Ala. Admin. Code r. 400-6-1-.05

Current through Register Vol. 42, No. 12, September 30, 2024

Section 400-6-1-.05 - Definitions

In addition to the definitions set forth in Rule 400-1-1-.05 or 400-2-1-.05, whichever is applicable unless the context otherwise requires, the following words shall have the meanings indicated when used within this rule:

(1)Blanket material shall mean any material used in solution mining to prevent erosion of the cavity roof or deterioration of salt around the casing seat. Blanket materials are generally hydrocarbons such as diesel oil, condensate, or liquefied petroleum products which are lighter than water and inert to salt.

(2)Brine shall mean the fluid resulting from the dissolution of salt formations with fresh water during salt solution mining.

(3)Buffer zone shall mean that portion of the subsurface surrounding the storage cavity designated to insure the safe operation of the storage of gas and to protect the storage facility.

(4)Cavity site shall mean the surface boundaries surrounding the storage well whose downward projection shall encompass the walls or sides of the storage cavity.

(5)Certificate of effectiveness shall mean a certificate, entitled "Certificate of Effectiveness" which shall be signed and acknowledged by the storage operator and which shall contain

(a) an affidavit that the storage operator has acquired by eminent domain or otherwise all necessary ownership rights with respect to the storage facility and

(b) the date upon which the storage facility shall become effective.

(6)Cushion gas shall mean the volume of gas required as permanent storage inventory to maintain adequate cavity pressure and insure cavity integrity, also called "base gas".

(7)Gas shall mean all natural gas, casinghead gas, and occluded natural gas found in coalbeds, and all other hydrocarbons not defined as oil in Section 9-17-1(3) of the Code, except and not including liquid petroleum gas.

(8)Facility boundaries shall mean

(1) the boundaries of the cavity site,

(2) the area that would be enclosed within a downward projection of the cavity site area as a horizontal plane to a depth being 400' above the storage well casing shoe,

(3) from this depth the boundaries shall be enlarged to a horizontal plane so as to include the buffer zone, and

(4) these boundaries shall include the area that would be enclosed within a projection of this enlarged plane downward to a depth 400' below the bottom of the storage cavity.

(9)Gathering line shall mean the line between the last positive shut-off valve at the wellhead to the pipeline or header where two or more such lines converge.

(10)Order of approval shall mean an order issued by the Board, after notice and hearing,

(i) approving the underground storage of gas in an underground salt cavity,

(ii) designating the horizontal and vertical boundaries of the storage facility, such boundaries to include within them any necessary or reasonable buffer zone for the purpose of ensuring the safe operation of the storage facility and to protect the storage facility against pollution, invasion, and escape or migration of gas therefrom,

(iii) designating the minimum and maximum operating pressures of the storage facility,

(iv) designating the storage operator for said facility,

(v) adopting special rules for the operation of the facility, and

(vi) containing the findings required by Section 9-17-152(a) of the Code.

(11)Special storage rules shall mean those rules promulgated for, and which are limited in their application to, individual underground storage facilities within the State of Alabama.

(12)Storage cavity shall mean that portion of the subsurface salt formation underlying the cavity site that will comprise the storage cavity constructed for the underground storage of natural gas.

(13)Storage operator shall mean any company, person, corporation, partnership, limited partnership, association of persons, municipality, association of municipalities, public utility, gas district, or other entity, authorized by the Board pursuant to § 9-17-152 of the Code to operate any storage facility.

(14)Storage well shall mean the wellhead and wellbore that connects the storage cavity with the wellhead.

(15)Underground source of drinking water (USDW)

(a) means an aquifer or its portion:

1. Which supplies any public water system; or

2. Which contains a sufficient quantity of ground water to supply a public water system; and

(i) Currently supplies drinking water for human consumption; or

(ii) Contains fewer than 10,000 mg/l total dissolved solids; and

(b) Which is not an exempted aquifer.

(16)Underground storage shall mean the storage of gas in an underground storage cavity.

(17)Underground storage facility shall mean an underground solution-mined cavity, the wellbore tubular goods, the wellhead, and related equipment to the last positive shut-off valve before the gathering line that is used or to be used for the underground storage of gas and all surface and subsurface rights and appurtenances necessary or useful in the operation of the facility for the underground storage of gas, including any necessary or reasonable buffer zone as recommended by the storage operator and approved by the Board for the purpose of insuring the safe operation of the storage of gas and to protect the storage facility against pollution, invasion, and escape or migration of gas therefrom, together with any and all subsequent extensions thereof.

(18)Working gas shall mean the portion of the storage volume that can be removed from a storage cavity for deliveries. All other words used herein shall be given their usual, customary, and accepted meaning. All words of a technical nature, or peculiar to the oil and gas industry, shall be given that meaning which is generally accepted within the oil and gas industry.

J. H. Massingill

Ala. Admin. Code r. 400-6-1-.05

New Rule: Filed April 11, 2000; effective May 16, 2000. Amended: Filed October 17, 2000; effective November 21, 2000.

Statutory Authority:Code of Ala. 1975, §§ 9-17-1etseq.