditions of the Notice of Intent.
Surface Operating Standards and Guidelines for Oil and Gas Exploration and Development
Surface Operating Standards and Guidelines for Oil and Gas Exploration and Development
the well and associated rights-of-way, roads, pipelines, and production facilities. Onshore Order No. 1, Section III, D, describes specic information requirements for ling a complete APD, including the Drilling Plan and Surface Use Plan of Operations. For operations proposed on National Forest System lands, also refer to Subpart E of 36 CFR 228. In addition to these requirements, the onsite inspection must be held before the APD package can be judged complete. Within 10 days of receiving an APD, the BLM (in consultation with the FS if the application is on National Forest System lands) will notify the operator whether or not the application is complete. The APD package consists of:
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after the ling of the APD, if the onsite inspection was not held previously under the NOS option. Approved APDs are valid for 2 years from the date of approval as long as the lease does not expire during that time. An APD may be extended for up to 2 years at the discretion of the BLM and the surface management agency if a written request is led before the 2 year expiration date. The terms of an APD may require the operator to contact the BLM and surface management agency before beginning construction activities. Notice of Staking By ling a NOS with the BLM, the operator is formally requesting an onsite inspection prior to ling an APD. During or within 7 days of the onsite inspection, all parties will jointly develop and provide a list of resource concerns for the operator to address in the APD. This will help the operator in ling a complete APD. If an APD is not led with the BLM within 60 days of the onsite inspection, the NOS will be returned to the operator. Posting a NOS in the local BLM and FS ofces also initiates the mandatory BLM/FS 30-day public notication requirement. There is no specic form available for this information, but a sample format is provided in Appendix 2 with the necessary information requirements. When the lands involved are managed by a Federal agency other than the BLM, the BLM will provide a copy of the NOS to the appropriate agency.
Form 3160-3, Application for Permit to Drill or Reenter Surface Use Plan of Operations Drilling Plan A well plat certied by a registered surveyor Evidence of bond coverage Operator certication Original or electronic signature Other information required by order, notice, or regulation
n n n n n n n
In order to facilitate processing multiple APDs, plan for orderly development, and better analyze cumulative effects and appropriate mitigation, an operator may elect or be asked to submit a Master Development Plan for all or a portion of the wells proposed in a developing eld. All wells within a Master Development Plan share a common Drilling Plan, Surface Use Plan of Operations, and plans for future development and production. APD Form 3160-3 and survey plats must be submitted for each proposed well either with the Master Development Plan or following its approval, but each APD must reference the common Drilling Plan and Surface Use Plan of Operations. Posting a NOS or APD in the local BLM ofce (and FS ofce for operations on National Forest System lands) initiates the BLM/FS 30-day public notication period that is required before a Federal APD can be approved. The onsite inspection is held
Surface Operating Standards and Guidelines for Oil and Gas Exploration and Development
Operators are advised to notify the surface management agency and are required to make a good faith effort to notify the private surface owner prior to entry. This will allow the surface management agency or private surface owner to inform the operator of sensitive resources or areas that need to be avoided and any difcult or problem conditions. When an APD is submitted, staking must include the center stake for the proposed well, two 200-foot directional reference stakes, the exterior dimensions of the drill pad, reserve pit, cuts and lls, and the outer limits of the area to be disturbed, unless a variance is granted. Because the well, road location, and other associated off-location facilities may change as a result of the onsite inspection, the operator may request a variance to the full staking requirements for purposes of conducting the initial onsite inspection. However, the full staking requirements found in Oil and Gas Onshore Order No. 1 must be met before the APD can be approved. Off-location facilities must also be staked, as well as the centerlines of new roads and routes for owlines and power lines, with stakes being visible from one to the next (intervisible). In steep terrain or environmentally sensitive areas, cut and ll staking or slope staking may be required for roads and any ancillary facilities. The well location plat must describe the location of the surface disturbances and their proximity to the nearest section lines, lease lines, ownership, or special use area boundaries in geographical coordinates referenced to the National Spatial Reference System (NSRS), North American Datum 1983 (NAD83), and in feet and direction from the nearest two adjacent section lines, or, if not within the Rectangular Survey System, the nearest two adjacent property lines. The authorized ofcer has the option of approving the use of the BLMs Geographic Coordinate Data Base (GCDB) to describe the boundaries, when the GCDB coordinates reliability ensures that operations will be within the intended boundaries. In unsurveyed townships, the latest protraction or amended protraction diagram will be used to describe the boundaries. The registered surveyor should coordinate with the cadastral survey section of the appropriate BLM State Ofce, particularly where the boundaries are uncertain or unsurveyed.
Land management plan Lease stipulations Level of National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) analysis required Well spacing Cultural survey needs Wildlife survey needs Riparian and wetland areas Excessive slopes and erosive soils Landowner consultation
n n n n n n
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Surface Operating Standards and Guidelines for Oil and Gas Exploration and Development
The request must explain the reason the variance is needed and demonstrate how the operator will satisfy the intent of the Order.
Cultural resources, sensitive or threatened and endangered species, or other resource survey information may be needed in order to comply with the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA), the Endangered Species Act (ESA), or to complete a staff review or an environmental analysis under NEPA. If the operator is completing cultural or other survey reports, the early submission of those reports to the surface management agency, at or prior to the onsite inspection, will help ensure timely and efcient consultation, environmental review, and processing of APDs. Cultural resource block surveys are an option that can provide the operator with increased exibility to locate or relocate wells, roads, and utilities at the onsite inspection and reduce the need to conduct additional surveys that could delay the project. The BLM, surface management agency, or private contractor will complete the environmental review process in accordance with the requirements of the BLM and the surface management agency. The BLM will issue the decision document, except in the case of National Forest System lands where the environmental review is conducted jointly and each agency issues its own decision. APDs on Federal leases will not be approved by the BLM until after completion of the environmental review and the public posting/notication process. Approved permits will be subject to the operators permit application as modied by the existing lease stipulations, rights-of-way terms and conditions, and APD or Sundry Notice conditions of approval developed during the permit review process. The operator must have a copy of the approved APD and any Conditions of Approval available for review at the drill site, including during the construction and reclamation phases. Operators are responsible for their contractors and subcontractors compliance with the approved APD.
Variances
The operator may make a written request to the agency with jurisdiction to request a variance from the requirements of Onshore Order No. 1.
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operator, can be authorized under an APD or Sundry Notice. On or off lease/unit, pipelines, roads, and utilities constructed and managed by someone other than the leaseholder/operator require a BLM rightof-way or an FS Special Use Authorization. On BLM-administered lands, pipelines, access roads, and utilities located off the lease or the unitized area require a right-of-way. A pipeline on BLM-administered lands (or on lands administered by two or more Federal agencies), located downstream of the custody transfer point either on or off a lease, also requires a right-of-way from the BLM. (Refer to 43 CFR 2800, April 22, 2005). On National Forest System lands, certain access roads and utilities, including pipelines downstream of the custody transfer point, may require a Special Use Authorization (36 CFR 252 Subpart B). A detailed APD can be accepted as an application for a BLM right-of-way off lease or FS Special Use Authorization for facilities owned by the leaseholder/ operator in lieu of the Application for Transportation and Utility Systems and Facilities on Federal Lands (Standard Form 299). If the leaseholder/operator plans to use the APD as the application, it should provide sufcient detail for the entire proposal, including all facilities located off the lease. At the NOS or the APD onsite inspection involving rightsof-way on BLM-administered lands, the BLM will review items on the pre-application checklist with the operator, if a pre-application meeting has not already taken place, and will provide the operator with a blank SF-299. Right-of-way project information may be included in the APD or Sundry Notice rather than being submitted on the SF-299. To use this option, the operator must complete and submit an APD or Sundry Notice to the BLM with a Surface Use Plan of Operations, which references the requested rights-ofway; maps; a plan of development containing information specic to the right-of-way and construction; and other required details. The BLM will evaluate the application, determine the cost recovery processing fee category, and request the non-refundable processing fee and any additional information that may be required. After the processing fee and any additional information have been received, BLM will process the right-of-way application.
Following the completion of NEPA analysis for the entire project, a decision will be issued concerning approval of the right-of-way. Upon a decision to grant the right-of-way, BLM will request that the applicant sign the right-of-way grant and return it with payment of the rent and cost recovery monitoring fees. After the rent, fees, and a signed right-of-way grant are returned to the BLM, the grant will be executed by the authorized ofcer and a copy returned to the applicant/leaseholder with the approved APD and Surface Use Plan of Operations. The FS uses a similar process to approve the APD Surface Use Plan of Operations and associated Special Use Authorization when needed for pipelines, access roads, and utilities located entirely on National Forest System lands. The Special Use Authorization may include the APD conditions of approval and any special stipulations resulting from the NEPA analysis.
Other Authorizations
All proposed drilling operations and related surface disturbance activities, as well as any change from an approved APD, must be approved before such activities are conducted. Approval will be in accordance with lease terms, conditions of approval; 43 CFR 3160; Onshore Oil and Gas Orders; and Notices to Lessees. For operations on National Forest System lands, approval of the Surface Use Plan of Operations must also be in accordance with 36 CFR 228 Subpart E before BLM nal approval of the APD. Approval must be obtained from the BLM prior to drilling from private surface into Federal minerals. The BLMs approval of an APD does not relieve the operator from obtaining any other authorizations or approvals required for conducting drilling or related subsequent operations. This includes requirements of other Federal, Tribal, State, or local authorities.
