NR 812.14(4)(b)(b) Annular space sealing. Clay slurry, sodium bentonite slurry, or granular bentonite shall be maintained around steel casing during advancement using any of the following methods: NR 812.14(4)(b)1.1. When casing is driven or advanced from the ground surface, excavating a funnel-shaped depression around the casing to create a reservoir, which shall be kept filled with dry granular bentonite. The granular bentonite shall be kept dry at the surface during advancement. NR 812.14(4)(b)2.2. Filling a starter drillhole or temporary outer casing with clay slurry or sodium bentonite slurry and drill cuttings having a mud weight of at least 11 pounds per gallon, or with dry granular bentonite, which shall be maintained around the outside of the casing. NR 812.14(4)(b)3.3. Constructing an upper enlarged drillhole in accordance with sub. (5). The upper enlarged drillhole shall be kept filled to within 10 feet of the ground surface with clay slurry or sodium bentonite slurry and drill cuttings having a mud weight of at least 11 pounds per gallon, or with dry granular bentonite which shall be maintained around the outside of the casing. NR 812.14(4)(c)(c) Driving to a firm seat. Steel casing shall be driven or advanced to a firm seat into the top of bedrock. NR 812.14(4)(d)(d) Mechanically holding down thermoplastic casing. For a well constructed with thermoplastic casing, the casing may not be driven to a firm seat. However, the casing may be held down mechanically within an upper enlarged borehole during grouting to prevent the casing from floating. NR 812.14(5)(5) Upper enlarged drillhole. When a well is constructed with casing that extends 5 feet or more below the top of bedrock, an upper enlarged drillhole shall be constructed to the depth the casing is set. When a well driller or well constructor constructs an upper enlarged drillhole for any reason, it shall be constructed in accordance with all of the following: NR 812.14(5)(a)(a) Minimum diameter. The minimum diameter of an upper enlarged drillhole shall meet the following requirements: NR 812.14(5)(a)1.1. The upper enlarged drillhole shall be 4 inches greater than the nominal diameter of the casing when coupled joints are used. NR 812.14(5)(a)2.2. A well driller or well constructor may reduce the diameter of an upper enlarged drillhole to 2 inches greater than the nominal diameter of the casing when welded steel casing is used and the required sealing material, according to the requirements of sub. (7), is placed in the annular space between the upper enlarged drillhole and the well casing pipe using a pressure grouting method according to the requirements of s. NR 812.20. NR 812.14(5)(b)(b) Method of keeping hole open. A well driller or well constructor shall maintain an upper enlarged drillhole at full diameter during drilling by any of the following methods: NR 812.14(5)(b)1.1. Keeping the drillhole filled up to within 10 feet of the ground surface with drilling mud. NR 812.14(5)(b)4.4. Circulating air, air and water, or drilling foam when the drillhole is constructed through non-caving clay, silt, or hardpan. NR 812.14(5)(c)(c) Minimum depth. The minimum depth of an upper enlarged drillhole shall be one of the following: NR 812.14(5)(c)2.2. To the bottom of any clay formation, or 20 feet, whichever is less, when the casing is driven or advanced to the top of bedrock in accordance with sub. (4) (b) 3. NR 812.14(5)(c)3.3. For a well constructed using thermoplastic casing, to a depth not more than 5 feet into the top of firm limestone, dolomite, or shale. NR 812.14(5)(d)(d) Grouting. A well driller or well constructor shall grout an upper enlarged drillhole according to the requirements specified in sub. (7). NR 812.14(6)(6) Lower drillhole. A well driller or well constructor shall complete the drilling of a lower drillhole in accordance with all of the following: NR 812.14(6)(a)(a) The lower drillhole may not be constructed prior to grouting an annular space unless the casing is first driven to a firm seat in bedrock. NR 812.14(6)(b)(b) Drill cuttings may not fill an open annular space during the drilling of a lower drillhole, except when casing is driven or advanced to the top of bedrock in accordance