62C-26.008. Operating Applications

All required forms are incorporated by reference in Rule 62C-25.008, F.A.C.

(1) Before any company may use a well for its intended purpose (produce oil, dispose of saltwater, inject fluids for pressure maintenance, hold for future use, etc.), it must first obtain a permit to operate that well. For purposes of this rule, existing permits authorizing operators to conduct these activities shall be considered new operating permits coinciding with the effective date of this rule.

(2) Operating Permits shall be valid for the life of the well so long as the operator complies with the conditions of the permit and these rules. However, each operating well and permit must be re-certified every five years from the permit date. Operators wishing to continue operations beyond that time must request re-certification no later than 90 days prior to the end of the permit term. The Department shall complete field and file inspection reviews within 90 days following receipt of a request for re-certification and verify that operators have and are complying with all applicable Department rules. Should any discrepancies arise, operators will be given an opportunity for correction pursuant to Rules 62C-25.007 and 62C-25.0075, F.A.C. If the operating permit is not re-certified, no further operation shall be authorized on the well site other than those operations which are necessary to plug, abandon, and restore the well site.

(3) Each new application and subsequent re-certification for an operating permit shall consist of the following:

(a) Oil & Gas Form 14, Application For Permit to Operate Well;

(b) Application fee of $2,000;

(c) Continued or Revised bond or security coverage (Rule 62C-26.002, F.A.C.), as appropriate;

(d) New or revised Spill Prevention and Clean Up Plan (Rule 62C-28.004, F.A.C.), as appropriate;

(e) New or revised Flowline specifications and installation plan (Rule 62C-28.015, F.A.C.), as appropriate;

(f) Secondary Containment Facility Certification (subsection 62C-28.004(4), F.A.C.), if not already on file and current;

(4) An Operating Permit shall not be issued by the Department unless all reporting and data submission requirements have been met. These requirements are:

(a) Oil & Gas Form 8, Well Record with driller’s log (Rule 62C-27.002, F.A.C.);

(b) Oil & Gas Form 9, Well Completion Report (Rule 62C-28.010, F.A.C.);

(c) Oil & Gas Form 10, Monthly Well Production and Test Report (Rules 62C-25.004, 62C-28.011, and 62C-28.013, F.A.C.). Test oil should also be reported on Oil & Gas Form 10.

(d) Oil & Gas Form 10A, Monthly Injection Well Report (Rule 62C-28.013, F.A.C.);

(e) Copies of all mud logs, well logs, samples, cores, core analysis reports, and directional surveys (Rule 62C-27.002, F.A.C.).

(5) The Department shall inspect all wells, flowlines, and facilities during construction and again when applicants seek re-certifications for their operating permits.

(6) A new operating permit shall not be required to change an operator of record (Oil & Gas Form 3A; Rule 62C-26.006, F.A.C.).

(7) Subsection 62C-27.001(2), F.A.C., Continuous Operations, shall apply equally to existing wells for which operating permits have been granted.

Rulemaking Authority 377.22 FS. Law Implemented 377.21, 377.22, 377.24, 377.245, 377.27 FS. History–New 5-12-93, Formerly 16C-26.008, Amended 3-24-96.