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Surface Operating Standards and Guidelines for Oil and Gas Exploration and Development
private surface to stake a well location and access road or to conduct cultural or biological surveys. Each APD, NOS, or Sundry Notice permitting new surface disturbing activities must contain the name, address, telephone number, and e-mail address (if available), of the private surface owner. The BLM will invite the surface owner to participate in the onsite and nal reclamation inspections and will take into consideration the needs of the surface owner when reviewing the APD and reclamation plans and when approving nal abandonment and reclamation. The BLM will offer the surface owner the same level of surface protection that the BLM provides on Federal surface. The BLM will not apply standards or conditions that exceed those that would normally be applied to Federal surface, even when requested by the surface owner. Prior to approval of the APD (or Sundry Notice to conduct new surface disturbing activities), the operator must certify as part of the complete application that a good faith effort had been made to reach a surface use agreement with the private surface owner and that an agreement was reached or that it failed. If the surface owner and operator fail to reach an agreement, the operator must le a bond with the BLM ($1,000 minimum) for the benet of the surface owner to cover compensation, such as for reasonable and foreseeable loss of crops and damages to tangible improvements. Prior to approving the APD, the BLM will advise the surface owner of the right to object to the sufciency of the bond and will review the value of the bond if the surface owner objects. The BLM will either conrm the current bond amount or establish a new amount. Once the operator has led an adequate bond, the BLM may approve the APD. Following APD approval, the operator and the surface owner may appeal the BLMs nal decision on the bond amount. The operator must negotiate in good faith with the surface owner. Negotiating in good faith provides a forum through which the operator and surface owner can discuss the preferences and needs of both the surface owner and the operator. In addressing those needs, the operator may be able to modify the development proposal to both minimize damage to the surface owners property while
reducing reclamation and surface damage costs. For example, operator costs can might be minimized by placing roads and facilities in locations that meet the surface owners long-term development plans for the property, thereby lessening the future reclamation obligations of the operator. The surface use agreement between the surface owner and the operator is condential. However, the APD Surface Use Plan of Operations must contain sufcient detail about any aspects of the agreement necessary for NEPA documentation and to determine that the operations will be in compliance with laws, regulations, Onshore Orders, and agency policies. When the operator submits its Surface Use Plan of Operations to the BLM, the operator must make a good faith effort to provide a copy to the surface owner. Following APD approval, the operator must also provide a copy of the Conditions of Approval to the surface owner. In addition, the operator must make a good faith effort to provide a copy of any proposal involving new surface disturbance to the private surface owner.
Indian Lands
The BLM will process APDs, Master Development Plans, and Sundry Notices on Tribal and allotted oil and gas leases and Indian Mineral Development Act mineral agreements in a manner similar to Federal leases. However, the approval procedures, including cultural resource and other environmental requirements, may vary between reservations depending on Tribal ordinances and whether tribes have assumed the functions of a State Historic Preservation Ofce. Both the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) and the Tribe have the opportunity to recommend conditions of approval to the APD. For processing such applications, the BLM considers the BIA to be the surface management agency for all Indian lands unless a Tribe has contracted the BIA realty function for its lands. The BIA is the lead Federal agency for complying with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act on Indian lands, although this may vary in some States. Operators are responsible for obtaining any special use or access permits from appropriate BIA and/or
Surface Operating Standards and Guidelines for Oil and Gas Exploration and Development
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tribal ofces. BLM is not required to post APDs for minerals subject to Indian leases or agreements for public inspection.
Bonding
Bonding is required (43 CFR 3104 and 36 CFR 228 Subpart E) for oil and gas lease operations in order to ensure that the operator performs all obligations of the lease contract, including but not limited to: royalty obligations, plugging leasehold wells, surface reclamation, and cleanup of abandoned operations. Operators may post the bond in their own name, or obtain consent of the surety under an existing lessees bond or operating rights owners bond, extending coverage under that existing bond to include such operations. The bond may be a surety bond or pledge backed by cash, negotiable securities, Certicate of Deposit, or Letter of Credit in the minimum amount of $10,000. In lieu of a $10,000 lease bond, a bond of not less than $25,000 for statewide operations or $150,000 for nationwide operations may be furnished. The operator must identify the type of bond and the bond number on the APD form. The authorized ofcer may require an increase in the amount of any bond for factors, including but not limited to, a history of previous violations; a notice from the Minerals Management Service (MMS) that there are uncollected royalties due;
the total number, location, and depth of wells; the age and production capability of the eld; unique environmental issues; or the total cost of plugging existing wells and reclaiming lands exceeds the present bond amount by an unacceptable amount. A bonded principal (operator or lessee) may request a partial release of a lease bond when portions of the abandonment or nal reclamation process are deemed complete by the authorized ofcer. Statewide and nationwide bonds cannot be partially released. The operator must notify the authorized ofcer prior to and upon the completion of all leasehold abandonment and nal reclamation activities. A separate bond may be required for rights-ofway or Special Use Authorizations to cover losses, damages, or injury to human health, the environment, or property in connection with the use, occupancy, and termination of the right-of-way (43 CFR 2800 and 36 CFR 251 Subpart B). The BLM will require a separate bond to protect the surface owner in split-estate situations if the operator and surface owner fail to reach an agreement regarding terms of use, compensation for loss or damages, or a waiver. For operations on National Forest System lands, the authorized FS ofcer may require additional bonding prior to or during the conduct of operations (36 CFR 228.109).
Surface Operating Standards and Guidelines for Oil and Gas Exploration and Development
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Well Sites
Site Selection and Design To the extent permitted by the geologic target, well spacing, and drilling and production technology, the locations selected for well sites, tank batteries, pits, and compressor stations should be planned so as to minimize long-term disruption of the surface resources and existing uses, and to promote successful reclamation. Design and construction techniques and other practices should be employed that would minimize surface disturbance and the associated effects of proposed operations and maintain the reclamation potential of the site. The following guidelines can be used to assist in meeting these objectives and reducing the overall undesirable impacts from well sites and other construction areas. Well sites should be designed to t the landscape and minimize construction needs. In many cases, this
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Surface Operating Standards and Guidelines for Oil and Gas Exploration and Development
Construction Construction procedures must conform to the approved Surface Use Plan of Operations. In order to minimize surface disturbance, construction equipment appropriately sized to the scope and scale of the proposed operation should be used. All surface soil materials (topsoil) are to be removed from the entire cut and ll area and temporarily stockpiled for reuse during interim reclamation or nal reclamation if the well is a dry hole. The depth of topsoil to be removed and stockpiled should be determined at the onsite inspection and should be stated either in the proposed Surface Use Plan of Operations or specied in the APD conditions of approval. Topsoil should be segregated and stored separately from subsurface materials to avoid mixing during construction, storage, and interim reclamation. Subsurface materials should never be placed on top of topsoil material at any point in the operation. Stockpiles should be located and protected so that wind and water erosion are minimized and reclamation potential is maximized. Excavation of the cut and ll slopes is normally guided by information on the slope stakes. Fills should be compacted to minimize the chance of subsidence or slope failure. If excess cut material exists after ll areas have been brought to grade, the excess material will be stockpiled at approved locations. Snow and frozen soil material is not to be used in construction of ll areas, dikes, or berms. To reduce areas of soil disturbance, the surface management agency may allow mowing or brush beating of vegetation for parts of the well location or access road where excavation is not necessary. The area of the well pad where the drilling rig substructure is located should be level and
capable of supporting the rig. The drill rig, tanks, heater-treater, and other production equipment are not to be placed on uncompacted ll material. The area used for mud tanks, generators, mud storage, and fuel tanks should be at a slight slope, where possible, or a suitable alternative, such as ditching, should be used to provide surface drainage from the work area to the pit. To reduce erosion and soil loss, it may be appropriate to divert storm water away from the well location with ditches, berms, or waterbars above the cut slopes and to trap well location runoff and sediments on or near the location through the use of sediment fences or water retention ponds. Reserve Pits Reserve pits are generally used for storage or disposal of water, drill mud, and cuttings during drilling operations. The pit should normally be located entirely in cut material. Avoid constructing reserve pits in areas of shallow groundwater. Reserve pits should not be constructed in natural watercourses. Water courses include lake beds, gullies, draws, streambeds, washes, arroyos, or channels that are delineated on a 1:24,000 USGS quadrangle map or have a hydrologic connection to streams, rivers, or lakes. For reserve pit construction on sloping sites, the preferred method is to locate the pit on the drill pad next to the high wall. Pits are constructed totally in cut at such locations. If this is not possible, at least 50 percent of the reserve pit should be constructed below original ground level to help prevent failure of the pit dike. Fill dikes should be properly compacted in lifts. The necessary degree of compaction depends on soil texture and moisture content. The pit should
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17
be designed to contain all anticipated drilling muds, cuttings, fracture uids, and precipitation while maintaining at least 2 feet of freeboard. Pits improperly constructed on slopes or poor soil types may leak along the plane between the natural ground level and the ll. There is a signicant potential for pit failure in these situations. When constructing dikes for pits or impoundments with ll embankment, a keyway or core trench should be excavated to a minimum depth of 2 to 3 feet below the original ground level. The core of the embankment can then be constructed with compacted, water-impervious material. To prevent contamination of ground water and soils or to conserve water, it is recommended that operators use a closed-loop drilling system or line reserve pits with an impermeable liner, particularly when it is anticipated that pits will contain moderate or high levels of hydrocarbons and chloride, or the pits are located in areas of shallow groundwater or porous soils over fractured bedrock aquifers. Pits can be lined with synthetic liners or other materials such as bentonite or clay. Impermeable liners should have a permeability of less than 10-7cm/sec. Liners must be installed so that they will not leak and must be composed of materials compatible with all substances to be placed in the pit. Synthetic liners with a minimum thickness of 12 mils and resistance to ultraviolet radiation,
weathering, chemicals, punctures, and tearing are most commonly used, although some States may require liners that are thicker. Suitable bedding material, such as sand, clay, or felt liners should be used in areas where the base rock might puncture the liner. Depending on the proposed contents of the pit and sensitivity of the environment, the surface management agency may require a leak detection system or the use of self-contained mud systems with the drilling uids, mud, and cuttings being transported to approved disposal areas. Reserve pits should be appropriately fenced to prevent access by persons, wildlife, or livestock. During drilling in active livestock areas, the reserve pit must be fenced with an exclosure fence on three sides and then fenced on the fourth side once drilling has been completed. Refer to Figure 1 for recommended fence construction standards in active livestock areas. In areas where livestock will not be present, other types of fences may be appropriate. The fence should remain in place until pit reclamation begins. After cessation of drilling and completion operations, any visible or measurable layer of oil must be removed from the surface of the reserve pit and the pit kept free of oil. In some situations and locations, precautions, such as netting, may be required in order to prevent access and mortality of birds and other animals.
