What is the legal definition of an abandonment of an oil and gas well?

In Tennessee, the legal definition of an abandonment of an oil and gas well is the final step in ending a well’s production. When a well is abandoned, all production activities, such as the pumping of oil and gas, and operations related to the well such as storing or treating the oil or gas, are stopped. The well is then plugged and sealed so that it can no longer produce oil and gas. This seals off the borehole, and also prevents any escape of hazardous materials, such as oil or other contaminants, into the environment. To initiate the abandonment process, a well operator must submit a plan to the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation outlining the specifics of the abandonment. This plan must include the steps that will be taken to ensure that the well is safely plugged and abandoned, and must be approved by the Department prior to the abandonment. Once approved, the well operator must then comply with the plan, which generally involves performing monitoring tasks to ensure that the well is properly sealed and that all hazardous materials have been removed. Once the plan is completed, the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation must certify the abandonment of the well. This certification marks the end of the abandonment process, and the well is considered abandoned. Until it is certified, the well operator is responsible for all of the costs related to the abandonment of the well.

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What is the legal definition of an abandonment of an oil and gas well?

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