La. Admin. Code tit. 43 § XVII-621

Current through Register Vol. 50, No. 11, November 20, 2024

Section XVII-621 - Operations

A. Injection Well Operating Requirements

1. Injection Pressure. Except during stimulation, the injection well shall be operated so that the injection-induced pressure in the injection zone(s) does not exceed 90 percent of the fracture pressure of the injection zone(s). This shall ensure that the injection does not initiate new fractures or propagate existing fractures in the injection zone. In no case may injection pressure initiate fractures in the confining zone(s) or cause the movement of injection or formation fluids that endangers a USDW. Pursuant to requirements at §607.C.2 h, all stimulation programs must be approved by the commissioner as part of the permit application and incorporated into the permit.

2. Injection between the outermost casing protecting USDWs and the wellbore is prohibited.

3. The owner or operator must fill the annulus between the tubing and the long string casing with a non-corrosive fluid approved by the commissioner or a fluid containing a corrosion inhibitor approved by the commissioner.

4. Annulus Pressure. The owner or operator shall maintain a tubing-casing annulus pressure that exceeds the operating injection pressure, unless the commissioner determines that such requirement might harm the integrity of the well or endanger a USDW. A request to operate the well at a reduced annulus pressure must be in writing and approved by the commissioner.

5. The owner or operator must maintain mechanical integrity of the injection well at all times, except when doing well workovers, well maintenance, or well remedial work approved by the commissioner.

6. Continuous recording devices shall be installed, used, and maintained in proper working order for each well.

a. continuous recording devices shall monitor:

i. surface injection or bottom-hole pressure;

ii. flow rate, volume and/or mass, and temperature of the carbon dioxide stream;

iii. tubing-casing annulus pressure and annulus fluid volume; and

iv. any other data specified by the commissioner.

b. continuous recordings shall consist of digital recordings. Instruments shall be weatherproof or housed in weatherproof enclosures when located in areas exposed to climatic conditions.

7. Alarms and Automatic Shutdown Systems

a. Alarms and automatic shutdown systems designed to actuate on exceedance of a predetermined monitored condition shall be installed and maintained in proper working order as follows:

i. for onshore wells, alarms and automatic surface shut-off valves or-at the discretion of the commissioner-down-hole shut-off systems (e.g., automatic shut-off, check valves) or, other mechanical devices that provide equivalent protection; and

ii. for offshore wells, alarms and automatic down-hole shut-off systems designed to alert the operator and shut-in the well when operating parameters such as annulus pressure, injection rate, or other parameters diverge beyond permitted ranges or gradients specified in the permit.

iii. all alarms must be integrated with any automatic shutdown system.

b. If a shutdown (i.e., down-hole or at the surface) is triggered or a loss of mechanical integrity is discovered, the owner or operator must immediately investigate and identify as expeditiously as possible the cause of the shutoff. If, upon such investigation, the well is lacking mechanical integrity, or if monitored well parameters indicate that the well may be lacking mechanical integrity, the owner or operator must:

i. immediately cease injection;

ii. take all steps reasonably necessary to determine whether there may have been a release of the injected carbon dioxide stream or formation fluids into any unauthorized zone;

iii. notify the commissioner within 24 hours;

iv. restore and demonstrate mechanical integrity to the satisfaction of the commissioner prior to resuming injection; and

v. notify the commissioner when injection can be expected to resume.

c. All emergency shutdown systems shall be failsafe. The operator shall function-test all critical systems of control and safety at least once every six months. This includes testing of alarms, test tripping of emergency shutdown valves ensuring their closure times are within design specifications, and ensuring the integrity of all electrical, pneumatic, and hydraulic circuits. Test dates and results shall be documented and be available for inspection by an agent of the Office of Conservation.

8. Wellhead Identification and Protection

a. A protective barrier shall be installed and maintained around the wellheads, piping, and above ground structures that may be vulnerable to physical or accidental damage by mobile equipment or trespassers.

b. An identifying sign shall be placed at the wellhead of each injection well and shall include at a minimum the operators name, well name and number, well serial number, section-township-range, and any other information required by the commissioner. The sign shall be of durable construction with all lettering kept in a legible condition.

9. Well Workovers. No well remedial work, well maintenance or repair, well or injection formation stimulation, well plug and abandonment or temporary abandonment, any other test of the injection well conducted by the permittee, or well work of any kind, shall be done without prior written authorization from the commissioner. The operator shall submit a work permit request form (Form UIC-17 or successor) to seek well work authorization.

10. Pressure gauges that show pressure on the injection tubing and tubing-casing annulus shall be installed at each wellhead. Gauges shall be designed to read in increments of 10 PSIG. All gauges shall be properly calibrated and be maintained in good working order. The pressure valves onto which the pressure gauges are affixed shall have one-half inch female fittings.

La. Admin. Code tit. 43, § XVII-621

Promulgated by the Department of Natural Resources, Office of Conservation, LR 4773 (1/1/2021).

AUTHORITY NOTE: Promulgated in accordance with R.S. 30:4 et seq., 30:22 et seq., and 30:1101 et seq.