18
Surface Operating Standards and Guidelines for Oil and Gas Exploration and Development
7' minimum
7' minimum
7' minimum
7' minimum
End PanelType 1
1"
End PanelType 2
1"
Mortise Detail
7' minimum
Add a rock deadman (min. weight 50 lbs.) when space between bottom wire and ground exceeds 20"
Stress Panel
L
42"
Line Panels
Figure 1. Recommended construction standards for exclosure fences in livestock areas.
Surface Operating Standards and Guidelines for Oil and Gas Exploration and Development
19
System lands. Contact the local BLM or FS ofce for specic requirements. Exception to or modication of these guidelines is at the surface management agencys discretion based on the physical conditions at the site and the project proposal. Figure 2 illustrates commonly used terms in road design and should be referred to when reviewing this section.
right-of-way right-of-way line roadside clearing limit clearing width x ground line shoulder shoulder traveled way roadway y roadside
roadbed
fill slope
Note: Shapes and dimensions will vary to fit local conditions See drawings for typical sections x and y denote clearing outside of roadway
To ensure public safety and the protection of Federal resources, BLM and FS roads must be constructed to an appropriate standard no higher than necessary to accommodate the intended use. In many cases, the construction of a lower-class road will meet the operators access needs, while minimizing the effects on other important resource values. Roads used to access oil and gas locations are typically constructed for that primary purpose, are rarely permanent, and exist only as long as necessary to complete exploration and production operations. They are authorized with an accompanying
reclamation plan and are to be reclaimed after well and eld operations are completed. In relatively rare cases, the surface management agency or surface owner may assume responsibility for the continued operation and maintenance of roads deemed necessary. The authorized ofcer has the option of determining whether professional engineering design and construction oversight is necessary or whether the road can be constructed by the operator consistent with site-specic standards and approved road design templates (Figures 2 and 3). The need for professional engineering design and oversight should be based on factors such as topography,
right-of-way line
clearing limit
20
Surface Operating Standards and Guidelines for Oil and Gas Exploration and Development
Construction Steps
turnout 10' 100' full turnout width 25' transition Intervisible turnouts shall be constructed on all single lane roads on all blind curves with additional tunouts as needed to keep spacing below 1000 feet.
crown
2%
3:1
natural ground
3:1 e
rosiv e so
2:1
com
ils
mo n
1:1 co m m on
crown .03 .05 ft/ft .02 .04 ft/ft .02 .03 ft/ft
1/2
natural gro un
nat
center line
center line
fill
fill
slo
pe
travel surface (slope 2 4%)
slo
pe
Figure 3. Cross-sections and plans for typical road sections representative of BLM resource or FS local and higher-class roads.
Surface Operating Standards and Guidelines for Oil and Gas Exploration and Development
21
soils, hydrology, safety, and levels and types of use by the operator and general public. For oil and gas roads on National Forest System lands, a qualied FS engineer reviews all project design drawings, ofcially attesting to their technical adequacy. To meet the requirements of Onshore Order No. 1 (Surface Use Plan of Operations, 2a and b) for new or reconstructed roads, the operator must provide information such as:
n n n
Road width, maximum grade, and crown design Location of turnouts Plans for soils-, hydrology-, and topographydependent drainage, including ditches and locations and sizes of culverts and bridges On- and off-site erosion control Plans for revegetation of disturbed areas Fence cuts and cattle guards Major cuts and lls Source and storage sites for topsoil Types of surfacing materials, if any Plans for maintaining or improving existing roads
maintenance techniques may be required, as well as seasonal vehicular closures to the general public. It is always a good practice to consult with the surface management agency or private landowner prior to submitting the road design. Helpful design information can also be found on agency websites. For the BLM, guidance can be found in BLM 9113 Roads Manual; and BLM 9130Sign Manual. For the FS, information is available in EM-7100-15: Sign and Poster Guidelines for the FS or the FS Water/Road Interaction Series of publications.
Transportation Planning
The goal of transportation planning is to identify and analyze feasible alternatives for access that meet the objectives of the surface management agency, private surface owner, and the needs of the diverse users of Federal lands. The transportation planning process:
n
n n n n n n n
Considers future road use needs, including public access and resource development or use Considers affected resource values and safety Avoids haphazard or unnecessary development of roads and utility corridors
n n
All roads must be designed, constructed, and maintained by the operator in a safe and environmentally responsible manner. Oil and gas roads that are not closed to public use (through the use of gates or other trafc control devices) have the potential to serve secondary uses, such as providing access for hunters and other recreational users who may not be familiar with the road and area. Therefore, safety is a primary design consideration. Roads also have the potential to cause environmental harm through erosion, air pollution, stream degradation, habitat alteration, and increased public use of an area. Careful attention to the proposed road location and design can signicantly minimize environmental harm. For example, shorter roads constructed on steep slopes may cost more to construct, maintain, and reclaim and can also result in greater environmental impacts than would longer roads constructed along the contours of the land or constructed in atter terrain. In areas of high environmental sensitivity, special road location, design, and construction and
Road location and design criteria are also developed and documented during the transportation planning process. Transportation planning can prevent unnecessary expenditures of time and money and prevent unnecessary surface disturbance. Therefore, it is important for the operator to become involved in the transportation planning process. Road Location Road location is critical to the long-term maintenance and environmental success of a road construction project. Proper road location can signicantly reduce or eliminate impacts to cultural, scenic, biological, and other environmental resources. Operators are strongly encouraged to contact the surface management agency or private surface owner about possible route locations before surveying and staking. This early communication between the operator and the surface management agency or private surface owner can minimize changes made at the onsite inspection and reduce project delays.
22
Surface Operating Standards and Guidelines for Oil and Gas Exploration and Development
Existing roads should be considered for use as access routes and may be used when they meet agency standards, transportation and development needs, and environmental objectives. When access involves the use of existing agency roads, operators must obtain agency approval and may be required to upgrade the roads, contribute to road maintenance funds, or participate in road maintenance agreements. When selecting a location for new roads, consider following topographic contours. While laying out roads in a point-to-point approach minimizes the length of road, it often increases soil erosion, maintenance costs, long-term loss of vegetation, and visual contrast. Following natural topographic contours preserves natural drainage patterns and usually makes it possible to design a more aesthetically pleasing road with lower construction, maintenance, and reclamation costs and less impact on the environment. Initial steps in road location include:
n
limitations, type of excavation, landslide areas, subgrade conditions indicating the need for surfacing, potential cut slope problems, surface or subsurface water problem areas, suitability of ll material, potential gravel pits or quarries for road aggregate, and potential borrow and waste sites. A good road location analysis may avoid costly problems and identify cost-saving opportunities. Other Factors Other factors to consider that are unique to the oil and gas industry include:
n
The potential for encountering sour gas (H2S). Note the prevailing wind direction and identify a clear escape route from the drill site. The potential for year-round operation. Drill sites and producing locations may require all-weather access and special maintenance considerations for snow removal. The potential for exploratory drilling to result in a producing operation. Select initial road alignments and road classes based on the potential for upgrade if the wells are completed for production.
Determination of the intended use of the road, planned season of use, type of vehicles to be used, road class, and needs of the surface owner or agency Examination of the surface management agencys transportation plan, which may already have identied feasible routes for the area Examination of existing data, including maps and aerial photos, land use plan decisions, and biological, physical, and cultural conditions of the area Determination of oil and gas lease obligations, future development needs, and safety considerations.
When the road location information is submitted to the surface management agency, the acceptability of the proposed route, and if applicable, alternative routes, can be evaluated. The preferred road location will be identied by the authorized ofcer at the onsite inspection in coordination with the private surface owner on non-Federal surface.
Once these steps have been taken, an appropriate route can be identied. This process is critical to ensuring that the safest and least intrusive route is chosen. Geotechnical Factors In complex terrain or conditions, it is recommended that the operator look at various route alternatives before selecting the preferred route. Field reconnaissance of alternative routes may be necessary in order to provide information on such factors as soil types, construction/reclamation
Surface Operating Standards and Guidelines for Oil and Gas Exploration and Development
23
reclamation. Revegetation of road ditches and cut and ll slopes will help stabilize exposed soils and reduce sediment loss, reduce the growth of noxious weeds, reduce maintenance costs, maintain scenic quality and forage, and protect habitat. To ensure successful growth of plants and forbs, topsoil must be salvaged where available during road construction and respread to the greatest degree practical on cut slopes, ll slopes, and borrow ditches prior to seeding. To ensure the stability of freshly topsoiled slopes during revegetation, the application of mulch or other sediment control measures may be appropriate. Construction with saturated or frozen soils results in unstable roads and should be avoided. Vehicular travel under wet conditions can produce signicant rutting of unsurfaced roads resulting in soil loss and safety concerns. If road use is anticipated during saturated soil conditions, the surface management agency may require road surfacing to provide safe vehicle access, ensure uninterrupted operations, and reduce road damage and sediment loss. Nonconstructed Roads and Routes When site conditions are appropriate, the surface management agency may approve the creation or use of primitive, two-track roads or overland route corridors to meet the operators access needs. Primitive roads and route corridors
may serve as appropriate access to exploration drilling locations where it is not certain if the well will be productive, or to producing wells where vehicle trafc is infrequent due to the use of off-site production facilities and automated well monitoring. The appropriateness of primitive roads or routes is both site-specic and use-specic and is typically based on many factors, such as anticipated dry or frozen soil conditions, seasonal weather conditions, at terrain, low anticipated trafc, or drillers or operators access needs. Primitive roads or routes necessitate low vehicle speed and are typically limited to four-wheel drive or high clearance vehicles. They can consist of existing or new roads with minor or moderate grading; two-track roads created by the operators direct vehicle use with little or no grading; overland routes within a dened travel corridor leaving no dened roadway beyond crushed vegetation; or any combination along the route. Operators should not at-blade roads. Drainage must be maintained, where appropriate, to avoid erosion or the creation of a muddy, braided road. These roads and routes must be used and maintained in a safe and environmentally responsible manner and are not intended for use as all-weather access roads. Resource damage must be repaired as soon as possible and the operator must consult with the surface management agency
A minimum disturbance, primitive, two-track road winds its way to a drilling operation. To further reduce disturbance, most of the well location has not been stripped of vegetation or topsoil.
