La. Admin. Code tit. 43 § XVII-601
A. The following definitions apply to all regulations in this Chapter. Terms not defined in this Section for Class VI wells have the meaning given by R.S. (1950) Title 30, section 1103
Abandoned Well-a well whose use has been permanently discontinued or which is in a state of disrepair such that it cannot be used for its intended purpose or for observation purposes.
Act-Part I, Chapter 1 of Title 30 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes.
Act 517-Act 517 of the 2009 Louisiana regular legislative session. See Louisiana Geologic Sequestration of Carbon Dioxide Act.
Application-the filing by a person on the Office of Conservation forms for an underground injection permit, including any additions, revisions or modifications to the forms.
Aquifer-a geological formation, group of formations, or part of a formation that is capable of yielding a significant amount of water to a well or spring.
Area of Review-the region surrounding the geologic sequestration project where USDWs may be endangered by the injection activity, and is delineated using computational modeling that accounts for the physical and chemical properties of all phases of the injected carbon dioxide stream and displaced fluids, and is based on available site characterization, monitoring, and operational data as set forth in §615 B
Carbon Dioxide-naturally occurring, geologically sourced, or anthropogenically sourced carbon dioxide including its derivatives and all mixtures, combinations, and phases, whether liquid or gaseous, stripped, segregated, or divided from any other fluid stream thereof.
Carbon Dioxide Plume-the extent underground, in three dimensions, of an injected carbon dioxide stream.
Carbon Dioxide Stream-the carbon dioxide that has been captured from an emission source (e.g., a power plant), plus incidental associated substances derived from the source materials and the capture process, and any substances added to the stream to enable or improve the injection process. This meaning does not apply to any carbon dioxide stream meeting the definition of a hazardous waste under Title 40, Code of Federal Regulations, Part 261.
Casing-a metallic or nonmetallic tubing or pipe of varying diameter and weight, lowered into a borehole during or after drilling in order to support the sides of the hole and thus prevent the walls form caving, to prevent loss of drilling mud into porous ground, or to prevent water, gas or other fluid from entering or leaving the hole.
Catastrophic Collapse-the sudden and utter failure of overlying strata caused by removal of underlying materials.
Cementing-the operation whereby a cement slurry is pumped into a drilled hole and/or forced behind the casing.
Cesspool-a drywell that receives untreated sanitary waste containing human excreta, and which sometimes has an open bottom and/or perforated sides.
Commissioner-the Assistant Secretary of the Office of Conservation, Department of Natural Resources.
Confining Bed-a body of impermeable or distinctly less permeable material stratigraphically adjacent to one or more aquifers.
Confining Zone-a geological formation, group of formations, or part of a formation stratigraphically overlying the injection zone that acts as a barrier to fluid movement above an injection zone.
Contaminant-any physical, chemical, biological, or radiological substance or matter in water.
Corrective Action-the use of UIC program-approved methods to ensure that wells within the area of review do not serve as conduits for the movement of fluids into USDWs.
Disposal Well-a well used for the disposal of waste into a subsurface stratum.
Drilling Mud-heavy suspension used in drilling an injection well introduced down the drill pipe and through the drill bit.
Draft Permit-a document prepared under §611.C.1 indicating the commissioners decision to issue or deny, modify, revoke and reissue, terminate, or reissue a permit. A notice of intent to terminate a permit and a notice of intent to deny a permit as discussed in §613.E.2 are types of draft permits. A denial of request for modification, revocation and reissuance, or termination, as discussed in §613.B.4 is not a draft permit.
Drywell-a well, other than an improved sinkhole or subsurface fluid distribution system, completed above the water table so that its bottom and sides are typically dry except when receiving fluids.
Effective Date-the date that the Louisiana State UIC Program is approved by the Environmental Protection Agency.
Emergency Permit-a UIC permit issued in accordance with §115 or §515
Exempted Aquifer-an aquifer or its portion that meets the criteria of the definition of underground source of drinking water but which has been exempted according to the procedures set forth in §603 F
Existing Injection Well or Project-an injection well or project other than a new injection well or project.
Experimental Technology-a technology which has not been proven feasible under the conditions in which it is being tested.
Facility or Activity-any facility or activity, including land or appurtenances thereto, that is subject to these regulations.
Fault-a surface or zone of rock fracture along which there has been displacement.
Flow Rate-the volume per time unit given to the flow of gases or other fluid substance which emerges from an orifice, pump, turbine or passes along a conduit or channel.
Fluid-any material or substance which flows or moves whether in a semisolid, liquid, sludge, gas or any other form or state.
Formation-a body of consolidated or unconsolidated rock characterized by a degree of lithologic homogeneity revealingly, but not necessarily, tabular and is mappable on the earth's surface or traceable in the subsurface.
Formation Fluid-fluid present in a formation under natural conditions as opposed to introduced fluids, such as drilling muds.
Generator-any person, by site location, whose act or process produces hazardous waste identified or listed in the Louisiana Hazardous Waste Management Program; or any person or entity who generates or causes to be generated any fluid for well injection.
