Mich. Admin. Code R. 324.407

Current through Vol. 24-23, January 1, 2025

Section R. 324.407 - Drilling mud pits

Rule 407.

(1) The supervisor shall prohibit the use of a drilling mud pit if it is determined that the mud pit causes waste.

(2) Drill cuttings, muds, and fluids shall be confined by a pit, tank, or container which is of proper size and construction and which is located as approved by the supervisor or authorized representative of the supervisor.

(3) Only tanks shall be utilized while drilling a well that is located in an area zoned residential before January 8, 1993. The supervisor may grant an exception if the applicant or permittee makes a request for an exception as part of the written application for a permit. The supervisor may grant an exception if an applicant or permittee satisfactorily demonstrates that a municipal water system is utilized or required to be utilized.

(4) Drilling mud pits shall be located and plotted as instructed by the supervisor. Before construction of the mud pit, a permittee shall demonstrate to the supervisor or authorized representative of the supervisor that there is not less than 4 feet of vertical isolation between the bottom of the pit and the uppermost groundwater level. The bottom of the liner shall not be installed within the observed groundwater level as determined while excavating the pit. If groundwater is encountered during or before construction of the pit, then the permittee shall select 1 of the following options and obtain the approval for the option from the supervisor or authorized representative of the supervisor:

(a) The pit shall be designed and constructed so the bottom of the pit is not less than 4 feet above the groundwater level.

(b) The pit shall be designed and constructed so the bottom of the pit is above the groundwater level, but less than 4 feet above the groundwater level, and during encapsulation the pit contents shall be solidified using a method approved by the supervisor.

(c) The pit shall be relocated at the well site as approved by the supervisor or authorized representative of the supervisor.

(d) Tanks shall be used, and drilling muds disposed of, at an approved off-site location.

(5) Drilling mud pits shall be constructed as instructed by the supervisor and shall be in compliance with both of the following minimum requirements:

(a) Pits shall be constructed with rounded corners and side slopes of not less than 20 degrees measured from the vertical.

(b) The bottom and sides of the pit shall be free of objects that could penetrate the liner.

(6) Drilling mud pits shall be lined as instructed by the supervisor and shall be in compliance with all of the following minimum requirements:

(a) Pits shall be lined with 20-mil virgin polyvinyl chloride liners as approved by the supervisor or with other liners that meet or exceed the 20-mil virgin polyvinyl chloride liner requirement.

(b) Ample liner material shall be installed in a manner to allow for sags and material loading to reduce stress on the liner and allow for a minimum 10-foot flat apron on all sides, including enough liner material to underlay the drilling mud tank, salt washer, and shale shaker.

(c) The bottom of the lined pit shall be weighted with earthen material or water before anchoring the ends of the liner on the surface or placing drilling muds in the pit.

(d) Ripping, tearing, puncturing, or other destruction of a liner that may cause loss of fluids is prohibited.

(e) Liner field seams are prohibited, except for liner field seams that result from failures in the liner due to abrasion or accidental perforation, which shall be immediately repaired in the field using the manufacturer's recommended procedures.

(7) Drilling mud pits shall be utilized as instructed by the supervisor and shall be in compliance with all of the following minimum requirements:

(a) Solid salt cuttings shall not be released to in ground drilling mud pits. Solid salt cuttings obtained while drilling below the base of the Detroit River An hydrite to the top of the Amherstburg formation and while drilling through the formations in the Salina Group shall be collected in a container at the shale shaker and either diverted to a device that will result in the dissolving of the solid salt cuttings and the proper disposal of the resultant brine pursuant to R 324.703 or removed from the drilling site to a licensed disposal facility.

(b) Twenty-four months after the effective date of these rules, only the following may be placed in a lined pit:

(i) Water-based drilling muds generated or utilized while drilling above the base of the Detroit River Anhydrite.

(ii) Drilling fluids generated or utilized while drilling above the base of the Detroit River Anhydrite.