with sub. (4) (b) 3. NR 812.14(6)(c)(c) Cement grout shall set for a minimum of 12 hours prior to drilling a lower drillhole. NR 812.14(7)(7) Grouting and sealing. A well driller or well constructor shall seal annular spaces using one of the pressure grouting methods specified in s. NR 812.20. Grouting material shall meet the requirements specified in s. NR 812.11 (15). A flowing well shall be grouted using the materials specified in s. NR 812.15. Potable high capacity wells shall be grouted using the materials specified in s. NR 812.152. A well driller or well constructor shall seal annular spaces with any of the following materials: NR 812.14(7)(a)(a) Sodium bentonite, sodium bentonite-sand, or a mixture of clay slurry or bentonite drilling mud and cuttings when the upper enlarged drillhole is less than or equal to 20 feet in depth. NR 812.14(7)(b)(b) Sodium bentonite, sodium bentonite-sand, neat cement or bentonite-cement when the upper enlarged drillhole extends less than 5 feet into the top of bedrock. NR 812.14(7)(c)(c) Neat cement or bentonite-cement when the upper enlarged drillhole extends 5 feet or more into the top of bedrock. NR 812.14(8)(8) Bentonite chips in fractured formations. A well driller or well constructor may use bentonite chips in an annular space when fractures, voids, or caverns are encountered that prevent the flow of grout at the surface. When bentonite chips are used by a well driller or well constructor to seal fractures in an annular space, the chips shall be placed in accordance with all of the following: NR 812.14(8)(a)(a) The upper enlarged drillhole shall be a minimum of 4 inches larger than the nominal diameter of the permanent casing and shall extend to the depth of any fractures, voids or caverns encountered greater than 20 feet below the ground surface. NR 812.14(8)(b)(b) The upper enlarged drillhole shall be free of drilling mud or cuttings. NR 812.14(8)(c)(c) Any bentonite chips placed below the water table shall be screened and poured in a manner that prevents bridging. NR 812.14(8)(d)(d) Any bentonite chips placed above the water table shall be hydrated using water meeting the requirements specified in s. NR 812.11 (14). NR 812.14(8)(e)(e) The volume of bentonite chips used shall be limited to the minimum needed to resume grouting according to the requirements specified in s. NR 812.20. NR 812.14(8)(f)(f) The number of bags or volume of chips used, the depth they were placed, and the reason they were needed shall be noted on the well construction report. NR 812.14(9)(9) Dual aquifer prohibition. Wells may not be constructed open to both an unconsolidated formation and a bedrock formation. NR 812.14(10)(10) Wells constructed into the maquoketa shale. Wells constructed or reconstructed to withdraw water from any of the aquifers beneath the Maquoketa Shale and the Niagara formations in the eastern part of the state shall be cased and grouted into the Maquoketa Shale formation except in areas designated by the department as special well casing pipe depth areas. If a liner is used to case off the Niagara formation, the Maquoketa Shale formation or both, it shall be installed and grouted in place in accordance with s. NR 812.21. NR 812.14 HistoryHistory: CR 18-095: r. and recr., Register June 2020 No. 774, eff. 7-1-20; correction in (3) (b) 1., 2. made under s. 35.17, Stats., Register June 2020 No. 774; CR 21-070: am. (3) (a), cr. (3) (e) to (g), am. (4) (intro.), (b) (intro.), (c), cr. (4) (d), (5) (c) 3. Register July 2022 No. 799, eff. 8-1-22. NR 812.15(1)(1) Control of flow. When a well driller or well constructor constructs a flowing well, the flow shall be confined to the interior of the well casing. When the flow of water is not contained to the interior of the well casing using planned construction methods, the well driller or well constructor shall notify the department of the location of the flowing well immediately, and take one of the following actions: NR 812.15(1)(a)(a) Reconstruct the well to contain the flow to the interior of the casing. NR 812.15(2)(2) General requirements. A flowing well constructed with an upper enlarged drillhole shall be grouted in accordance with par. (c). When a new well is constructed