Geologic Sequestration-the long-term containment of a gaseous, liquid, or supercritical carbon dioxide stream in subsurface geologic formations. This term does not apply to carbon dioxide capture or transport.
Geologic Sequestration Project-an injection well or wells used to emplace a carbon dioxide stream beneath the lowermost formation containing a USDW; or wells used for geologic sequestration of carbon dioxide that have received an expansion to the areal extent of an existing Class II enhanced oil recovery or enhanced gas recovery aquifer exemption pursuant to §603.F of this chapter. It includes the subsurface three-dimensional extent of the carbon dioxide plume, associated area of elevated pressure, and displaced fluids, as well as the surface area above that delineated region.
Geologic Sequestration Site-the underground reservoir, carbon dioxide injection wells, monitoring wells, underground equipment, and surface buildings and equipment utilized in the sequestration or storage operation, including pipelines owned or operated by the sequestration or storage operator used to transport the carbon dioxide from one or more capture facilities or sources to the sequestration or storage and injection site. The underground reservoir component of the sequestration or storage facility includes any necessary and reasonable aerial buffer and subsurface monitoring zones designated by the commissioner for the purpose of ensuring the safe and efficient operation of the storage facility for the storage of carbon dioxide and shall be chosen to protect against pollution, and escape, or migration of carbon dioxide.
Geologic Storage-the long or short-term underground storage of carbon dioxide in subsurface geologic formations.
Geologic Storage Facility-see Geologic Sequestration Site.
Geologic Storage Site-see Geologic Sequestration Site.
Ground Water-water below the land surface in a zone of saturation.
Hazardous Waste-a hazardous waste as defined in the Louisiana Hazardous Waste Management Program.
Hazardous Waste Management (HWM) Facility-all contiguous land, and structures, other appurtenances, and improvements on the land, used for treating, storing or disposing of hazardous waste.
Improved Sinkhole-a naturally occurring karst depression or other natural crevice found in volcanic terrain and other geologic settings which have been modified by man for the purpose of directing and emplacing fluids into the subsurface.
Injection Well-a well into which fluids are being injected other than fluids associated with active drilling operations.
Injection Interval-that part of the injection zone in which the well is screened or perforated or in which injected fluids are directly emplaced.
Injection Zone-a geological formation, group of formations or part of a formation receiving fluids through a well. For Class VI projects, it must also be of sufficient areal extent, thickness, porosity, and permeability to receive carbon dioxide through a well or wells associated with a geologic sequestration project.
Ionizing Radiation-any electromagnetic or particulate radiation capable of producing ions, directly or indirectly, in its passage through matter. It includes any or all of the following: alpha rays, beta rays, gamma rays, X-rays, neutrons, high-speed electrons, high-speed protons, and other atomic particles; but not sound or radio waves, or visible, infrared or ultraviolet light.
Lithology-the description of rocks on the basis of their physical and chemical characteristics.
Louisiana Geologic Sequestration of Carbon Dioxide Act-Act 517 of 2009 at Chapter 11 of Title 30 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950,
Major Facility-any Class I or IV hazardous waste injection well facility or activity.
Manifest-the shipping document originated and signed by the generator which contains the information required by the Hazardous Waste Management Program.
New Injection Well-a well which began injection after the Louisiana Underground Injection Control program is approved and the applicable (Office of Conservation) rules and regulations are promulgated.
Operator-the person recognized as being responsible to the Office of Conservation for the well, site, facility, or activity subject to regulatory authority under these rules and regulations. The operator can, but need not be, the owner of the well, site, facility, or activity.
Owner-the person that owns any well, site, facility, or activity subject to regulation under the UIC program. The owner can, but need not be, the operator of the well, site, facility, or activity.
Packer-a device lowered into a well to produce a fluid tight seal within the casing.
Permit-an authorization, license, or equivalent control document issued by the commissioner to implement the requirements of these regulations. Permit includes, but it is not limited to, area permits and emergency permits. Permit does not include UIC authorization by rule or any permit which has not yet been the subject of final agency action, such as a draft permit.
Person-any natural person, individual, association, corporation, partnership, limited liability company, or other entity, receiver, tutor, curator, executor, administrator, fiduciary, municipality, state or federal agency, or an agent or employee of the aforementioned thereof.
Plugging-the act or process of stopping the flow of water, oil or gas into or out of a formation through a borehole or well penetrating that formation.
Plugging Record-a systematic listing of permanent or temporary abandonment of water, oil, gas, test, exploration and waste injection wells, and may contain a well log, description of amounts and types of plugging material used, the method employed for plugging, a description of formations which are sealed and a graphic log of the well showing formation location, formation thickness, and location of plugging structures.
Point of Injection-the last accessible sampling point prior to waste fluids being released into the subsurface environment through a Class V injection well. For example, the point of injection of a Class V septic system might be the distribution box, the last accessible sampling point before the waste fluids drain into the underlying soils. For a dry well, it is likely to be the well bore itself.