(iii) Cuttings obtained while drilling above the base of the Detroit River Anhydrite.

(iv) Cuttings and the solid fraction of drilling muds generated or utilized while drilling below the base of the Detroit River Anhydrite, other than drill cuttings prohibited by subdivision (a) of this subrule, if the cuttings and the solid fraction of drilling muds do not contain free liquids as determined by the United States environmental protection agency, paint filter liquids test, method 9095, September 1986 edition, which is adopted by reference in these rules. Copies are available for inspection at the Lansing office of the office of oil, gas, and minerals of the department of environmental quality. Copies may be obtained without charge as of the time of adoption of these rules from the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality, Office of Oil, Gas, and Minerals, P.O. Box 30256, Lansing, Michigan 48909, or from the United States Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development, 26 West Martin Luther King Boulevard, Cincinnati, Ohio 45268. A permittee shall provide the necessary equipment at the site of the drilling rig to perform the paint filter liquids test.

(v) Water-based drilling muds and entrained cuttings, other than drill cuttings prohibited by subdivision (a) of this subrule, which are generated or utilized while drilling below the base of the Detroit River Anhydrite, which contain weighting materials or lost circulation materials, and which cannot reasonably be treated to eliminate free liquids as determined by the paint filter liquids test identified in paragraph (iv) of this subdivision, if approved by the supervisor or authorized representative of the supervisor.

(vi) Native soils.

(vii) Cementing materials.

(viii) Stiffening or solidification materials approved by the supervisor.

(c) During the initial 24 months after the effective date of these rules, only the following may be placed in a lined pit:

(i) Water-based drilling muds.

(ii) Drilling fluids.

(iii) Cuttings that are not prohibited by subdivision (a) of this subrule.

(iv) Native soils.

(v) Cementing materials.

(vi) Stiffening or solidification materials approved by the supervisor.

(d) Machine oil, refuse, completion and test fluids, liquid hydrocarbons, or other materials may not be placed in a lined pit.

(e) A permittee of a well shall, before encapsulation, test the fluids and cuttings remaining in the pit to determine the concentrations of benzene, ethylbenzene, toluene, and xylene and provide certification to the supervisor or authorized representative of the supervisor of the test results, except that a permittee is not required to test the fluids and cuttings remaining in the pit for benzene, ethylbenzene, toluene, and xylene if the well was drilled with water from a source approved by the supervisor and if, during the drilling operation, liquid hydrocarbons were not encountered.

(8) If a drilling mud pit is not closed immediately after reaching drilling completion, then a permittee of a well shall fence the perimeter of the drilling mud pit as soon as practical after drilling completion, but not later than 30 days after drilling completion, to prevent public access.

(9) A permittee of a well shall close a drilling mud pit as instructed by the supervisor and be in compliance with all of the following minimum requirements:

(a) All free liquids above the solids in the pit shall be removed to the maximum extent practical and disposed of in an approved disposal well or used in a manner approved by the supervisor.

(b) All drilling mud pits shall be stiffened before encapsulation, except as provided in subrule (4)(b) of this rule. Earthen materials shall be mixed with the pit contents to stiffen the pit contents sufficiently to provide physical stability and support for the pit cover. An alternative pit stiffening process approved by the supervisor may be used at the option of a permittee or if required by the supervisor.

(c) The drilling mud pit shall be carefully encapsulated and buried as soon as practical after drilling completion, but not more than 6 months after drilling completion.

(d) Apron edges of the liner shall be folded over the pit proper.

(e) The drilling mud pit shall be totally covered with a separate piece of material that meets or exceeds the specifications of a 20-mil virgin polyvinyl chloride cover as approved by the supervisor. The cover shall extend beyond the outer edges of the pit to cover and entirely encapsulate the pit and shall be sloped to provide surface drainage away from the pit.

(f) The drilling mud pit shall be buried not less than 4 feet below the original ground grade level.

Mich. Admin. Code R. 324.407

1996 AACS; 2015 MR 5, Eff. March 11, 2015