to replace a well with uncontrolled flow, the well shall be constructed to meet all of the following requirements: NR 812.15(2)(a)(a) Upper enlarged drillhole requirement. An upper enlarged drillhole shall be constructed in accordance with the requirements specified in subs. (3) or (4). NR 812.15(2)(b)(b) Driving or advancing casing. Steel well casing shall be driven or advanced only through the bottom of an upper enlarged drillhole constructed in accordance with the requirements specified in subs. (3) or (4). The upper enlarged drillhole shall be kept filled with drilling mud with a mud weight of at least 9 pounds per gallon or with dry granular bentonite, which shall be maintained around the outside of the casing. Approved drilling additives may be added to the drilling mud to increase the mud weight. NR 812.15(2)(c)(c) Grouting requirement. The annular space of a flowing well shall be grouted with neat cement using the methods specified in s. NR 812.20. NR 812.15(3)(3) Construction requirements in unconsolidated formations. In addition to the general requirements of this section and the requirements specified in ss. NR 812.10 to NR 812.13, a well driller or well constructor shall construct or reconstruct a flowing well in unconsolidated formations according to all of the following requirements: NR 812.15(3)(a)(a) Upper enlarged drillhole. An upper enlarged drillhole shall be constructed to at least 25 feet or halfway through any known confining bed, whichever is deeper, except when the well is double cased in accordance with par. (e). NR 812.15(3)(b)(b) Minimum diameter. The upper enlarged drillhole shall be a minimum of 4 inches larger than the nominal diameter of any casing to be grouted, except as allowed under par. (e). NR 812.15(3)(c)(c) Method of keeping the hole open. The upper enlarged drillhole shall be kept open during construction using any of the following methods: NR 812.15(3)(c)2.2. Circulating drilling mud with a weight of at least 9 pounds per gallon. Additives approved under s. NR 812.091 may be added to the drilling mud to increase the mud weight. NR 812.15(3)(e)(e) Double cased wells. When a well is double cased, it shall be constructed in accordance with all of the following requirements: NR 812.15(3)(e)1.1. The nominal casing diameter of the outer casing may be reduced to a minimum of 2 inches in diameter greater than the nominal diameter of the inner casing when welded steel or flush-threaded thermoplastic casing is used for an inner casing. NR 812.15(3)(e)2.2. An upper enlarged drillhole shall be constructed into the confining bed in accordance with par. (c). NR 812.15(3)(e)3.3. The outer casing shall be placed in the upper enlarged drillhole and grouted in place according to the requirements specified in sub. (2). The grout shall be allowed to set for a minimum of 24 hours before drilling continues. NR 812.15(3)(e)4.4. A second upper enlarged drillhole shall be constructed to at least the minimum casing depth for the formation encountered and in accordance with par. (c). NR 812.15(3)(e)5.5. The inner casing shall be placed in the upper enlarged drillhole and grouted in place according to the requirements specified in sub. (2). The grout shall be allowed to set for a minimum of 24 hours before drilling continues. NR 812.15(4)(4) Construction requirements in bedrock formations. In addition to the general requirements of this section and the requirements specified in ss. NR 812.10 to 812.14, a well driller or well constructor shall construct or reconstruct a flowing well in bedrock formations according to all of the following requirements: NR 812.15(4)(a)1.1. An upper enlarged drillhole shall be constructed to the minimum casing depth for the bedrock formation encountered or halfway through any known confining bed, whichever is deeper, except when the well is double cased in accordance with par. (e). NR 812.15(4)(a)2.2. When the depth to the top of bedrock is more than the minimum casing depth for the bedrock formation encountered, the upper enlarged drillhole depth may be reduced to 25 feet below ground surface when steel casing is driven or advanced according to the requirements of sub. (2) (b). NR 812.15(4)(b)(b) Minimum diameter. The upper