Code of Federal Regulations Title 30. Mineral Resources § 30.250.421 What are the casing and cementing requirements by type of casing string?

(a) Drive or Structural

Set by driving, jetting, or drilling to the minimum depth as approved or prescribed by the District Manager

If you drilled a portion of this hole, you must use enough cement to fill the annular space back to the mudline.

(b) Conductor

Design casing and select setting depths based on relevant engineering and geologic factors. These factors include the presence or absence of hydrocarbons, potential hazards, and water depths

Use enough cement to fill the calculated annular space back to the mudline.

Set casing immediately before drilling into formations known to contain oil or gas. If you encounter oil or gas or unexpected formation pressure before the planned casing point, you must set casing immediately and set it above the encountered zone

Verify annular fill by observing cement returns. If you cannot observe cement returns, use additional cement to ensure fill-back to the mudline.

For drilling on an artificial island or when using a well cellar, you must discuss the cement fill level with the District Manager.

(c) Surface

Design casing and select setting depths based on relevant engineering and geologic factors. These factors include the presence or absence of hydrocarbons, potential hazards, and water depths

Use enough cement to fill the calculated annular space to at least 200 feet measured depth (MD) inside the conductor casing.

When geologic conditions such as near-surface fractures and faulting exist, you must use enough cement to fill the calculated annular space to the mudline.

(d) Intermediate

Design casing and select setting depth based on anticipated or encountered geologic characteristics or wellbore conditions

Use enough cement to cover and isolate all hydrocarbon-bearing zones and isolate abnormal pressure intervals from normal pressure intervals in the well.

As a minimum, you must cement the annular space 500 feet MD above the casing shoe and 500 feet MD above each zone to be isolated.

(e) Production

Design casing and select setting depth based on anticipated or encountered geologic characteristics or wellbore conditions

Use enough cement to cover or isolate all hydrocarbon-bearing zones above the shoe.

As a minimum, you must cement the annular space at least 500 feet MD above the casing shoe and 500 feet MD above the uppermost hydrocarbon-bearing zone.

(f) Liners

If you use a liner as surface casing, you must set the top of the liner at least 200 feet MD above the previous casing/liner shoe.

Same as cementing requirements for specific casing types. For example, a liner used as intermediate casing must be cemented according to the cementing requirements for intermediate casing.

If you use a liner as an intermediate string below a surface string or production casing below an intermediate string, you must set the top of the liner at least 100 feet MD above the previous casing shoe.

You may not use a liner as conductor casing.

A subsea well casing string whose top is above the mudline and that has been cemented back to the mudline will not be considered a liner.