Current through Register Vol. XLI, No. 45, November 8, 2024
Section 35-4-7 - Operational Regulations on Liquid Injection and Waste Disposal Wells7.1. Tubing and Packer Arrangements; Variance; Regulation of Pressure.7.1.a. Injection of water, other liquids, or wastes shall be accomplished through a tubing and packer arrangement with the packer set immediately above the injection zone, and the annulus between the tubing and casing shall be monitored by pressure-sensitive devices or through production casing adequately seated and cemented that will allow monitoring of the annulus between the injection casing and the last intermediate casing string or coal-fresh water casing string, as the case may be. Upon a proposal made in detail on Form WR-37, "Pre-Operations Certificate for Liquid Injection or Waste Disposal Well," a variance from any of the foregoing requirements may be granted upon a showing in the application or at the hearing by an individual operator that alternate prudent engineering practices will prevent migration outside the target information.7.1.b. The injection pressure shall be regulated to minimize the possibility of fracturing the confining strata and the Form WR-37, "Pre-Operation Certificate for Liquid Injection or Waste Disposal Well," submitted for each such well shall set forth the proposed operation in detail, so as to demonstrate that this requirement will be satisfied.7.2. Disposal of Connate or Polluted Water -- No discharge of salt water, brackish water, or other water unfit for domestic livestock or other general use shall be made into the waters of the state unless such disposal is approved by permit under applicable state and federal laws. When underground disposal of such water is required, such disposal well and related facilities will be permitted only upon application and approved as required by applicable federal and state laws. Disposal into the same formation from which the water is produced is preferable.7.3. Pre-Operation Certificate.7.3.a. The Chief or his appointed representative shall be notified no less than twenty-four (24) hours prior to mechanical integrity testing to allow the Chief or his representative the opportunity to witness the tests. Copies of the results of all tests shall be submitted with Form WR-37 as provided in subdivision 7.3.b below.7.3.b. Upon successful completion and mechanical integrity testing, and prior to the first injection into a permitted liquid injection or waste disposal well, the operator shall furnish the Office with certification on Form WR-37, "Pre-Operation Certificate for Liquid Injection or Waste Disposal Well," indicating that all requirements of subsections 7.1 and 7.2 above have been satisfied. The certificate shall include:7.3.b.1. Identification of the injection zone by name of geological target formation and depth (top and bottom of zone), the number of perforations, if applicable, or the interval of open hole;7.3.b.2. The maximum bottom hole pressure in pounds per square inch and maximum rate of injection in barrels of liquids per hour or cubic feet of gases per hour;7.3.b.3. A detailed identification of the materials being injected, including additives;7.3.b.4. Specifications of cathodic protection and other corrosion control measures;7.3.b.5. Filters, if any;7.3.b.6. The entire casing and cementing record, any packers and other special downhole equipment, and cement bond logs; Provided, that this data need not be included on Form WR-37 where the casing and cementing record is furnished on Form WR-35, "Well Operator's Report of Drilling, Fracturing and/or Stimulating," associated with the project;7.3.b.7. Certification that the mechanical integrity of the well has been tested and statement of the test method;7.3.b.8. Facilities or systems to protect the integrity of the geological target formation or to prevent fracturing the confining strata; and7.3.b.9. Application for variance, if any, as described in subsection 7.1 above.7.4. Partial Exemption for Certain Wells -- Any liquid injection or waste disposal well in existence and used as such prior to July 1, 1969 shall be exempted from the requirements of subsections 7.1, 7.2, and 7.3 above, provided that the operator has, on or before July 1, 1979, filed an area plat or plats showing all of such operator's liquid injection or waste disposal wells. Such exemption shall remain effective until such time as, in the opinion of the Chief and upon notification thereof to the well owner or operator, it is determined that said well is leaking liquids to others' wells or the surface.7.5. Monitoring by the Operator -- The well owner or well operator of a liquid injection or waste disposal well shall monitor daily and submit to the Office monthly the injection pressures and volumes on Form WR-40 "Report for Liquid Injection, Waste Disposal or Enhanced Recovery." The Chief may require more frequent or continuous monitoring and more frequent reporting if, in his opinion, good reason exists therefor.7.6. Limitation -- W. Va. Code § 22-6-14 and subsections 7.1 through 7.5 of this rule do not apply to injection of water or other liquids into a well for the purpose of fracturing or stimulating a well or underground gas storage well operations, including injection periods.7.7. Authorization and Re-testing of Wells. 7.7.a. No liquid injection or waste disposal well shall be permitted to inject until a Pre-Operation Certificate (Form WR-37) is reviewed and approved by the Chief.7.7.b. The mechanical integrity of a liquid injection or waste disposal well must be demonstrated to the approval of the Chief again within five (5) years from the last test date in order for injection to continue.