La. Admin. Code tit. 43 § XIX-419

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

Section XIX-419 - Logging and Testing Requirements

A. New Wells

1. Before operating a new well drilled for enhanced recovery injection or saltwater disposal, the casing outside the tubing shall be tested under the supervision of the Office of Conservation at a pressure not less than the maximum authorized injection pressure, or at a pressure of 300 psi, whichever is greater.

2.

a. If open-hole logs of a nearby well were not run through the lowermost USDW, a new well shall be logged from the surface to the total depth before casing is set.

b. If such logs exist for a nearby well, the new well need only be logged electrically below the surface casing before the long string is set.

3. After cementing the casing, a cement bond log, temperature survey, X-ray log, density log or some other acceptable test shall be run to assure there are no channels adjacent to the casing which will permit migration of fluids up the wellbore from the disposal formation to the lowermost USDW. The casing program shall be designed for the lifetime of the well.

B. Converted Wells. Before operating an existing well newly converted to enhanced recovery injection or disposal, the casing outside the tubing shall be tested under supervision of the Office of Conservation at a pressure of 1,000 psi or maximum authorized injection pressure, whichever is less, provided no testing pressure shall be less than 300 psi.

C. Existing Wells

1. An injection well has mechanical integrity if:

a. there is no significant leak in the casing, tubing or packer; and

b. there is no significant fluid movement into an underground source of drinking water through vertical channels adjacent to the injection wellbore.

2. One of the following methods must be used to evaluate the absence of significant leaks under §419. C.1.a above:

a. monitoring of annulus pressure; or

b. pressure test with liquid; or

c. records of monitoring showing the absence of significant changes in the relationship between injection pressure and injection flow rate for the following enhanced recovery wells:

i. existing wells completed without a packer provided that a pressure test has been performed and the data is available and provided further that one pressure test shall be performed at a time when the well is shut down and if the running of such a test will not cause further loss of significant amounts of oil or gas; or

ii. existing wells constructed without a longstring casing, but with surface casing which terminates at the base of the lowest USDW provided that local geological and hydrological features allow such construction and provided further that the annular space shall be visually inspected. For these wells, the commissioner shall prescribe a monitoring program which will verify the absence of significant fluid movement from the injection zone into a USDW.

3. One of the following methods must be used to determine the absence of significant fluid movement under §419. C.1.b above:

a. cementing records demonstrating the presence of adequate cement to prevent such migration; or

b. the results of a temperature or noise log.

4. The commissioner may approve a request for the use of a test to demonstrate mechanical integrity other than those listed in §419. C.2 above, if the proposed test will reliably demonstrate the mechanical integrity for wells for which its use is proposed.

5. Each disposal and enhanced recovery well shall demonstrate mechanical integrity at least once every five years. The commissioner will prescribe a schedule and mail notification to operators to allow for orderly and timely compliance with this requirement.

D. The operator shall notify the commissioner at least 48 hours prior to the testing. Testing shall not commence before the end of the 48-hour period unless authorized by the commissioner. The commissioner may authorize or require alternative tests or surveys as is deemed appropriate and necessary.

E. A complete record of all mechanical integrity pressure tests shall be made out, verified and filed in duplicate on the Form PLT# 1 within 30 days after the testing.

La. Admin. Code tit. 43, § XIX-419

Promulgated by the Department of Natural Resources, Office of Conservation, LR 26:2810 (December 2000).

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