24
Surface Operating Standards and Guidelines for Oil and Gas Exploration and Development
to determine if all or a portion of the road needs to be upgraded to an all-weather access road. When used and maintained appropriately, nonconstructed roads and routes have the advantage of reducing construction, maintenance, and reclamation costs and reducing resource impacts. The use of nonconstructed roads must be approved by the surface management agency. Constructed Roads The surface management agency determines the appropriate road type and associated road design standards based on the expected trafc volume and other factors, such as seasonal or year-round use, the design vehicle, soil types, rainfall, topography, construction costs, compatibility with other resource values, and safety. This information is documented during the transportation planning process and onsite meeting. Road types may vary along the same route depending on the operators or the surface management agencys access or resource protection needs. In some cases, exploration drilling may warrant a lower design standard or primitive road, mentioned previously, which could be upgraded if the well becomes a producing well.
BLM Resource or FS Local Roads
a clear view of the section of road between the two turnouts and can pull off to the side to let the approaching driver pass. They are usually used for dry weather, but may be surfaced, drained, and maintained for all-weather use. These roads connect terminal facilities, such as a well site, to collector, local, arterial, or other higher-class roads. They serve low average daily trafc (ADT) and are located on the basis of the specic resource activity need rather than travel efciency.
BLM Local or FS Collector Roads
BLM local or FS collector roads may be singlelane or double-lane with travelways 12 to 24 feet in width and intervisible turnouts. They are normally graded, drained, and surfaced and are capable of carrying highway loads. These roads provide access to large areas and for various uses. They collect trafc from resource or local roads or terminal facilities and are connected to arterial roads or public highways. The location and standards for these roads are based on both long-term resource needs and travel efciency. They may be operated for either constant or intermittent service, depending on land use and resource management objectives for the area being served.
BLM Collector or FS Arterial Roads
BLM resource or FS local roads are lowvolume, single-lane roads. They normally have a 12 to14 foot travelway with intervisible turnouts, as appropriate, where approaching drivers have
BLM collector or FS arterial roads are usually double-lane, graded, drained and surfaced, with a 20 to 24 foot travelway. They serve large land areas and are the major access route into development areas
Surface Operating Standards and Guidelines for Oil and Gas Exploration and Development
25
with high average daily trafc rates. The locations and standards are often determined by a demand for maximum mobility and travel efciency rather than a specic resource management service. They usually connect with public highways or other arterials to form an integrated network of primary travel routes and are operated for long-term land and resource management purposes and constant service. BLM Resource and FS Local Roads
Basic Design Requirements
speed. Turnouts are generally naturally occurring, such as additional widths on ridges or other available areas on at terrain. On roads open to the public, turnouts must be located at 1,000-foot intervals or be intervisible, whichever is less. Drainage control must be ensured over the entire road through the use of drainage dips, insloping, natural rolling topography, ditch turnouts, ditches, or culverts. Ditches and culverts may be required in some situations, depending on grades, soils, and local hydrology. If culverts or drainage crossings are needed, they should be designed for a 25-year or greater storm frequency, without development of a static head at the pipe inlet. Gravel or other surfacing is not always required, but may be necessary for soft road sections, steep grades, highly erosive soils, clay soils, or where all-weather access is needed. At times, a limited number of oil eld vehicles (critical vehicles) larger than the design vehicle may make occasional use of the road. The operator should consider these needs in road design.
Field Survey Requirements
The surface management agency will provide requirements specic to proposed oil and gas roads during project planning and/or at the onsite review with consideration of safety, impacts on land and resources, and cost of transportation. Requirements for specic proposals may vary somewhat from the generalized requirements that follow. Design speed specic to oil and gas roads is 10 to 30 miles per hour. For the FS, this should generally be less than 15 miles per hour. Preferred travelway width is 14 feet with turnouts. For the FS, this can vary from two parallel vehicle tracks, bladed 12-foot sections with turnouts, or a broader dened overland corridor approved by the surface management agency. Recommended minimum horizontal curve radii is determined by the design vehicle and design speed. Where terrain will not allow the proper curve radii, curve widening is necessary. Specications are available from the surface management agency. Road gradient has a major effect on the environmental and visual impact of a road, particularly in terms of erosion. The gradient should t as closely as possible to the natural terrain, considering vehicle operational limitations, soil types, environmental constraints, and trafc service levels. The gradient should not exceed 8 percent except for pitch grades (300 feet or less in length) in order to minimize environmental effects. In mountainous or dissected terrain, grades greater than 8 percent up to 16 percent may be permissible with prior approval of the surface management agency. The primary purpose of turnouts is for user convenience and safety and to maintain user
Field survey requirements vary with topography, geologic hazard, potential for public and recreational use, or other concerns. Each surface management agency has survey requirements based on design requirements and concerns specic to the area. The surface management agency should be contacted as early as possible to determine the survey requirements. The following general requirements are imposed to control work and produce the desired road. A agline is established along the construction route. Flags should be placed approximately every 100 feet, or be intervisible, whichever is less. Construction control staking may be required depending on conditions of the site. Culvert installations are located and staked.
Design Drawings and Templates
On side slopes of 0 to 20 percent, where horizontal and vertical alignment can be worked out on the ground, a plan and prole drawing may not be required. Standard templates, drainage dip spacing,
26
Surface Operating Standards and Guidelines for Oil and Gas Exploration and Development
culvert locations, and turnout spacing guides would be acceptable. A plan and prole view would be the minimum drawing required on steeper slopes and in areas of environmental concern. The drawing should identify grade, alignment, stationing, turnouts, and culvert locations. Standard templates of road cross-sections and drainage dips are required for all resource, local, and higher-class roads. Figures 2 and 3 illustrate these sections. Additional information may be required in areas of environmental or engineering concern.
Construction
shall not be used until material from roadway excavation has been placed in the embankments, unless otherwise permitted. Borrow areas used by the operator must be approved prior to the start of excavation. Roadside ditches should conform to the slope, grade, and shape of the required cross-section with no projections of roots, stumps, rocks, or similar debris. Side ditches must be excavated to a depth of 1-foot minimum below the nished road surface. Drainage turnout spacing on these ditches should not exceed 500 feet; slopes greater than 5 percent may require closer spacing of turnout furrows (wing ditches or relief ditches). BLM Local and FS Collector Roads
Basic Design Requirements
The operator must take all necessary precautions for protection of the work and safety of the public during construction of the road. Warning signs must be posted during blasting operations.
Clearing and Grubbing
Clearing and grubbing will normally be required on all sections of the road. Exceptions would be allowed in areas of sparse, non-woody vegetation. All clearing and grubbing should be conned to a specied clearing width (Figure 2), which is usually somewhat wider than the limits of actual construction (roadway). Branches of all trees extending over the roadbed should be trimmed to provide a clear height of 14 feet above the roadbed surface. All vegetative debris must be disposed of as specied by the surface management agency.
Excavation
Design speed is generally 15 to 50 miles per hour. For the FS, it is 15 to 25 miles per hour. The selected design speed establishes the minimum sight distance for stopping and passing, and road geometrics such as minimum radius of curvature, the gradient, and type of running surface. Travelway minimum is 14 feet (single lane) and 24 feet (double lane) with intervisible turnouts, as may be required. Recommended minimum horizontal curve radius is 220 feet. Where terrain will not allow 220-foot curve radii, curve widening is necessary. Superelevation should be considered at speeds greater than 20 miles per hour. Specications are available from surface management agency engineering ofces. Vertical curves should be designed with an appropriate k value (rate of vertical curvature length per percent of A, the algebraic difference in grade) based on design speed (for example on FS, crest vertical curves, 30 mph k=9; 40 mph k=22; 50 mph k = 45). Maximum grades should not exceed 8 percent. Pitch grades for lengths not to exceed 300 feet may be allowed to exceed 8 percent in some cases. All culverts must be sized in accordance with accepted engineering practices and any special environmental concerns. The minimum size culvert in any installation is 18 inches. Drainage crossings
All soil material and fragmented rock removed in excavation is to be used as directed in the approved plan. Excess cut material shall not be wasted unless specied in the approved plan.
Roadbed Construction
Roadbed material should not be placed when the materials or the surface are frozen or too wet for satisfactory compaction. Equipment should be routed over the layers of roadbed material already in place to help avoid uneven compaction anywhere along the travel route. Borrow material
Surface Operating Standards and Guidelines for Oil and Gas Exploration and Development
27
and culverts should be designed for a 25-year or greater storm frequency and allow sh passage in perennial streams where sh are present. Turnouts are required on all single-lane roads. Turnouts must be located at 1000-foot intervals or be intervisible, whichever is less. The length should not be less than 100 feet, with additional 50-foot transitional tapers at each end. Surfacing may be required to provide all-weather access. If surfacing is needed, aggregate size, type, amount, and application method will be specied by the local ofce of the surface management agency. Subgrade analysis may be required to determine load-bearing capacities.
