Any person who drills a well within the limits of a mining operation shall give consideration for the safety of the personnel working in the mine, and, if possible, shall locate the well so as to penetrate a pillar.

If a well is to be drilled within the limits of a mining operation that may penetrate the excavation of a mine, the hole shall be reduced approximately fifteen feet above the roof of the mine. If roof conditions at the mine warrant, the hole shall be reduced in the rock formation immediately above the mine, and a string of casing placed upon the shoulder so as to shut off all water, then drilling shall be continued to a point approximately thirty feet below the floor of the mine and another string of casing set. Both strings of casing shall be approximately the same diameter as the diameter of the hole.

If no water is encountered between the bottom of the drive pipe and the approximate casing shoulder above the roof of the mine, in lieu of the casing method outlined above, it is permissible to use the following casing method: the hole shall be drilled thirty feet below the floor of the mine and a string of casing shall be extended from the surface to a point thirty feet below the floor of the mine with a packer of sufficient size attached to the string of casing. The packer shall be placed so that it will be below all water and will be located in the rock formation immediately above the mine and shall prevent water or destructive matter from entering therein. Then the annular space above the packer between the casing and well wall shall be filled with prepared clay a minimum distance of fifty feet.

If a well is drilled within the limits of a mining operation and does not penetrate the excavations of a mine, the hole shall be reduced thirty feet below the coal or mineral that is being mined and a string of casing placed at this point. The annular space behind the casing shall be filled with neat cement from the casing seat to a point not less than fifty feet above the seam of coal or mineral that is being mined. The packer method, outlined in this section, is also permissible in this type of well.

It is permissible to attach a release coupling or a right and left nipple to the string of casing that extends through the mine, but the release coupling or right and left nipple shall be placed in such a manner that it is above the packer or at least twenty feet above the coal or mineral that is being mined.

In wells penetrating the excavation of a mine, the casing shall be enclosed, if possible, with a column extending from the floor to the roof of the mine, built of brick or other suitable material, subject to the approval of the chief of the division of mineral resources management. If the chief finds the method prescribed in this section unsafe, inadequate, or not suitable, the chief shall require the method to be altered in such a manner that it will be safe.

Amended by 128th General AssemblyFile No.27, SB 165, §1, eff. 6/30/2010.

Effective Date: 06-14-2000 .