Current through September 25, 2024
Section 20 AAC 25.460 - Area injection orders(a) Upon application under this section and subject to the provisions of 20 AAC 25.252 or 20 AAC 25.402, as applicable, the commission will, in its discretion, after notice and opportunity for public hearing in accordance with 20 AAC 25.540, issue an order permitting the underground injection of fluids on an area basis, rather than for each well individually, if the wells are (1) described and identified by location in the application if they are existing wells, except that the commission will, in its discretion, accept a single description of wells with substantially the same characteristics;(2) within the same field, facility site, reservoir, project, or similar area;(3) operated by a single operator; and(b) In the area injection order, the commission will specify(1) the area and strata within which underground injections are authorized; and(2) the requirements for drilling, completing, operating, monitoring, reporting, and abandoning all wells authorized by the order.(c) In the area injection order, the commission will, in its discretion, authorize the operator to drill, complete, and operate, to convert, or to plug and abandon wells within the area if (1) the operator files with the commission an application for a Permit to Drill (Form 10-401) or an Application for Sundry Approvals (Form 10-403), as appropriate, for commission approval before the operator starts work; and(2) the cumulative effects of drilling and operating additional injection wells are considered by the commission during evaluation of the area injection order application and are acceptable to the commission.(d) If the commission determines that a well drilled and operated under an area injection order does not satisfy all of the requirements of this section or an order issued under this section, the commission will take enforcement action to ensure compliance.Eff. 4/2/86, Register 97; am 11/7/99, Register 152