Field Survey Requirements
Construction standards are the same as given in the BLM Resource and FS Local Roads Section. BLM Collector and FS Arterial Roads
Basic Survey and Design Requirements
Vertical, horizontal, and topographic data, as well as signicant features should be plotted on standard plan and prole sheets to a scale of 1 inch = 100 feet horizontal and 1 inch = 20 feet vertical, or as otherwise directed by the surface management agency. The design shall conform to the most current edition of the AASHTO, Guidelines for Geometric Design of Very Low-Volume Local Roads, for access roads with an anticipated average daily trafc of less than 400 vehicles. Plot L (layout) line along P (preliminary) line using the following design standards criteria: - Design speed is 30 miles per hour or greater unless otherwise directed. - Travel width-minimum is 20 feet, maximum is 24 feet. - Minimum horizontal curve radius is 460 feet unless shorter radii are approved. The curve radius must take into account super-elevation. - Design vertical curves with an appropriate k value based on design speed. - Maximum grade is 8 percent (except pitch grades not exceeding 300 feet in length and 10 percent in grade). - Mass diagrams and earthwork balancing may be required. Obvious areas of waste or borrow shall be noted on the plan and prole as well as proposed locations of borrow or waste disposal areas. - All culverts should be designed for a minimum 25-year storm frequency with an allowable head that does not overlap the roadway or cause damage. However, the minimum acceptable size culvert diameter is 18 inches. Show all culverts planned to accurate vertical scale on plan prole sheets. - Slope staking is required.
Generally, the survey requirements for these roads are similar to those for BLM resource and FS local roads. These roads, however, are designed for higher average daily trafc rates and greater speeds. Thus, in addition to agline and culvert survey requirements, an instrument or topographic survey with preliminary centerline staking and slope staking is usually required on steep terrain and in areas requiring special engineering. Specic survey requirements are available at the local ofce of the surface management agency.
Design Drawings and Templates
Generally, the required drawings for this road class would include a plan and prole (Figure 4). The drawing should identify grade, location, stationing, surfacing, turnouts, culvert locations, and drainage dip spacing. Standard templates of the proposed road crosssection(s) (Figures 2 and 3) and drainage dip design are required for this type of road. Additional information may be required in areas of environmental or engineering concern.
Construction
Drainage dips, construction, and spacing are the same as for BLM resource and FS local roads. Culvert cross-drains should be used in lieu of drainage dips for road grades in excess of 10 percent. Culvert installation is discussed in the Drainage and Drainage Structure Section.
28
Surface Operating Standards and Guidelines for Oil and Gas Exploration and Development
Complete plan and prole drawings are required for any BLM collector or FS arterial road (Figure 4). These drawings should identify grade, location, stationing, and all culvert sizes and locations (see Figure 7 for examples). Standard templates of road cross-sections, drainage design, and culvert location and installation are required (Examples in Figures 3 through 6). Mass diagrams and materials investigation and classication may be required.
Construction
Except for the specic items that follow, construction standards are given in the BLM Resource/FS Roads or the BLM Local/FS Collector Roads Sections. Construction shall be performed under the direction of a licensed, professional engineer as required by the BLM, or a qualied engineer for roads on FS lands. Excavation and ll construction will be performed to secure the greatest practicable degree of roadbed compaction and stability. Roadbed
materials shall be placed parallel to the axis of the roadway in even, continuous, approximately horizontal layers not more than 8 inches in thickness. The full cross-section of the ll must be maintained as each successive layer is placed. Place successive layers of material on embankment areas to produce the best practical distribution of the material. The materials throughout the roadbed shall be free from lenses, pockets, streaks, or layers of material differing substantially in texture, gradation, or compaction from the surrounding material. Ordinarily, stones coarser than a 3-inch-square mesh opening should be buried at least 4 inches below the nished surface of the roadway. The operator should route construction equipment over the layers of roadbed material already in place and distribute the gravel evenly over the entire width of the embankment to obtain maximum compaction while placing the material and to avoid uneven compaction anywhere along the travel route. Use excess excavation material, where practical, to improve the road grade line or to atten ll slopes. Other waste areas must be approved prior to placement of waste material.
5680
9. 3 0M 3 MI ILES LE RO TO AD
570
0 571
S 23
6 571
571
571 5716
5716
571
K = 15
5718
-2.64%
K = 22
5716
57 14
MP
5718
5716
200.00' V.C.
EL. 5,720.50
5726
5724
57
34
5732
57
30
Surface Operating Standards and Guidelines for Oil and Gas Exploration and Development
5738
5736
29
8+00
5734
57 40
5742
5738
0 +9.5
5736
7+00
5732
5730 5728
02.9 . 5+ Sta
K = 23
571
PC
Figure 4. Typical road plan and prole drawing for an oil and gas road.
56
+0.94%
5720
PT Sta. 3+02.04
3+00
57 2 0
18 57
5718
200.00' V.C.
EL. 5,722.70
57 14
3+00
S 6 56' 28" E PC Sta. 3+29.24
5722 5720
4+00
5718
5720
572 0
. 1+7 PC Sta
1.51
5718
18 57
5714
2" 33' 4
5718
5716
5706
57
12
5714
5712
16 57
0+14.18:18" x 80 CMP
1+00
5698
2 570
575702 57 00 04
570
5710 5708
5710
1+00
96
5700
5686
5684
56
.41% +10
5698
5694
5694
56
88
90
5,690 0+00
5696
5,694.07
5678
5706
5714
0
5710
E
5712
2+00
5714
N
2+00
8
5720
4+00
80.00' V.C.
57 18
6 571
3 a. 4
5+00
S 32
22
' 46
"E
5716
0 5+0
5720
5720
100
5722
6+00
%
5722
6+00
5724 5726
5728
200 300 75
7+00
8+00
30
Surface Operating Standards and Guidelines for Oil and Gas Exploration and Development
Road Maintenance
When required, the operator shall submit a road maintenance plan for all roads that will be constructed or used in conjunction with the drilling program. The maintenance plan will contain provisions for maintaining the traveled way, protection of the roadway features, requirements for road management, and the method to be used in carrying out maintenance activities. Maintenance activities normally required include monitoring, blading, surface replacement, dust abatement, spot repairs, slide removal, ditch cleaning, culvert cleaning, litter cleanup, noxious weed control, and snow removal. When applicable, specic areas shall be identied in the road maintenance plan for disposal of slide material, borrow or quarry sites, stockpiles, or other uses that are needed for the project. Key maintenance considerations include regular inspections; reduction of ruts and holes; maintenance
of crowns and outslopes to keep water off the road; replacement of surfacing materials; clearing of sediment blocking ditches and culverts; maintenance of interim reclamation; and noxious weed control. Conduct additional inspections following snowmelt or heavy or prolonged rainfall to look for drainage, erosion, or siltation problems. Blade only when necessary and avoid blading established grass and forb vegetation in ditches and adjacent to the road. Ensure that maintenance operators have proper training and understand the surface management agencys road maintenance objectives. Authorized users may perform their share of road maintenance, enter into road maintenance agreements administered by the users, or may be required to deposit sufcient funds with the surface management agency to provide for their share of maintenance. If the road has only one permitted user, other than incidental use by others, that user may have total responsibility for maintenance.
This example of interim road reclamation shows that reapplying topsoil and the regrowth of vegetation along the road borrow ditches of this resource road reduces the loss of forage, habitat, and sediment, decreases maintenance costs, and helps maintain the scenic quality.
Surface Operating Standards and Guidelines for Oil and Gas Exploration and Development
31
Drainage Structures Proper location and design can provide economical and efcient drainage in many cases. However, structural measures are often required to ensure proper and adequate drainage. Some of the most common structures are drainage dips, ditches, road crowning, culverts, and bridges.
Drainage Dips
The primary purpose of a drainage dip is to intercept and remove surface water from the travelway and shoulders before the combination of water volume and velocity begins to erode the surface materials. Drainage dips should not be confused with water bars, which are normally used for drainage and erosion protection of closed or blocked roads. See Figure 5 for an illustration of a typical drainage dip and construction specications. Spacing of drainage dips depends upon local conditions such as soil material, grade, and topography. The surface management agency should be consulted for spacing instructions.
Ditches
Surface drainage provides for the interception, collection, and removal of water from the surface of roads and slope areas. The design may need to allow for debris passage, mud ows, and water heavily laden with silt, sand, and gravel. Culverts should be designed in accordance with applicable practices adopted by State and Federal water quality regulators under authority of the Federal Clean Water Act (CWA). Culverts should accommodate a 10-year ood without development of a static head and avoid serious velocity damage from a 25-year ood.
Subsurface Road Drainage
The geometric design of ditches must consider the resource objectives for soil, water, and visual quality; maintenance capabilities and associated costs; and construction costs. Ditch grades should be no less than 0.5 percent to provide positive drainage and to avoid siltation. The types of ditches normally used are drainage, trap, interception, and outlet.
Road Crowning
Subsurface drainage is provided to intercept, collect, and remove groundwater that may ow into the base course and subgrade; to lower high water tables; or to drain locally saturated deposits or soils.
Roads that use crowning and ditching are common and can be used with all road classes, except non-constructed roads. This design provides good drainage of water from the surface of the road. Drainage of the inside ditch and sidehill runoff is essential if the travelway is to be kept dry and passable during wet weather.
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Surface Operating Standards and Guidelines for Oil and Gas Exploration and Development
road
channel grade greater than road grade
grad
60
a
h
b
d
road grade
Road Grade 2% 4% 6% 8%
Culverts are used in two applications: in streams and gullies to allow normal drainage to ow under the travelway and to drain inside road ditches. The latter may not be required if drainage dips are used. The location of culverts should be shown on the plan and prole or similar drawings or maps submitted with the APD. All culverts should be laid on natural ground or at the original elevation of any drainage crossed, except as noted for ditch relief culverts. See Figures 6 and 7 for installation details.
