N.J. Admin. Code § 7:14A-8.13

Current through Register Vol. 56, No. 11, June 3, 2024

Section 7:14A-8.13 - Specific operating criteria and construction standards applicable to Class I wells

(a) This section establishes the operating criteria and construction standards for Class I wells disposing of municipal and/or industrial wastes (other than hazardous wastes or radioactive wastes), where the injection stream quality meets limits established in an individual UIC permit based on primary drinking water standards or applicable ground water quality standards, including anti-degradation or non-degradation policies.

(b) Construction requirements for Class I wells are as follows:

1. Class I wells shall, at a minimum, be constructed in accordance with the requirements and specifications set forth in N.J.A.C. 7:9D. More stringent requirements will be imposed, based on an evaluation of the nature of the injection fluid and/or of geological conditions, or where the Department otherwise determines that it is appropriate.

2. All Class I wells shall be cased and cemented to prevent the movement of fluids into or between underground sources of drinking water. The casing and cement used in the construction of each newly drilled well shall be designed for the life expectancy of the well. In determining and specifying casing and cementing requirements, the following factors shall be considered:

i. Depth to injection zone;

ii. Injection pressure, external pressure, internal pressure, and axial loading;

iii. Hole size;

iv. Size and grade of all casing strings (wall thickness, diameter, nominal weight, length, joint specifications, and construction material);

v. Corrosiveness of injected fluid, formation fluids, and temperatures;

vi. Lithology of injection and confining intervals; and

vii. Type and grade of cement.

3. All Class I injection wells shall inject fluids through tubing with a packer set immediately above the injection zone, or tubing with an approved fluid seal as an alternative. The tubing, packer, and fluid seal shall be designed for the expected service.

i. To obtain approval of the use of an alternative to a packer, the operator of the injection well shall submit a written request to the Department, which shall set forth the proposed alternative and all technical data supporting its use. The Department shall approve the request if the alternative method will reliably provide a comparable level of protection to underground sources of drinking water. The Department may approve an alternative method solely for an individual well or for general use.

ii. In determining and specifying requirements for tubing, packer, or alternatives the following factors shall be considered:

(1) The depth of setting;

(2) The characteristics of injection fluid (chemical content, corrosiveness, and density);

(3) The injection pressure;

(4) The annular pressure;

(5) The rate, temperature and volume of injected fluids; and

(6) The size of casing.

4. Appropriate logs and other tests shall be conducted during the drilling and construction of new Class I wells. A descriptive report interpreting the results of such logs and tests shall be prepared by a qualified log analyst and submitted to the Department. At a minimum, such logs and tests shall include:

i. Deviation checks on all holes constructed by first drilling a pilot hole, and then enlarging the pilot hole by reaming or another method. Such checks shall be at sufficiently frequent intervals to ensure that vertical avenues for fluid migration in the form of diverging holes are not created during drilling; and

ii. Such other logs and tests as may be needed after taking into account the availability of similar data in the area of the drilling site, the construction plan, and the need for additional information, that may arise from time to time as the construction of the well progresses. For surface casings and for intermediate and long strings of casings, the following logs shall be used:

(1) For surface casing intended to protect underground sources of drinking water:

(A) Resistivity, spontaneous potential, gamma ray, and caliper logs before the casing is installed; and

(B) A cement bond, temperature, or density log after the casing is set and cemented.

(2) For intermediate and long strings of casing intended to facilitate injection:

(A) Resistivity, spontaneous potential, porosity, and gamma ray logs before the casing is installed;

(B) Fracture finder logs; and

(C) A cement bond, temperature, or density log after the casing is set and cemented.

5. At a minimum, the following information concerning the injection formation shall be determined or calculated for new Class I wells:

i. Fluid pressure;

ii. Temperature;

iii. Fracture pressure;

iv. Other physical and chemical characteristics of the injection zone; and

v. Physical and chemical characteristics of the formation fluids.

(c) Operating, monitoring and reporting requirements for Class I wells are as follows:

1. Operating requirements shall, at a minimum, specify that:

i. Injection pressure at the wellhead shall not exceed a maximum which shall be calculated so as to ensure that the pressure in the injection zone during injection does not initiate new fractures or propagate existing fractures in the injection zone, initiate fractures in the confining zone or cause the movement of injection or formation fluids into an underground source of drinking water;

ii. Injection between the outermost casing protecting underground sources of drinking water and the well bore is prohibited;

iii. Unless an alternative to a packer has been approved under (b)3 above, the annulus between the tubing and the long string of casings shall be filled with a fluid approved by the Department.

2. Monitoring requirements shall, at a minimum, include:

i. The analysis of the injected fluids with sufficient frequency to yield data representative of the fluids' characteristics;

ii. Installation and use of continuous recording devices to monitor injection pressure, flow rate and volume, and the pressure on the annulus between the tubing and the long string of casing;

iii. A demonstration of mechanical integrity pursuant to 7:14A-8.12(c) at least once every five years during the life of the well; and

iv. The type, number and location of wells within the area of review to be used to monitor any migration of fluids into and pressure in the underground sources of drinking water, the parameters to be measured and the frequency of monitoring.

3. Reporting requirements shall, at a minimum, include:

i. Quarterly reports to the Department on:

(1) The physical, chemical and other relevant characteristics of injection fluids;

(2) Monthly average, maximum and minimum values for injection pressure, flow rate and volume, and annular pressure; and

(3) The results of monitoring prescribed under (c)2iv above; and

ii. The results of the following tests, submitted with the first quarterly report due after the respective test's completion:

(1) Periodic tests of mechanical integrity;

(2) Any other test of the injection well conducted by the permittee if required by the Department; and

(3) Any well repair.

N.J. Admin. Code § 7:14A-8.13