Section 312 IAC 29-22-5 - Protection of well head equipment and casing during hydraulic fracture stimulation operationsAuthority: IC 14-10-2-4; IC 14-37-3
Affected: IC 4-21.5; IC 14-37
Sec. 5.
(a) The following requirements apply when hydraulic fracturing is performed through a frac string or work string run inside the production casing string: (1) Unless an alternate design is submitted for approval by the division director, the frac string must either be stung into a liner or run with a packer set inside the casing with circulated cement to a point within one hundred (100) feet of the top of the interval being treated by hydraulic fracturing.(2) The combined production casing and frac string annular hydrostatic pressure and surface pressure shall be sufficient to maintain tubing and packer integrity during hydraulic fracturing.(3) The production casing and frac string annulus must be monitored during the hydraulic fracturing operations.(4) A record of the annular pressures observed during hydraulic fracturing operations shall be included with the hydraulic fracturing report required by section 8 of this rule.(5) To protect against overpressuring during hydraulic fracturing operations, at least one (1) of the following methods shall be used:(A) An adequately sized, function tested pressure relief valve and an adequately sized diversion line must be utilized to divert flow from the production casing to drilling or completion pit or a containment vessel in case of frac string failure. The relief valve must be set to limit annular pressure to no more than eighty-five percent (85%) of the lowest internal yield pressure of the frac string.(B) Electronic pressure trip switches shall be installed on all pumps. The pressure trips shall be set to limit surface pressure to no more than eighty-five percent (85%) of the lowest internal yield pressure of the frac string. Prior to initiating hydraulic fracturing operations, the pressure trips shall be tested to ensure proper functioning.(6) If the intermediate or production casing string has not been circulated with cement to the surface, the surface casing valve must be fully open and pressures monitored and recorded throughout the treatment.(b) The following requirements apply when hydraulic fracturing is performed through the production string: (1) Unless the well head and all associated valves and gauges affixed to the well are rated to withstand working pressures at least one hundred twenty percent (120%) of the maximum design hydraulic fracturing pressure, the well shall be equipped with a well head isolation tool or tree saver installed through the well head and stung into the production casing. The well head isolation tool or tree saver shall be tested prior to initiating hydraulic fracturing operations to ensure proper installation and capability to withstand maximum design hydraulic fracturing pressures.(2) The production casing shall have primary cement circulated to a point at least one hundred (100) feet inside the cemented intermediate or surface casing string or be remedially cemented so there is cement from one hundred (100) feet below the lowermost underground source of drinking water to the surface.(3) For new wells, prior to perforating the zone to be hydraulically fractured, a pressure test to the maximum treating pressure shall be performed and recorded to no greater than eighty-five percent (85%) of the lowest internal yield pressure for any section of the production casing string. The pressure must be held for at least thirty (30) minutes with less than five percent (5%) loss to a pressure equal to or in excess of the maximum hydraulic fracture design pressure.(4) For wells other than new wells, a pressure test shall be conducted on the production casing and well head to the maximum treating pressure but no greater than eighty-five percent (85%) of the lowest internal yield pressure for any section of the production casing string or well head equipment affixed to the well if a well head isolation tool or tree saver is not to be used.(5) If cement was not circulated to the surface during production casing cementing operations, cement evaluation tools may be run to verify cement placement. If there is no verification that cement is present between the well head and one hundred (100) feet below the lowermost underground source of drinking water, or that cement has not been circulated to a point at least one hundred (100) feet inside the cemented intermediate or surface casing string, a frac string shall be run inside the production casing.(6) If the intermediate or production casing string has not been circulated with cement to the surface, the surface casing valve must be fully open and pressures monitored and recorded throughout the hydraulic fracturing.(7) To protect against overpressure during hydraulic fracturing, at least one (1) of the following methods shall be used: (A) An adequately sized, function tested pressure relief valve and an adequately sized diversion line must be utilized to divert flow from the production casing to the drilling or completion pit or containment vessel in case of frac string failure. The relief valve must be set to limit annular pressure to no more than eighty-five percent (85%) of the lowest internal yield pressure of the production casing string.(B) Electronic pressure trip switches shall be installed on all pumps. The pressure trips shall be set to limit surface pressure to no more than eighty-five percent (85%) of the lowest internal yield pressure of the production casing string. Prior to initiating hydraulic fracturing, the pressure trips shall be tested to ensure proper functioning.(8) A record of the pressures observed during hydraulic fracturing shall be included with the hydraulic fracturing stimulation report required by section 8 of this rule.(9) When pumping hydraulic fracturing fluids at rates exceeding thirty (30) barrels per minute, the casing tool shall be equipped with diffusers designed to reduce turbulent flow in the upper section of production casing to protect the casing string from excessive erosion.(c) The division shall issue notice of approval or denial of an application submitted under subsection (a) in accordance with 312 IAC 29-3-5.(d) A decision to approve or deny an application submitted under subsection (a) is subject to IC 4-21.5.Natural Resources Commission; 312 IAC 29-22-5; filed 12/1/2017, 10:35 a.m.: 20171227-IR-312160230FRAReadopted filed 1/17/2023, 1:53 p.m.: 20230215-IR-312220328RFA