If such proposed well is located within the limits directly adjacent to mining operations, such limits to be determined by the industrial commission of Ohio, division of mines, the application for permit must be accompanied by a map showing the location of the proposed well and answering the requirements in the preceding regulations for mapping.
When well is not adjacent to mine.
If such proposed well is not located within the limits directly adjacent to mining operations, but within the limits of any coal producing or coal bearing township, the industrial commission of Ohio, division of mines, shall grant a permit immediately upon receipt of the application, providing the applicant is a responsible person, firm or corporation. The industrial commission of Ohio, division of mines, may at any time after the well is commenced, if the responsibility of the applicant or operator is considered doubtful, cause such operator or applicant to show proper guaranty of his intention to fulfill the requirements of the section, or cause all operations to cease forthwith. If any person, firm or corporation continue drilling on property already surveyed in accordance with the preceding requirements, a complete blue print or copy of map shall be made at the end of each year ending June 30th, showing the additional wells properly surveyed by a competent engineer as above mentioned, and filed with the industrial commission of Ohio, division of mines, not later than the following first of September.
When well is to be abandoned owner shall give notice.
When any oil well, gas well or test well is to be abandoned, the person, firm or corporation owning such well shall notify the industrial commission of Ohio, division of mines, or the deputy oil and gas well inspector of the district in which the well is located, as many days in advance as will be necessary for the inspector to arrange to be present at such abandonment. No well shall be abandoned without an inspector being present, unless permission has been first granted upon good cause shown, by the industrial commission of Ohio, division of mines.
Method of plugging well.
When any oil well, gas well or test well is to be abandoned, it must first be plugged in some secure manner above the oil or gas sand or rock formation, either by placing or driving one or more good seasoned wooden plugs, or a lead plug, as the case may require, so that no gas or oil may escape, or any water or destructive matter force itself into the oil or gas sand, or rock formation. Upon such seasoned wooden plug or plugging material shall be filled at least thirty feet of cement properly mixed with sand, or thirty feet of good clay or rock sediment properly prepared.
If any well has passed through a workable vein or seam of coal, it shall when it is abandoned be plugged in the following manner: A seasoned wooden plug shall be driven to a point thirty feet below the lowest workable seam of coal and the hole filled with cement to a point at least twenty feet above this seam of coal, at which point another wooden plug shall be placed and the hole filled for a distance of twenty feet with cement or properly prepared clay, or rock sediment. If there is more than one seam of coal the next seam above must be plugged off in like manner.
When well penetrates the excavations of any mine.
In the event that a well being drilled penetrates the excavations of any mine, it must be cased with casing of approximately the same diameter as the diameter of the hole, the hole to be drilled thirty feet or to solid slate or rock and not less than ten feet below the floor of such mine, and the casing shall be placed in the following manner: One string of casing shall be placed at a point above the roof of said mine so as to shut off all of the surface water; then the hole drilled through said mine and another string of casing put in. The bottom of the second string of casing, or the one passing through said mine, shall not be nearer than ten feet, or more than thirty feet from the floor of the mine where it passes through the same.