Culverts should have a minimum diameter of 18 inches. The diameter should be determined by the anticipated amount of water that would ow through the culvert. Factors to be considered include the geographic area being drained, soils and slopes in the drainage area, annual precipitation, and likely storm events. The outlet of all culverts should extend at least 1 foot beyond the toe of any slope. It may be necessary to install rip-rap or other energy dissipation devices at the outlet end of the culvert to prevent soil erosion or trap sediment (see example in the photograph).
Surface Operating Standards and Guidelines for Oil and Gas Exploration and Development
33
Properly sized rock rip-rap at culvert outlets helps reduce water velocity and resulting soil erosion.
310
260
200
400
325
250
All culverts used in the construction of access roads should be concrete, corrugated metal pipe made of steel, or properly bedded and backlled corrugated plastic pipe. Only undamaged culverts are to be used, and any culvert should be inspected for damage prior to installation. All spots on the pipes where the zinc coating has been injured should be painted with two coats of zinc-rich paint or otherwise repaired as approved by the surface management agency. Excavation, bedding, and backlling of culverts should be conducted according to requirements of the surface management agency and good engineering practices. Compliance with applicable Clean Water Act Best Management Practices and requirements for passage of aquatic species is required.
Ditch relief culverts are installed to periodically relieve the ditch line ow by piping water to the opposite side of the road where the ow can be dispersed away from the roadway. The spacing of ditch relief culverts (Figure 6) is dependent on the road gradient, soil types, and runoff characteristics. A culvert with an 18-inch diameter is the minimum for ditch relief to prevent failure from debris blockage. The depth of culvert burial must be sufcient to ensure protection of the culvert barrel for the design life of the culvert. This requires anticipating the amount of material that may be lost due to road use and erosion.
34
B + 1/3 H Line and grade shall be as shown on plans or as staked on the ground ground line impervious material 12" B + 1/3 H
select backfill graduation select backfill H=3' 0" min. water carrying strata sieve designation 3/4" No. 4 No. 16 No. 50 No. 100 D Place perforations on lower side of pipe B = D + 2' 0" percent passing 100 95100 4580 1080 210
6"
B = D + 2' 0"
Type 1
Perforated Underdrains
D
Type 2
slope as staked in narrow channels adjust to fit original stream banks natural ground D minimum 1' 0" or 1/3 D minimum 2' 0" or 1/3 D D = pipe diameter or span
2D
2D
inlet D outlet 2D
Front View
Side View
1/10 D
6"
In live fish bearing streams lower bottom of culvert 6" below natural channel surface
Type 1
1/2" per foot of fill above top pipe 12" minimum 24" maximum
Rock Foundation
normal road backslope elbow minimum 2' or 1 1/2 pipe diameters
6"
6"
15
normal road backslope
'm
axi
mu
Type 3
12' max. 115 1/10 dia. 56 road centerline skew 56 skew 115
Note: Bedding blanket to be suitable granular material roughly shaped to fit bottom of pipe
12' max.
select backfill
Provide 3 wraps of #9 galvanized wire around the pipe and around each post
side fill
2D
Skew Diagram
Sidefill
Note: Minimum cover for paved surface is 12" minimum cover for dirt surface is 18"
Surface Operating Standards and Guidelines for Oil and Gas Exploration and Development
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Ditch relief culverts can provide better ow when skewed with an entrance angle of 45 to 60 degrees with the side of the ditch. The culvert gradient should be greater than the approach ditch gradient. This improves the ow hydraulics and reduces siltation and debris plugging the culvert inlet. Culverts placed in natural drainages can also be used for ditch relief.
Bridges and Major Culverts
and should be installed with the owline below the standing water level at its lowest elevation. Special attention must be given to the selection of culvert materials that will resist corrosion.
Low-Water Crossings
Federal Highway Administration (FHA) regulations and BLM and FS road manuals require that on roads open to public travel, all bridges and culverts that in combination span at least 20 feet horizontal distance, must comply with the National Bridge Inspection and Reporting Standards. Thus, BLM and FS manuals require that all such facilities have engineering approval from Regional or State ofces. Operators are encouraged to prepare applications requiring major culverts or bridges to allow sufcient time for agency engineering evaluations. Construction of some stream crossings may require a Section 404 Corps of Engineers permit in addition to the approval of the surface management agency.
Wetland Crossings
Roads may cross small drainages and intermittent streams where culverts and bridges are unnecessary. The crossing can be effectively accomplished by dipping the road down to the bed of the drainage. Site-specic designs and the construction of gravel, rip-rap, or concrete bottoms may be required in some situations. In no case should the drainage be lled so that water will be impounded. Low-water crossings that are not surfaced should not be used in wet conditions. Lowwater crossings, in combination with culverts, may be utilized if the crossing is designed such that the structure is stable and self cleaning.
Subdrainage
Wetlands are especially sensitive areas and should be avoided, if possible. Generally, these areas require crossings that prevent unnatural uctuations in water level. Marshy and swampy terrain may contain bodies of water with no discernible current. The design of culverts for roads crossing these locations requires unique considerations. Construction of some wetland crossings may require a Section 404 Corps of Engineers permit in addition to the approval of the surface management agency. The culvert should be designed with a at grade so water can ow either way and maintain its natural water level on both sides. The culvert may become partially blocked by aquatic growth
If water is not removed from the subgrade or pavement structure, it may create instability, reduce load-bearing capacity, increase possible damage from frost action, and create a safety hazard by freezing on the road surface. Perforated pipe drains and associated lter fabric or aggregate lters may be used when necessary to provide subdrainage. Other methods may be approved by the authorized ofcer. Subdrainage systems may effectively reduce nal road costs by decreasing the depth of base course needed, thereby reducing subgrade widths. This, in turn, results in less clearing and excavation. Maintenance savings may also be realized as the result of a more stable subgrade. The solutions to subdrainage problems can be expensive. Road management techniques, such as reducing trafc loads or removing trafc until a subgrade dries out, may be considered as an alternative.
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Surface Operating Standards and Guidelines for Oil and Gas Exploration and Development
subsurface material. Bladed materials must be placed back into the cleared route upon completion of construction and returned back to the original contour before reapplying topsoil. Pipelines and owlines should be tested for leaks before backlling trenches. Pipeline trenches should be compacted during backlling. After construction, cut-and-ll slopes must be regraded to conform to the adjacent terrain and reclaimed. Pipeline rights-of-way must be maintained in order to correct backll settling and prevent erosion. Pipeline construction should not block, dam, or change the natural course of any drainage. Suspended pipelines should provide adequate clearance for high-ow events, oating debris, wildlife, or livestock. Pipelines buried across stream crossings should be buried below the scouring depth.
Surface Operating Standards and Guidelines for Oil and Gas Exploration and Development
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Surface Operating Standards and Guidelines for Oil and Gas Exploration and Development
No prior approval or subsequent report is required for operations such as well cleanout or routine operations. The required form for obtaining approval or reporting subsequent operations is Sundry Notices and Reports of Wells, Form 3160-5 (Appendix 2). For more detailed information on reporting requirements, refer to 43 CFR 3162.3-2. All wastes are to be treated or disposed of in an approved manner consistent with existing laws and regulations. Modications of production handling equipment may require the submittal of a new site facility diagram or may require a new site security plan.
than the fth business day after any well begins production anywhere on a lease site or allocated to a lease site, or resumes production in the case of a well that has been off production for more than 90 days as required by Onshore Order No. 4 for oil and Onshore Order No. 5 for gas.
Measurement of Production
All oil, other hydrocarbons, and gas produced from the leased lands are to be put in a marketable condition to the extent economically feasible. Oil production must be measured by tank gauging, positive displacement metering system, or other methods acceptable to the authorized ofcer. No oil is to be diverted to a pit except in emergency situations or with prior approval from the authorized ofcer. Oil in the pit must be recovered promptly, and the pit must be kept reasonably free from surface accumulations. Gas production must be measured by orice meters or other methods acceptable to the authorized ofcer. The aring or venting of gas from leasehold operations must meet the requirements of Notice to Lessee, NTL-4A: Royalty or Compensation for Oil and Gas Lost, or an applicable Onshore Oil and Gas Order.
Approval Procedures
For operations requiring prior approval by the surface management agency or the BLM, the operator must submit a Sundry Notice or APD, as applicable. With the appropriate form, a detailed written statement of the plan of work must be provided to the authorized ofcer. When additional surface disturbance is proposed that was not previously authorized for the well pad or right-of-way, a description of any subsequent new construction, reconstruction, or alteration of existing facilities, including roads, dam sites, owlines and pipelines, pits, tank batteries, or other production facilities on any lease, must be submitted to the authorized ofcer for environmental reviews and approval. On FS-administered lands, the BLM will coordinate with the FS to obtain its approval on surface disturbing activities. Emergency repairs may be conducted without prior approval provided the authorized ofcer is promptly notied. Emergency repairs are dened as actions that are necessary in order to avoid threats to human safety or the environment, or to prevent signicant loss of royalty income if such actions were delayed until prior approval could be given by the BLM authorized ofcer.
Surface Operating Standards and Guidelines for Oil and Gas Exploration and Development
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conform to approved construction requirements in accordance with Onshore Order No. 7, BLM Manual 9172, and applicable State agency requirements. Pits, water impoundments, and surface discharges that present a potential hazard to humans, livestock, wildlife, and other resources should be subject to appropriate mitigation, such as fencing, netting, caging, or covers, as appropriate. Refer to Figure 1 for exclosure fence construction standards.
prevent and control spills and the BLM, the surface management agency, and other applicable regulatory authorities must be consulted prior to treating or disposing of wastes and spills. Operators should become familiar with local surface management agency requirements for reporting and managing spills and leaks. Containment structures sufciently impervious to prevent a discharge to waters of the United States, such as containment dikes, containment walls, drip pans, or equivalent protection actions are to be constructed and maintained around all qualifying bulk oil storage facilities, including tank batteries, consistent with the Environmental Protection Agencys Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasure (SPCC) regulation (40 CFR 112). The containment structure must have sufcient volume to contain, at a minimum, the content of the largest storage tank containing liquid hydrocarbons within the facility/battery and sufcient freeboard to contain precipitation, unless more stringent protective requirements are deemed necessary by the authorized ofcer. Drip pans should be routinely checked and cleaned of petroleum or chemical discharges and designed to prevent access by wildlife and livestock. Containment dikes are not to be constructed with topsoil or coarse, insufciently impervious spoil material. Containment is strongly suggested for produced water tanks. Chemicals should be placed within secondary containment and stored
This central tank battery has been surrounded with a corrugated metal containment wall.