Post-Injection Site Care-the appropriate monitoring and other actions (including corrective action) needed following cessation of geologic sequestration injection to ensure that USDWs are not endangered, as required under §633
Pressure-the total load or force per unit area acting on a surface.
Pressure Front-the zone of elevated pressure in the subsurface created by injection where there is a pressure differential sufficient to cause the movement of injected fluids or formation fluids into a USDW.
Project-a group of wells in a single operation.
Public Water System-a system for the provision to the public of piped water for human consumption, if such system has at least 15 service connections or regularly serves at least 25 individuals. Such term includes:
a. any collection, treatment, storage, and distribution facilities under control of the operator of such system and used primarily in connection with such system; and
b. any collection or pretreatment storage facilities not under such control which are used primarily in connection with such system.
Radiation-any electromagnetic or ionizing radiation including gamma rays and X-rays, alpha and beta particles, high-speed electrons, neutrons, protons and other nuclear particles; but not sound waves. Unless specifically stated otherwise, these regulations apply only to ionizing radiation.
Radioactive Material-any material, whether solid, liquid, or gas, which emits radiation spontaneously.
Radioactive Waste-any waste which contains radioactive material for which no use or reuse is intended and which is to be discarded.
RCRA-the Solid Waste Disposal Act as amended by the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act of 1976 (P.L. 94-580 as amended by P.L. 95-609, 42 U.S.C. 6901 et seq.).
Reservoir-that portion of any underground geologic stratum, formation, or aquifer, including oil and gas reservoirs, or other saline formations, and coal and coalbed methane seams, suitable for or capable of being made suitable for injection or storage of fluids.
Sanitary Waste-liquid or solid wastes originating solely from humans and human activities, such as wastes collected from toilets, showers, wash basins, sinks used for cleaning domestic areas, sinks used for food preparation, clothes washing operations, and sinks or washing machines where food and beverage serving dishes, glasses, and utensils are cleaned. Sources of these wastes may include single or multiple residences, hotels and motels, restaurants, bunkhouses, schools, ranger stations, crew quarters, guard stations, campgrounds, picnic grounds, day-use recreation areas, other commercial facilities, and industrial facilities provided the waste is not mixed with industrial waste.
Schedule of Compliance-a schedule or remedial measures included in a permit, including an enforceable sequence of interim requirements (for example, actions, operations, or milestone events) leading to compliance with the act and these regulations.
Septic System-a well that is used to emplace sanitary waste below the surface and is typically comprised of a septic tank and subsurface fluid distribution system or disposal system.
Site-the land or water area where any facility or activity is physically located or conducted including adjacent land used in connection with the facility or activity.
Site Closure-the point or time, as determined by the UIC program following the requirements under §633, at which the owner or operator of a geologic sequestration site is released from post-injection site care responsibilities.
Skin Effect-the blockage or plugging of the well perforations or near wellbore formation face from solids in the waste stream that results in increased injection pressures and can be measured by accepted engineering test procedures.
Sole or Principal Source Aquifer-an aquifer which is the sole or principal drinking water source for an area and which, if contaminated, would create a significant hazard to public health.
State-the state of Louisiana.
Stratum (plural Strata) -a single sedimentary bed or layer, regardless of thickness, that consists of generally the same kind of rock material.
Subsurface Fluid Distribution System-an assemblage of perforated pipes, drain tiles, or other similar mechanisms intended to distribute fluids below the surface of the ground.
Surface Casing-the first string of casing to be installed in the well, excluding conductor casing.
Third Party-a party who is not within the corporate structure of the owner or operator.
Total Dissolved Solids-the total dissolved filterable solids as determined by use of the method specified in the 14th edition, pp. 91-92, of Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Waste Water.
Transmissive Fault or Fracture-a fault or fracture that has sufficient permeability and vertical extent to allow fluids to move between formations.
UIC-the Louisiana State Underground Injection Control Program.
Underground Injection-a well injection.
Underground Source of Drinking Water (USDW)-an aquifer or its portion:
a. which supplies any public water system; or
b. 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/1 total dissolved solids; and which is not an exempted aquifer.
USDW-Underground Source of Drinking Water.
USEPA-the United States Environmental Protection Agency.
Well-a bored, drilled, or driven shaft whose depth is greater than the largest surface dimension; or, a dug hole whose depth is greater than the largest surface dimension; or, an improved sinkhole; or, a subsurface fluid distribution system.
Well Injection-the subsurface emplacement of fluids through an injection well.
Well Plug-a fluid-tight seal installed in a borehole or well to prevent movement of fluids.
Well monitoring-the measurement by on-site instruments or laboratory methods, of the quality of water in a well.
Well Stimulation-several processes used to clean the well bore, enlarge channels, and increase pore space in the interval to be injected thus making it possible for fluids to move more readily into the formation, and includes, but may not be limited to:
a. surging;
b. jetting;
c. blasting;
d. acidizing; or
e. hydraulic fracturing.
Workover-to perform one or more of a variety of remedial operations on an injection well, such as cleaning, perforation, change tubing, deepening, squeezing, plugging back, etc.
La. Admin. Code tit. 43, § XVII-601