La. Admin. Code tit. 43 § XIX-315

Current through Register Vol. 50, No. 9, September 20, 2024

Section XIX-315 - Disposal of Reserve Pit Fluids by Subsurface Injection

A. General Provisions

1. The disposal (subsurface injection) of drilling and workover waste fluids (including reserve pit fluids) into (1) a newly drilled well which is to be plugged and abandoned; or (2) into the casing annulus of a well being drilled, a recently completed well, or a well which has been worked over is prohibited, except when such injection is conducted in accordance with the requirements of this Subsection.

2. Injection of drilling and workover waste fluids shall not commence until approval has been granted by the Office of Conservation. Operators may apply for approval when applying for a drilling permit. Approval for injection into a well will remain valid for subsequent workovers provided the criteria in §315. C below continue to be met.

3. Injection of drilling and workover waste fluids (including reserve pit fluids) shall be limited to injection of only those fluids generated in the drilling, stimulation or workover of the specific well for which authorization is requested. Reserve pit fluids may not be transported from one well location to another for injection purposes.

4. Injection of drilling and workover waste pit fluids into zones that have been tested for hydrocarbons or are capable of hydrocarbon production is prohibited, except as otherwise provided by the commissioner.

5. Pump pressure shall be limited so that vertical fractures will not extend to the base of the USDW and/or groundwater aquifer.

6. A drilling and workover waste fluids injection site may be inspected by a duly authorized representative of the commissioner prior to approval.

7. Drilling and workover waste fluids to be injected pursuant to the provisions of this Section are exempt from the testing requirements of §311 C

B. Application Requirements

1. Prior to the onsite injection of reserve pit fluids, an application shall be filed by the well operator on the appropriate form. The original and one copy of the application (with attachments) shall be submitted to the Office of Conservation for review and approval.

2. An application for approval of reserve pit fluid injection shall include:

a. schematic diagram of well showing:

i. total depth of well;

ii. depths of top and bottom of all casing strings and the calculated top of cement on each;

iii. size of casing; and

iv. depth of the deepest USDW;

b. operating data:

i. maximum pressure anticipated; and

ii. estimated volume of fluids to be injected;

c. a copy of the electric log of the well (if run) or a copy of the electric log of a nearby well;

d. additional information as the commissioner may require.

C. Criteria for Approval

1. Casing string injection may be authorized if the following conditions are met and injection will not endanger underground sources of drinking water:

a. surface casing annular injection may be authorized provided the surface casing is set and cemented at least 200 feet below the base of the lowermost USDW, except as otherwise provided by the commissioner; or

b. injection through perforations in the intermediate or production casing may be authorized provided that intermediate or production casing is set and cemented at least 200 feet below the base of the lowermost USDW, except as otherwise provided by the commissioner.

2. Surface casing open hole injection may be approved provided the surface casing is set and cemented at least 200 feet below the lowermost USDW and a cement plug of at least 100 feet has been placed across the uppermost potential hydrocarbon bearing zone.

La. Admin. Code tit. 43, § XIX-315

Promulgated by the Department of Natural Resources, Office of Conservation, LR 26:2805 (December 2000).

AUTHORITY NOTE: Promulgated in accordance with R.S. 30:4 et seq.