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Surface Operating Standards and Guidelines for Oil and Gas Exploration and Development
so that the containers are not in contact with soil or standing water and product and hazard labels are not exposed to weathering.
neighbors should be controlled to reduce sound levels. Suitable mufers should be installed on all internal combustion engines and certain compressor components. Other noise reduction techniques to consider include siting wells, production facilities, compressors, roads to take advantage of topography and distance, and constructing engineered sound barriers or sound-insulated buildings. The placement of tank batteries and other facilities offsite and the use of remote well monitoring systems can reduce vehicle trafc in the eld and the associated noise.
Visual/Scenic Resources
The operator must comply with the visual resource management objectives established in the land use plan for all activities that alter landforms, disturb vegetation, or require structures (BLM 8400 Manual Series). Site-specic mitigation practices may be required by the surface management agency to minimize visual impacts, while remaining consistent with the lessees right to conduct operations under the lease. A primary consideration is the selection of a paint color that allows longterm facilities to blend in with the natural landscape background. Other considerations in more visually sensitive areas may include the aesthetic siting of roads, well locations, and production facilities; avoiding straight roads; reducing unnecessary
Noise Control
Noise that has the potential to disturb wildlife, livestock, and private surface owners or
This pumping unit has been painted a color that helps it blend in with the surrounding juniper tree screening.
Surface Operating Standards and Guidelines for Oil and Gas Exploration and Development
41
disturbance; modifying production facility or well pad shape or size; using low-prole or below ground pumping units and low-prole tanks; avoiding the placement of tanks on the ridgeline; manipulating vegetation to feather straight edges; using naturallooking earthwork berms or vegetative screening; and completing interim reclamation of disturbed areas.
Painting of Facilities
All long-term facility structures should be painted a color that enables the facilities to blend with the natural background color of the landscape as seen from a viewing distance and location typically used by the public. The selected color should be one or two shades darker than the dominant background color, typically a vegetation color. In visually sensitive areas, the use of properly chosen camouage techniques may be an appropriate method for matching the texture of the landscape. Semi-gloss paints may be preferred because of their resistance to staining and weathering. Where necessary, the use of contrasting safety paint can be used to highlight and mitigate a potential hazard, such as a tripping hazard or protruding or mechanical edge that could harm the operator or public.
maximum interim recontouring and revegetation of the well location. Consider centralizing production facilities offsite in an area that is out of important wildlife habitat or is screened from view by vegetation or topography. It is often possible to eliminate the need to construct all-weather roads to each individual well by instead constructing one all-weather access road to a centralized production facility closer to the main access road.
Surface Operating Standards and Guidelines for Oil and Gas Exploration and Development
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44
Surface Operating Standards and Guidelines for Oil and Gas Exploration and Development
listed noxious weeds, oil eld debris, contaminated soil, and equipment. The operator should inform the surface management agency that reclamation has been completed and that the site is ready for nal inspection when these requirements have been met.
Reclamation Plan
A reclamation plan is included in the Surface Use Plan of Operations and should discuss plans for both interim and nal reclamation. Reclamation is required of any disturbed surface that is not necessary for continued production operations. The operator should submit a new reclamation plan with the Notice of Intent to Abandon (NIA) or Subsequent Report Plug and Abandon (SRA) using the Sundry Notices and Reports on Wells Form 3160-5 when abandoning wells and other facilities that do not have an approved reclamation plan or when the operator would like to update the plan. The BLM will forward the request to the FS or other surface management agency as appropriate. Additional reclamation measures may be required based on the conditions existing at the time of abandonment and made a part of the conditions of approval of the NIA or SRA. Earthwork for interim and nal reclamation generally must be completed within 6 months of well completion or plugging (weather permitting). The following information includes components of the reclamation plan. Plugging the Well Well abandonment operations may not be started without the prior approval of the Sundry Notices and Reports on Wells, Form 3160-5, by the authorized ofcer. The Sundry Notice serves as the operators NIA. In the case of newly drilled dry holes, failures, and emergency situations, oral approval may be obtained from the authorized ofcer subject to written conrmation. The operator must contact the BLM prior to plugging a well to allow for approval and witnessing of the plugging operations. Pit Reclamation All pits must be reclaimed to a safe and stable condition and restored to a condition that blends with the rest of the reclaimed pad area. If it was necessary to line the pit with a synthetic liner, the
pit must not be breached (cut) or lled (squeezed) while still containing uids. Pits must be free of oil and other liquid and solid wastes prior to lling. Pits may be allowed to air dry or may be solidied in place with BLM or FS approval. The pit liner must be removed to the solids level or treated to prevent its reemergence to the surface or its interference with long-term successful revegetation. If necessary, the pit area should usually be mounded slightly to allow for settling and positive surface drainage. The concentration of nonexempt hazardous substances in the reserve pit at the time of pit backlling must not exceed the standards set forth in the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 (CERCLA), 42 USC 9605, as amended by the Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act of 1986 (SARA), PL 99-499. All oil and gas drilling-related CERCLA hazardous substances removed from a location and not reused at another drilling location must be disposed of in accordance with applicable Federal and State regulations. {(Refer to 42 USC 9601(14)(Denition of hazardous substances); 42 USC 6921(2)(A)(exclusion of certain wastes associated with exploration and production); EPA 530-95-003, Crude Oil and Natural Gas Exploration and Production Wastes: Exemption from RCRA Subtitle C Regulation (May 1995)}. Site Preparation and Revegetation Disturbed areas should be revegetated after the site has been satisfactorily prepared. Site preparation will include respreading topsoil to an adequate depth, and may also include ripping, tilling, disking on contour, and dozer track-imprinting. The operator will usually be advised of the revegetation methods, objectives, and seasons to plant, unless this information is included in the Application for Permit to Drill (APD) reclamation plan. Native perennial species or other plant materials specied by the surface management agency or private surface owner will be used. Seeding should be accomplished by drilling on the contour whenever practical or by other approved methods such as dozer trackwalking followed by broadcast seeding. Seeding or planting may need to be repeated until revegetation is successful, as determined by the surface management agency.
Surface Operating Standards and Guidelines for Oil and Gas Exploration and Development
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When conditions are not favorable for the establishment of vegetation, such as periods of drought or the lack of sufcient salvaged topsoil, the surface management agency may allow for subsequent reseedings to be delayed until soil moisture conditions become favorable or may require additional cultural techniques such as mulching, fertilizing, irrigating, fencing, or other practices. It is the operators responsibility to monitor the site, take the necessary steps to ensure reclamation success, and to notify the surface management agency when success is achieved. Reclamation is most effective when the ecology of the site is considered. The previous plant community or potential plant community native to the site should be identied to help determine the plant communities that can exist on the reclaimed site. Revegetation efforts will be hampered and costs increased if the site contains conditions detrimental to revegetation, such as heavy grazing pressure, insufcient salvaged topsoil, erosion, and compacted or contaminated soil. (Refer to Figure 1 for exclosure fence standards.) Additional Guidelines Supplemental guidelines and methods may be available that reect local site and geographic conditions. These guidelines or methods may be obtained from the local surface management agency. Technical advances in reclamation practices are continually being developed that may be successfully applied to lands affected by oil and gas development.
other erosion control devices must be maintained and repaired as necessary. Following successful revegetation, surviving waterbars must be attened to blend with the slope and then revegetated. If berms of topsoil were originally placed over the trench to accommodate settling, the surviving berms should also be attened to blend with the surrounding landform and revegetated. Final abandonment of pipelines and owlines will involve ushing and properly disposing of any uids in the lines. All surface lines and any lines that are buried close to the surface that may become exposed due to water or wind erosion, soil movement, or anticipated subsequent use, must be removed. Deeply buried lines may remain in place unless otherwise directed by the authorized ofcer.
46
Surface Operating Standards and Guidelines for Oil and Gas Exploration and Development
soils, the operator or surface management agency may prefer that vegetation and topsoil be removed during workover operations and restored following operations to prevent soil compaction. To reduce nal reclamation costs; maintain healthy, biologically active topsoil; and to minimize habitat, visual, and forage loss during the life of the well, all salvaged topsoil should be spread over the area of interim reclamation, rather than stockpiled. Where the topography is at and it is, therefore, unnecessary to recontour the well location
at the time of nal reclamation, the operator may set aside sufcient topsoil for nal reclamation of the small, unreclaimed area around the wellhead. Any topsoil pile set aside should be revegetated to prevent it from eroding and to help maintain its biological viability. On sloped ground, during nal reclamation, the topsoil and interim vegetation must be restripped from portions of the site that are not at the original contour, the well pad recontoured, and the topsoil respread over the entire disturbed site to ensure successful revegetation.
During the start of well production, this well pad was recontoured, revegetated, and shaped to blend in with the surrounding natural forest openings. Well production facilities were constructed off-site and out of view.
