Fountain Valley Municipal Code Ch. 16.20 Abandonment Procedure

It shall be the responsibility of the superintendent to determine that the drill site and all facilities pertinent thereto have been restored to their original condition as nearly as practicable in conformity with the regulations of this title including the requirements in this chapter.

(Ord. 27, 1959)

It shall be the responsibility of the operator to comply with the abandonment provision of this title and he shall furnish the superintendent the approval of the division of oil and gas, department of natural resources, confirming compliance with all abandonment proceedings under the state laws.

It shall be the responsibility of the operator to comply with the abandonment provision of this title and he shall furnish the superintendent with (1) a copy of the approval of division of oil and gas, department of natural resources, confirming compliance with all abandonment proceeding under the state law, and (2) a notice of intention to abandon under the provisions of this section and stating the date such work will be commenced. Abandonment may then be commenced on or subsequent to the date so stated.

Abandonment shall be approved by the superintendent after restoration of the drill site and the subsurface thereof has been accomplished in conformity with the following requirements:

(1) The derrick and all appurtenant equipment thereto shall be removed from the drill site;

(2) All tanks, towers and other surface installations shall be removed from the drill site;

(3) All concrete, pipe, wood and other foreign materials shall be removed from the drill site to a depth of six feet below grade, unless part of a multiwell cellar, then being used in connection with any other well for which a permit has been issued;

(4) The oil well casing shall be cut off at a point six feet below the drill site grade at the cellar, but in no case below sea level. Nothing shall be placed in the hole above the point of cut-off until the cut-off has been inspected by the superintendent and by him found to be in compliance with all applicable provisions of law;

(5) The top ten feet of the remaining casing shall be filled with a cement plug to prevent gas fumes from escaping;

(6) A steel cap of not less than the same thickness as the well casing shall be tack welded to the casing in a minimum of four places;

(7) All holes and depressions shall be filled and packed with native earth. All oil, waste oil, refuse or waste material shall be removed from the drill site.

(Ord. 27, 1959)

A well may be converted to a domestic or agricultural water well upon the approval of the superintendent after:

(1) A request in writing by the land owner has been made to the superintendent;

(2) An original or certified copy of the approved conversion permit from the division of oil and gas has been furnished the superintendent;

(3) All the provisions of abandonment in the preceding paragraph have been complied with except that those appurtenances necessary in the opinion of the superintendent for the operation of a water well may be retained.

(Ord. 27, 1959)