RAPID/Roadmap/20-HI-a

From Open Energy Information
RAPIDRegulatory and Permitting Information Desktop Toolkit
My Projects

Hawaii Well Abandonment (20-HI-a)

Information current as of 2022
In Hawaii, a geothermal developer may need a Well Construction Permit from the Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources Commission on Water Resource Management (Commission) to recase, cement, plug back, cap, or otherwise repair or fill and seal with cement an abandoned well in a manner that is approved by the Comission. Haw. Code R. § 13-168-16. An “abandoned well” means “any well that has been permanently discontinued. Any well shall be deemed abandoned which has been allowed to become unsealed, leaking, polluting, deteriorating in quality, uncontrollable, buried, or which is in such a state of disrepair that continued use for the purpose of obtaining ground water is impractical or unsafe.” Haw. Code R. § 13-168-2. All wells and test borings must be properly abandoned and permanently sealed to protect the groundwater resources of the State of Hawaii from contamination and waste and to protect public health and safety. Hawaii Well Construction & Pump Installation Standards Handbook.



Well Abandonment Process


20-HI-a.1 – Initiate Drilling and Well Development Permit

The developer must obtain a Well Construction Permit before they can begin any required remedial work to recase, cement, plug back, cap, or otherwise repair the well or fill and seal the well with cement in a manner that is approved by the commission. A permit is not required for abandonment/sealing of test borings. For more information, see:

Drilling and Well Development Permit:
5-HI-a


20-HI-a.2 – Restore Land

The developer must restore the land once they have acquired a permit. A licensed well driller with a C-57 license shall perform all well abandonment and sealing. A detailed record of the abandonment and sealing of all wells must be maintained by the well driller for future reference and demonstration that the well was properly sealed. Grouting materials acceptable for use to permanently seal wells and test borings are neat cement, sand-cement slurry, concrete, cement bentonite or bentonite pellets. The materials selected depend on field conditions and must be approved by the Chairperson prior to sealing. After grouting, all wells must be sounded to determine if the grout has settled. Hawaii Commission on Water Resource Management Webpage.

20-HI-a.3 - Work Completion Report

The Well Abandonment Form must be submitted within 30 days of the completion of work. The report is submitted to the Commission, P.O. Box 621, Honolulu, Hawaii 96809. For assistance with the form contact Hawaii Well Construction and Pump Installation Standards or call the Regulation Branch at 808-587-0225.


Add to Project

Contact Information





Retrieved from "https://openei.org/w/index.php?title=RAPID/Roadmap/20-HI-a&oldid=1035153"