Final Reclamation Following well plugging, well sites that do not blend seamlessly with the surrounding landform (contour) should not be left in place, even if there has been successful regrowth of vegetation on the site. Revegetation alone does not constitute successful reclamation. Restoration of the original
landform is a key element in ensuring that the effects of oil and gas development are not permanent. To achieve nal reclamation of a recently drilled dry hole, the well site must be recontoured to original contour or a contour that blends with the surrounding landform, stockpiled topsoil evenly
Surface Operating Standards and Guidelines for Oil and Gas Exploration and Development
47
redistributed, and the site revegetated. To achieve nal reclamation of a formerly producing well, all topsoil and vegetation must be restripped from all portions of the old well site that were not previously reshaped to blend with the surrounding contour. All disturbed areas are then recontoured back to the original contour or a contour that blends with the surrounding landform, topsoil is redistributed, and the site revegetated. In recontouring areas that have been surfaced with gravel or similar materials, the material must be removed from the well location or buried deep in the recontoured cut to prevent possible surface exposure. All excavations and pits must be closed by backlling when they are dry and free of waste and graded to conform to the surrounding terrain. Salvaged topsoil must be respread evenly over the surfaces to be revegetated. The topsoiled site should be prepared to provide a seedbed for reestablishment of desirable vegetation. Site preparation may include gouging, scarifying, dozer track-walking, mulching, fertilizing, seeding, and planting. Water breaks and terracing should only be installed when absolutely necessary to prevent erosion of ll material and should be removed when the site is successfully revegetated and stabilized.
Road Reclamation
Interim reclamation consists of reclaiming portions of the road not needed for vehicle travel. Wherever possible, cut slopes, ll slopes, and borrow ditches should be covered with topsoil and revegetated to restore habitat, forage, scenic resources, and to reduce soil erosion and maintenance costs. At abandonment, roads must be reclaimed by the operator unless the surface management agency or surface owner requests that they be left unreclaimed. Final reclamation includes recontouring the road back to the original contour, seeding, controlling noxious weeds, and may also include other techniques to improve reclamation success, such as ripping, scarifying, replacing topsoil, constructing waterbars, pitting, mulching, redistributing woody debris, and barricading. Seeds of native, perennial species or other plant materials specied by the surface management agency or surface owner must be used. If waterbars were used, they should be removed and seeded following successful revegetation.
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Surface Operating Standards and Guidelines for Oil and Gas Exploration and Development
The well pad and access road are constructed to the minimum size necessary to safely conduct drilling and completion operations.
The well pad and access road have been recontoured back to the original contour, the topsoil respread, and the site revegetated.
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reclamation operations, which indicates that the site meets reclamation objectives and is ready for inspection. Upon receipt of the Final Abandonment Notice, the surface management agency will inspect the site to ensure reclamation is fully successful. The BLM must approve the Final Abandonment Notice, even when the surface is managed by another surface management agency. Final abandonment will not be approved by the BLM until the surface reclamation work required by the APD, Notice of Intent to Abandon, or Subsequent Report Plug and Abandon has been completed and the required reclamation is acceptable to the surface management agency. The operator is responsible for monitoring reclamation progress and taking the necessary actions to ensure success.
Release of Bonds
If the well and associated facilities are covered by an individual lease bond, the period of liability on that bond can be terminated once the nal abandonment has been approved. The principal (operator or lessee) can request termination of the period of liability from the BLM State Ofce holding the bond. If the well is covered by a statewide or nationwide bond, termination of the period of liability of these bonds is not approved until nal abandonment of all activities conducted under the bond have been approved. The operator may r equest termination of the bond on the Final Abandonment Notice.
Surface Operating Standards and Guidelines for Oil and Gas Exploration and Development
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Chapter 7 Appeals
Maintaining successful working relationships can be accomplished by keeping the lines of communication open. In most cases, up-front and frequent phone calls, e-mails, meetings, and eld tours can generate understanding, lead to agreement, and eliminate the delay, cost, and frustration of the administrative appeals process.
Use Plan of Operations (SUPO) and Special Use Authorization (SUA) approvals based on analysis, documentation, and other requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) are subject to agency appeal procedures under 36 CFR 215. Decisions solely affecting the business relationship between the FS and holders of written instruments regarding occupancy and use of National Forest System lands can be appealed by permit holders under 36 CFR part 251, subpart C, or under 36 CFR 215, but not under both regulations. Appeals under either 36 CFR 215 or 251 must be led within 45 days of the date of written notice of the decision being appealed. Generally, a response to appeals will be issued within 30 days following the close of the appeal period for appeals led under 36 CFR 251, and within 45 days following the close of the appeal period for appeals led under 36 CFR 215.
Surface Operating Standards and Guidelines for Oil and Gas Exploration and Development
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CERCLA - Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 CEQ - Council on Environmental Quality CFR - Code of Federal Regulations CMP - Corrugated Metal Pipe COA - Condition of Approval CWA - Clean Water Act EPA - Environmental Protection Agency ESA - Endangered Species Act FAN - Final Abandonment Notice FHA - Federal Highway Administration FWS - Fish and Wildlife Service FS - Forest Service MLA - Mineral Leasing Act MMS - Minerals Management Service
SARA - Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act of 1986 SDR - State Director Review SMA - Surface Management Agency, (includes SHPO - State Historic Preservation Ofcer only Federal agencies with land management responsibilities) SN - Sundry Notice SPCC - Spill Prevention, Control, and SRA - Subsequent Report Plug and Abandon SUA - Special Use Authorization SWD - Salt Water Disposal UA - Unit Agreement USDI - United States Department of the Interior
Countermeasure
NEPA - National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 NFS - National Forest System NIA - Notice of Intent to Abandon NOC - Notice of Completion NHPA - National Historic Preservation Act
USDA - United States Department of Agriculture USGS - United States Geological Survey
Surface Operating Standards and Guidelines for Oil and Gas Exploration and Development
55
Anchorage
LEGEND
Bureau of Land Management State Offices Bureau of Land Management State Office Boundaries Forest Service Regional Offices Forest Service Regional Boundaries
Boise
Reno
Springfield
Pacic Southwest Region 1323 Club Drive Eastern Region Vallejo, CA 94592 626 East Wisconsin Ave. 707-562-8737 Milwaukee, WI 53202 414-297-3600 Pacic Northwest Region P.O. Box 3623 Alaska Region Portland, OR 97208 P.O. Box 21628 503-808-2468 Juneau, AK 99802 907-586-8806
Surface Operating Standards and Guidelines for Oil and Gas Exploration and Development
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59
60
61
2. Name, Address, and Telephone of Operator 3. Name and Telephone of Specific Contact Person 4. Surface Location of Well Attach: (a) Sketch showing road entry onto pad, pad dimensions, and reserve pit (b) Topographical or other acceptable map showing location, access road, and lease boundaries 4a. A map (e.g., a USGS 7-1/2" Quadrangle) of the area including the proposed well location and access road 5. Lease Number 6. If Indian, Allottee or Tribe Name 12. County, Parish, or Borough 7. Unit Agreement Name 13. State 8. Well Name and Number 14. Name and Depth of Formation Objective(s) 9. American Petroleum Institute Well Number (if available) 10. Field Name or Wildcat 15. Estimated Well Depth 16. For directional or horizontal wells, anticipated bottom hole location, if known 11. Section, Township, Range, Meridian; or Block and Survey; or Area
17. Additional Information (as appropriate; include surface owner's name, address and, if known, telephone).
18. Signed
Title
Date
Note: When the Bureau of Land Management or Forest Service, as appropriate, receives this Notice, the agency will schedule the date of the onsite inspection. You must stake the location and flag the access road before the onsite inspection. Operators should consider the following before the onsite inspection and incorporate these considerations into the Notice of Staking Option, as appropriate: (a) H2S Potential (b) Cultural Resources (Archeology) (c) Federal Right-of-Way or Special Use Permit
62
63
64
65
Other Federal, State, and Local Government Agencies Notified and Date(s) Location: State 1/4 Operator: Surface Ownership [Federal (FS, BLM, Other), Indian, Fee, State]: Lease Number: Type of Event: Unit Name or C.A. Number Blowout, Fire, Fatality, Injury, Property Damage, Oil Spill, Saltwater Spill, Toxic Fluid Spill, Oil and Saltwater Spill, Oil and Toxic Fluid Spill, Saltwater and Toxic Fluid Spill, Gas Venting, or Other (Specify) 1/4 Section T. County , R. ; Meridian
Cause of Event: Volumes of Pollutants I. Discharged or Consumed: II. Recovered: Time Required to Control Event (in hours): Action Taken to Control Event, Description of Resultant Damage, Clean-up Procedures, and Dates:
Cause and Extent of Personnel Injury: Sensitive Areas or Surface Waters Potentially Affected: Action Taken or Planned to Clean Up and Prevent Recurrence:
General Remarks: Signature Title FOR BLM OR FS USE ONLY District Optional Date of Onsite Inspection Date Reported to BLM or FS Event Classification Remarks Date
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Operators are encouraged to substitute less toxic, yet equally effective products for conventional drilling products. All spills or leakages of oil, gas, salt water, toxic liquids or waste materials, blowouts, res, personal injuries, and fatalities shall be reported by the operator to the BLM and the surface management agency in accordance with the requirements of Notice to Lessees NTL-3A; Reporting of Undesirable Events,and in accordance with any applicable local requirements. The BLM requires immediate reporting of all Class I major events, such as spills of more than 100 barrels of uid/500 MCF of gas released; res that consume 100 bbl or more oil or 500 MCF gas; life threatening or fatal injury/loss of well control; release of reportable quantities of hazardous substances; spill, venting, or re in sensitive areas, such as parks, recreation sites, wildlife refuges, lakes, reservoirs, streams, and urban or suburban areas. Volumes discharged during any of the above incidents will be estimated as necessary. Operators must take immediate action to prevent and control spills and the BLM, the surface management agency, and other applicable regulatory authorities must be consulted prior to treating or disposing of wastes and spills. Operators should become familiar with local surface management agency requirements for reporting and managing spills and leaks.
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The mention of company names, trade names, or commercial products does not constitute endorsement or recommendation for use by the Federal Government.