Section 331.43 - Mechanical Integrity Standards(a) An injection well has mechanical integrity if: (1) there is no significant leak in the casing, tubing, or packer; and(2) if there is no significant fluid movement through vertical channels adjacent to the injection wellbore.(b) A salt cavern has integrity if it: (1) has no anomalies or irregularities that would prevent optimum cavern filling or that would prevent the cavern from holding pressure; and(2) has no pressure communication or fluid flow between other caverns or formations. The tests to show salt cavern integrity shall consist of cavern pressure and sonar tests, or other tests approved by the executive director, to determine the geometric shape of the unfilled cavern.(c) Methods and standards approved by the United States Environmental Protection Agency through federal Underground Injection Control Program delegation to the commission, shall be applied in conducting and evaluating the tests required by this section.(d) When the owner or operator reports the results of mechanical integrity tests to the executive director, he shall include a description of the test(s) and the method(s) used. In making his/her evaluation, the executive director shall review monitoring and other test data submitted since the previous evaluation.(e) The executive director may require additional or alternative tests if the results presented by the owner or operator under subsection (d) of this section are not satisfactory to the executive director to demonstrate that there is no movement of fluid into or between underground source of drinking waters resulting from the injection activity.30 Tex. Admin. Code § 331.43
The provisions of this §331.43 adopted to be effective May 13, 1986, 11 TexReg 1982; amended to be effective June 22, 1992, 17 TexReg 4097; amended to be effective January 2, 1995, 19 TexReg 10099; amended to be effective April 28, 1997, 22 TexReg 3526; amended to be effective August 16, 2012, 37 TexReg 6078