Section 240.1360  Operational Requirements Over Active Mine

a)         Mining Board to Determine Safety Factors

1)         No well shall be drilled into any coal mine or mine workings in any active mine until the Mining Board representative is present and determines that the mine or mine workings are safe.

2)         Until the Mining Board representative is satisfied that adequate protection has been provided so that no hazard exists, drilling operation shall be suspended.  After any protective or corrective work, required by the Mining Board representative, has been satisfactorily completed by the well owner, manager or his or her representative, drilling operations may be ordered resumed; but if, in the opinion of the Mining Board representative it is impossible to adequately protect the mine or mine workings, he or she shall order the permit revoked and the well plugged in the manner provided in this Section.

b)         Drilling Methods and Procedure

1)         Notice

            The permittee is required to notify the mine owner at least 24 hours prior to drilling to the depth of the mine.

2)         General

            All wells drilled through an active coal mine or through an abandoned portion of an active mine shall:

A)        be located, if possible, in order to pass through an adequate pillar;

B)        first have at least 100 feet of conductor pipe set and cemented with a blowout preventer attached prior to drilling to the depth of the mine.  After the conductor pipe has been set and the blowout preventer has been installed, all further drilling shall be completed through the blowout preventer; and

C)        during drilling operations, be continuously monitored by a methane gas detector that is properly calibrated and in proper working order to ensure the methane concentration in the work area remains less than 3%.  If the methane concentration in the work area reaches 3%, drilling operations shall cease immediately and shall not resume until corrective actions have been taken and the methane concentration in the work area has been reduced to less than 3%.

3)         Mine Protective String

A)        Whether drilled through a pillar or not, a mine string or casing of good quality shall be set to protect the mine.  The mine string shall be treated with a heavy impervious coating of asphalt, plastic, or other acid-resisting material from 50 feet above the mine roof to a point 50 feet below the mine floor or base of coal seam.

B)        The outside diameter of the mine string shall be at least 4 inches smaller than the diameter of the well bore and equipped with centralizers or similar mechanical device above and below the coal seam. The mine string shall be set at an approximate depth of 50 feet below the base of the coal seam and cemented from the casing seat to the surface.

C)        If the mine string misses a pillar and is set through an open room of an active mine or the abandoned portion of an active mine, an umbrella, basket, or packer must be used on the mine string to set above the mine roof and the mine string shall be cemented from the casing seat to the mine floor and also cemented from the umbrella, basket, or packer set above the mine roof to the surface.

4)         Cementing Oil String

A)        The outside diameter of the oil string shall be at least 3 inches smaller than the inside diameter of the mine string when set through a pillar, and the outside diameter of the oil string shall be at least 4 inches smaller than the mine string when set through an open room and equipped with centralizers, or similar mechanical devices, immediately above and below the coal seam.  The centralizers shall be so spaced as to be within the mine string of casing.

B)        The oil string shall be surrounded with cement from the casing shoe to the surface, or the oil string may be cemented using multiple-stage cementing tools, as provided in subsection (b)(4)(C) and (D).

C)        When the multiple-stage cementing method is used at least 100 sacks of cement shall be placed around the casing shoe and the multiple-stage cementing tool placed 100 feet below the floor of the mine and cemented from that point to the surface.

D)        In areas where thief zones or high permeability horizons occur below the level of the mine, the Mining Board may require multiple-stage cementing tools to be used in the cementing of the oil string in order to assure protection for the mine.

5)         Temperature Survey Required

            When drilling through mined out areas that are not accessible, and, if, in the opinion of the Mining Board representative, it is necessary, a self-registering thermometer shall be lowered to the mined out level and, if the recorded temperature shows the possibility of fire at or near the position of the hole, the drilling permit shall be revoked and the hole plugged, as required in this Section.

c)         Shooting Wells Over Active Mine or Worked Out Portions of Active Mines

1)         Shot Less Than 50 Quarts

            When any well is located over or penetrates an active mine or worked out portions of an active mine, before shooting the oil-bearing formation, the well owner or manager shall proceed as follows:

A)        Notify the Mining Board or Mining Board representative at least 24 hours in advance of the time the shot is to be fired.

B)        Notify the mining company at least 24 hours in advance of the time the shot is to be fired.

C)        Tamp the shot with a minimum of 60 feet of tamp, at least the top 30 feet of which shall be of impervious material, being sure that the top of the tamp extends to a place in the hole opposite solid rock formation.  Fill the hole to the top with fluid of consistent viscosity and specific gravity.

2)         Shot of 50 Quarts or More

            When the charge consists of 50 quarts or more of nitroglycerin:

A)        Apply to the Mining Board for permission to shoot, indicating the size of charge to be used.

B)        In the absence of written authority from the coal company of the specific shot, the Mining Board shall:

i)          Immediately upon receipt of the application, notify the coal company, indicating the location of the well and the size of the charge to be used.

ii)         If no objection is filed by the coal company within 24 hours, the Mining Board shall give permission to fire the shot.

iii)        If the coal company objects, the Mining Board shall, within 24 hours after receipt of the objection, set the matter for hearing and determination in the county where the well is located.

d)         Extend the tamp with impervious material 10 feet beyond the minimum tamp of 60 feet for each additional 10 quarts of charge used, being sure that the top of the tamp extends to a place in the solid rock formation.  Fill the hole to the top with fluid of consistent viscosity and specific gravity.

(Source:  Amended at 35 Ill. Reg. 13281, effective July 26, 2011)