La. Admin. Code tit. 33 § III-307

Current through Register Vol. 50, No. 6, June 20, 2024

Section III-307 - Regulatory Permit for Oil and Gas Well Testing

A. Applicability. This regulatory permit authorizes the operation of temporary separators, tanks, meters, and fluid-handling equipment, including loading facilities, necessary to test the content of a subsurface stratum believed to contain petroleum liquids or natural gas and/or to establish the proper design of a permanent fluid-handling facility, subject to the requirements established herein, upon notification by the administrative authority that the application (i.e., notification form) submitted in accordance with Subsection C of this Section has been determined to be complete.

B. Control Requirements. For purposes of this Section, volumes of natural gas should be calculated at standard conditions, as defined in LAC 33:III.111.

1. Releases of natural gas less than 2.5 million (MM) cubic feet in volume require no controls.

2. Releases of natural gas greater than or equal to 2.5 MM cubic feet in volume shall be controlled by flaring. Flaring must continue until less than 0.25 MM cubic feet of gas remains to be released, at which time flaring is no longer required.

3. Notwithstanding the volumes specified in Paragraphs B.1 and 2 of this Section, releases that will result in total VOC emissions of 5,000 pounds or more; benzene emissions equal to or exceeding its minimum emission rate (MER) established by LAC 33:III.5112, Table 51.1; or total benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene (BTEX) emissions of 2,000 pounds or more shall be controlled by flaring. Flaring must continue until less than 0.25 MM cubic feet of gas remains to be released, at which time flaring is no longer required.

C. Notification Requirements

1. The following information shall be submitted to the Office of Environmental Services using the appropriate form provided by the department:

a. the name of the owner or operator;

b. the physical location of the well;

c. the date(s) and expected duration of the activity;

d. a description of the processes and equipment involved, including control measures, if required; and

e. the estimated emissions associated with the testing event, including the anticipated volume of natural gas to be flared or released and the amount of crude oil and condensate to be produced. Emissions of toxic air pollutants (TAPs) listed in LAC 33:III.5112, Tables 51.1 and 51.3, shall be speciated.

2. A copy of the notification required by Paragraph C.1 of this Section shall be submitted to the appropriate DEQ Regional Office.

3. A separate notification shall be submitted for each testing event.

4. The notification shall be submitted such that it is received by the department at least three working days prior to the testing event.

D. The authorization for the specific testing event addressed by the application submitted in accordance with Subsection C of this Section shall remain effective for 180 days following the date on which the administrative authority determines that the application is complete.

E. Operation of temporary separators, tanks, meters, and fluid-handling equipment in excess of the following time periods shall not be authorized by this regulatory permit and must be approved separately by the administrative authority:

1. for horizontally-drilled wells completed with or without hydraulic fracturing, 60 days; and

2. for vertically-drilled wells, 10 days.

F. Recordkeeping and Reporting. The following information shall be recorded and submitted to the Office of Environmental Services no later than 30 calendar days after completion of the testing event:

1. the date(s) and duration of the testing event;

2. the actual volumes of natural gas flared and natural gas released, as well as the total amount of crude oil and condensate produced; and

3. the actual criteria pollutant and TAP emissions associated with the testing event.

G. In accordance with LAC 33:III.Chapter 2, the fee for this regulatory permit shall be $500. There shall be no annual maintenance fee associated with this regulatory permit.

H. Definitions

Horizontally-Drilled Well- a well that is turned horizontally at depth, providing access to oil and gas reserves at a wide range of angles.

La. Admin. Code tit. 33, § III-307

Promulgated by the Department of Environmental Quality, Office of the Secretary, Legal Affairs Division, LR 35:457 (March 2009), Amended by the Office of the Secretary, Legal Division, LR 43942 (5/1/2017), Amended by the Office of the Secretary, Legal Affairs and Criminal Investigations Division, LR 431898 (10/1/2017), Amended by LR 441240 (7/1/2018), Repromulgated LR 441444 (8/1/2018).

AUTHORITY NOTE: Promulgated in accordance with R.S. 30:2054.