enlarged drillhole shall be a minimum of 4 inches larger than the nominal diameter of any casing to be grouted, except when the well is double cased in accordance with par. (e). NR 812.15(4)(c)(c) Method of keeping the hole open. The upper enlarged drillhole shall be kept open during construction using any of the following methods: NR 812.15(4)(c)1.1. Driving temporary casing to the depth of casing setting or to the top of bedrock. NR 812.15(4)(c)2.2. Circulating drilling mud with a weight of at least 9 pounds per gallon. Approved additives may be added to the drilling mud to increase the mud weight. NR 812.15(4)(d)(d) Seating casing. Any casing set into an upper enlarged drillhole constructed more than 5 feet into bedrock shall be driven to a firm seat prior to grouting the annular space. NR 812.15(4)(e)(e) Double cased wells. When a well is double cased in bedrock, it shall be constructed in accordance with all of the following requirements: NR 812.15(4)(e)1.1. The outer casing may be reduced to a minimum of 2 inches in diameter greater than the nominal diameter of the inner casing when welded steel casing is used as an inner casing. The minimum diameter of an inner casing is 6 inches. NR 812.15(4)(e)2.2. An upper enlarged drillhole shall be constructed into the confining bed in accordance with par. (c). NR 812.15(4)(e)3.3. The outer casing shall be placed in the upper enlarged drillhole and grouted in place according to the requirements specified in sub. (2). The grout shall be allowed to set for a minimum of 24 hours before drilling continues. NR 812.15(4)(e)4.4. A second upper enlarged drillhole shall be constructed to at least the minimum casing depth for the formation encountered and in accordance with par. (c). NR 812.15(4)(e)5.5. The inner casing shall be placed in the upper enlarged drillhole and grouted in place according to the requirements specified in sub. (2). The grout shall be allowed to set for a minimum of 24 hours before drilling continues. NR 812.15 HistoryHistory: CR 18-095: r. and recr. Register June 2020 No. 774, eff. 7-1-20; correction in (4) (intro.) made under s. 35.17, Stats., Register June 2020 No. 774; CR 21-070: am. (2) (c) Register July 2022 No. 799, eff. 8-1-22. NR 812.151NR 812.151 Heat exchange drillhole location and construction requirements. A heat exchange driller is responsible for constructing all heat exchange drillholes in accordance with the requirements specified in ss. NR 812.10 to 812.12 and all of the following requirements: NR 812.151(1)(1) License requirement. An individual who performs heat exchange drilling is required to be a licensed heat exchange driller except that a license is not required to perform heat exchange drilling if an individual is employed by a licensed heat exchange driller or a person registered as a business to perform heat exchange drilling and all other requirements under this section and ss. NR 812.10 to 812.12 are met. NR 812.151(2)(2) Approvals. A heat exchange driller shall obtain any approvals required in compliance with s. NR 812.09 (4) (w), (x), (y), or (z) prior to starting drilling and shall follow any conditions required by an approval. NR 812.151(3)(3) Notification of drilling. A heat exchange driller shall obtain a well notification permit from the department at least 24 hours prior to the start of drilling. NR 812.151(4)(a)(a) A heat exchange driller shall ensure that heat exchange drillholes are separated from potential contamination sources. A distance of 10 feet shall be maintained between a heat exchange drillhole and any of the following: NR 812.151(4)(b)(b) Prior department approval is required for any heat exchange drillhole located within 400 feet of a municipal water supply well. NR 812.151(5)(5) Temporary casing. A heat exchange driller may use any of the following materials for temporary casing for heat exchange drillholes: NR 812.151(6)(6) Pressure testing. Vertical heat exchange loop piping shall be pressure tested with potable water or an approved fluid in the loop, according to manufacturer’s specifications.
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Chs. NR 800- ; Environmental Protection – Water Supply
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