Supervisor of Wells Instructions

Contact: Office of Geological Survey 517 241 1515

1-1994- Certification of Casing & Sealing of Surface Casing
    - to protect fresh groundwater from contamination

1-1997- Disposal of Produced Gas from Oil & Gas Field Operations
    - to prevent the release of H2S for safety and pollution reasons.

1-2001- Nuisance Odor Standard for H2S at Wells and Facilities
    - defines H2S concentrations that may be unsafe

1-2002- Removal or Abandonment of Flow Lines and Facility Piping
    - to prevent contamination from removal of lines or piping

1-2004- Conditions of Approval of Temporarily Abandoned Status for Oil and Gas Wells
    - sets standards and conditions for temporarily abandoning wells

1-2005- (Mineral Wells) Containment and Disposal of Drilling Mud and Cuttings from Test Wells  (where metallic sulfide minerals may be present)

1-2006- Notification of Surface Owners of Spills and Releases

1-2009- Identification of Company Personnel - Parts I & II Contingency Plan

1-2011 - High Volume Fracturing Well Completions

The Department of Environmental Quality has issued a directive to oil and gas producers clarifying notification requirements for oil or gas spills under Michigan's cleanup law (Part 201, Environmental Remediation, of the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act, 1994 PA 451, as amended).  The directive-Supervisor of Wells Instruction 1-2006-is in response to concerns expressed by several citizens that property owners may not be receiving adequate notice when spills occur.

The Instruction requires an oil or gas producer who is responsible for a spill to notify the surface owner of the property if a spill results in contamination of the soil or groundwater that exceeds Part 201 cleanup criteria.  Notification is required within 45 days of the spill.  Producers are also required to notify owners of property adjacent to the oil and gas site if a spill migrates onto or underneath their property