During an open hearing held Friday, May 24, the Texas Railroad Commission (RRC) approved amendments to Statewide Rule 13, which relates to casing, cementing, drilling and completion requirements in the state of Texas.
The Commission, which first published proposed rule changes on September 7, 2012, accepted public feedback on the revisions earlier this year, in an effort to shape the rule into something that is achievable and manageable for the oil and gas industry.
Changes to the statewide rule will include:
• Cement sheath thickness
• Drilling fluid program
• Isolation of certain productive zones
• Testing of surface casing before and after drill-out
• Notice to district office regarding surface casing set deeper than 3,500 feet
• Cement specification, quality and requirements
• Additional requirements for wells to be hydraulically fractured
• Minimum separation wells to be hydraulically fractured
• Well control and blowout preventer pipeline shut-off valve requirements