La. Admin. Code tit. 43 § XVII-3729

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

Section XVII-3729 - Cavern Configuration and Capacity Measurements

A. Sonar caliper surveys shall be performed on all storage caverns. With prior approval of the Office of Conservation, the operator may use another similar proven technology designed to determine cavern configuration and measure cavern capacity as a substitute for a sonar survey.

B. Frequency of Sonar Caliper Surveys. For Class V storage caverns, a sonar caliper survey shall be performed at least once every five years. The survey must include horizontal shots beginning just below the shoe of the deepest cemented casing within the salt as well as downward angled shots imaging the floor of the cavern unless accepted by the commissioner. At least once every 10 years a sonar caliper survey, or other similar and approved survey, shall be performed on the roof of the cavern using angled tilt shots For Class V storage caverns engaging in simultaneous storage and salt solution-mining or washing, a sonar caliper survey, or other approved survey, shall be performed in accordance with this article or in accordance with LAC 43:XVII.3329, whichever requires the more frequent survey. Additional surveys as specified by the Office of Conservation shall be performed for any of the following reasons regardless of frequency:

1. before commencing cavern closure operations;

2. whenever leakage into or out of the cavern system is suspected;

3. after performing any remedial work to re-establish cavern integrity or raise the deepest casing seat;

4. before returning the cavern to storage service after a period of salt solution-mining or washing to purposely increase storage cavern size or capacity;

5. after the completion of any additional solution mining while simultaneously engaging in storage;

6. whenever the Office of Conservation determines a survey is warranted.

C. Submission of Survey Results. One complete paper copy and an electronic version of each survey shall be submitted to the Office of Conservation within 60 days of survey completion.

1. Survey readings shall be taken a minimum of every 10 feet of vertical depth. Sonar reports of the surveyed data shall contain the following minimum information and presentations:

a. tabulation of incremental and total cavern volume for every survey reading;

b. tabulation of the cavern radii at various azimuths for every survey reading;

c. tabulation of the maximum cavern radii at various azimuths;

d. graphical plot of cavern depth versus volume;

e. graphical plot of the maximum cavern radii;

f. vertical cross-sections of the cavern at various azimuths drawn to an appropriate horizontal and vertical scale;

g. cross-section overlays comparing results of current survey and at least two previous surveys, if available;

h. isometric or 3-D shade profile of the cavern at various azimuths and rotations;

i. any data collected from prior surveys shall be clearly identified if included in the submitted report.

2. The information submitted resulting from use of an approved alternative survey method to determine cavern configuration and measure cavern capacity shall be determined based on the method or type of survey.

La. Admin. Code tit. 43, § XVII-3729

Promulgated by the Department of Natural Resources, Office of Conservation, LR 482341 (9/1/2022).

AUTHORITY NOTE: Promulgated in accordance with R.S. 30:4 et seq. and R.S. 30:23 et seq.