Kan. Admin. Regs. § 28-45a-12

Current through Register Vol. 44, No. 2, January 9, 2025

Section 28-45a-12 - Design and construction of underground natural gas storage wells

(a) Each permittee of an existing underground natural gas storage well and each applicant for a permit for a new underground natural gas storage well shall ensure that each underground natural gas storage well is constructed with surface casing. The following requirements shall apply:

(1) Surface casing shall be set through all fresh and usable water formations and into competent bedrock.

(2) Surface casing shall be cemented by circulating cement through the bottom of the casing to the surface.

(3) The annular space between the casing and the formation shall be filled with cement.

(b) Each new and each existing underground natural gas storage well shall have double casing protection. The following requirements shall apply:

(1) The production casing shall extend a minimum of 105 feet into the salt formation.

(2) A tubing and mechanical packer assembly shall be installed inside the production casing.

(3) The packer shall be set at a depth approved by the secretary for the protection of public health, safety, and the environment.

(c) Each permittee of an underground natural gas storage facility shall install and maintain a corrosion control system. The following requirements shall apply:

(1) The corrosion control system shall be capable of protecting the well casings.

(2) The corrosion control system shall be assessed according to the protocol and time schedule recommended by the corrosion control system manufacturer, and the results reported to the secretary.

(d) The casing and tubing shall meet the performance standards for collapse resistance, internal yield pressure, and pipe body yield strength for the well's setting depths using criteria specified in the American petroleum institute's bulletin 5C2, twenty-first edition, dated October 1999, as adopted by reference in K.A.R. 28-45-15.

(e) Only new steel casing shall be installed in new underground natural gas wells. Used parts, materials, and equipment that have been tested and certified for continued service may be used for repairs.

(f) Liners shall extend from the surface to a depth near the bottom of the production casing allowing room for any workover operations.

(g) The following cementing requirements shall be met:

(1) The cement shall be compatible with the rock formation waters and the drilling fluids. Salt-saturated cement shall be used when cementing through the salt section.

(2) The cement across the confining zone and to the surface shall have a compressive strength of not less than 1,000 pounds per square inch.

(3) Remedial cementing shall be completed if there is evidence of either of the following:

(A) Communication between the confining zone and other horizons; or

(B) annular voids that would allow either fluid contact with the casing or channeling across the confining zone or above the confining zone.

(4) The following requirements for cement evaluation shall apply:

(A) Samples shall be obtained at the start and end of the cementing operation for evaluation of cement properties. All cement samples collected shall be representative of the cement being utilized.

(B) All samples shall be tested for compressive strength.

(C) A cement bond log shall be run on the surface casing, intermediate casing, and cemented production casing after the neat cement has cured for a minimum of 72 hours.

(h) Casing patches shall be prohibited, unless the secretary determines that the casing patches are protective of public health, safety, and the environment.

(i) Each permittee shall pressure-test the production casing for leaks when the well construction is completed.

(j) Each permittee shall submit a casing inspection base log for the entire cased interval for the innermost casing string or for the cemented liner that extends the entire length of the casing after the well construction is completed.

(k) Each container utilized in drilling or workover operations to contain workover wastes, drilling fluids, drilling mud, and drill cuttings shall be required to be approved in advance by the secretary. Drilling fluids, drilling mud, and drill cuttings shall be disposed of in a manner determined by the secretary to be protective of public health, safety, and the environment.

(l) A licensed professional engineer or licensed geologist, or licensed professional engineer's or licensed geologist's designee, shall supervise the installation of each underground natural gas storage well.

Kan. Admin. Regs. § 28-45a-12

Authorized by and implementing K.S.A. 2002 Supp. 55-1,117; effective, T-28-4-1-03, April 1, 2003; effective Aug. 8, 2003.