Authority: IC 14-10-2-4; IC 14-37-3

Affected: IC 14-37

Sec. 12. (a) During well drilling, completion, and workover operations, the owner or operator shall take precautions necessary to control the well at all times using methods, tests, and procedures as required under this section.

(b) The methods used shall be determined taking into consideration the maximum down hole pressures that may be encountered. All blowout prevention equipment shall be installed, operated, tested, and maintained in accordance with recommended practices for blowout prevention equipment systems.

(c) Well control measures include the use of one (1) or more of the following:

1. (1) Water or mud-laden fluid of sufficient weight to provide proper well control.
2. (2) If temporary kicks are anticipated diverter systems or similar assemblies that divert well bore fluids away from the rig floor shall be employed to ensure protection against loss of well control.
3. (3) Well control equipment and high pressure fittings attached to properly anchored and cemented casing strings adequate to withstand anticipated pressures.

(d) Nothing in this section shall prohibit the drilling of wells on air or with cable tools without the use of water or other mud-laden fluids specified in subsection (c)(1) provided other measures are used as necessary to ensure proper well control.

(e) When well control equipment is used during drilling operations, the owner or operator shall equip the well with fittings necessary to circulate out formation gases or liquids. All equipment and fittings shall be rated with normal working pressure ratings that exceed the maximum anticipated surface pressure.

(f) The owner or operator shall perform the following tests and procedures and note in the driller's record, whenever blowout preventers are in use:

1. (1) Casing attached to a blowout preventer with a pressure rating of greater than three thousand (3,000) pounds per square inch shall be pressure tested after cementing. This pressure test shall be conducted at the anticipated maximum pressure to which the casing will be exposed for a minimum of thirty (30) minutes with a pressure drop of no more than ten percent (10%) to fulfill this requirement.
2. (2) Well control equipment, except for blind rams, shall be functionally operated at least once in every forty-eight (48) hour period.
3. (3) Blind rams shall be functionally operated each trip out of the well bore.
4. (4) The well control equipment shall be pressure tested at installation on the well head and after any modification of any equipment or fittings associated with the blowout preventer stack.

(g) At the conclusion of drilling and well completion operations, the owner or operator shall equip the well with well head assemblies to maintain surface control of the well. Each component of the well head shall have a pressure rating equal to or greater than the maximum anticipated pressure to which that particular component may be exposed during the course of logging, testing, servicing, or producing the well.

(Natural Resources Commission; 312 IAC 29-20-12; filed Dec 1, 2017, 10:35 a.m.: 20171227-IR- 312160230FRA; readopted filed Jan 17, 2023, 1:53 p.m.: 20230215-IR-312220328RFA)