(C) using an alternative method approved by the executive
director.
(2) The test shall use materials identical to those
used in the construction of the well, and those materials must be
continuously exposed to the operating pressures and temperatures (measured
at the wellhead) and flow rates of the injection operation; and
(3) The owner or operator shall monitor the materials
for loss of mass, thickness, cracking, pitting and other signs of
corrosion on a quarterly basis to ensure that the well components
meet the minimum standards for material strength and performance set
forth in §331.62(a)(1) of this title.
(4) Corrosion monitoring may be waived by the executive
director if the injection well owner or operator satisfactorily demonstrates,
before authorization to conduct injection operations, that the waste
streams will not be corrosive to the well materials with which the
waste is expected to come into contact throughout the life of the
well. The demonstration shall include a description of the methodology
used to make that determination.
(h) Ambient monitoring.
(1) Based on a site-specific assessment of the potential
for fluid movement from the well or injection zone and on the potential
value of monitoring wells to detect fluid movement, the executive
director shall require the owner or operator to develop a monitoring
program. When prescribing a monitoring system, the executive director
may also require:
(A) Continuous monitoring for pressure changes in the
first aquifer overlying the confining zone. When a monitor well is
installed, the owner or operator shall, on a quarterly basis, sample
the aquifer and analyze for constituents specified by the executive
director;
(B) the use of indirect, geophysical techniques to
determine the position of the waste front, the water quality in a
formation designated by the executive director, or to provide other
site-specific data;
(C) periodic monitoring of the ground water quality
in the first aquifer overlying the injection zone;
(D) periodic monitoring of the ground water quality
in the lowermost USDW; and
(E) any additional monitoring necessary to determine
whether fluids are moving into or between USDWs.
(2) The pressure buildup in the injection zone shall
be monitored annually, including at a minimum, a shut down of the
well for a time sufficient to conduct a valid observation of the pressure
fall-off curve.
(i) Any other monitoring and testing requirements which
the executive director determines to be necessary including, but not
limited to, monitoring for seismic activity.
(j) The owner or operator shall submit information
demonstrating to the satisfaction of the executive director that the
waste stream and its anticipated reaction products will not alter
the permeability, thickness, or other relevant characteristics of
the confining or injection zones such that they would no longer meet
the requirements specified in §331.121(c) of this title (relating
to Class I Wells).
(k) Class I Wells authorized to inject only nonhazardous
desalination concentrate or nonhazardous drinking water treatment
residuals shall comply with the following monitoring and testing requirements:
(1) Monitoring requirements. Monitoring requirements
shall, at a minimum, include:
(A) The analysis of the injected fluids with sufficient
frequency to yield representative data of their characteristics;
(B) 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;
(C) Installation and use of monitoring wells within
the area of review if required by the executive director, to monitor
any migration of fluids into and pressure in the USDW. The type, number
and location of the wells, the parameters to be measured, and the
frequency of monitoring must be approved by the executive director;
(D) A demonstration of mechanical integrity pursuant
to paragraph (4) of this subsection at least once every five years
during the life of the well; and
(E) 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 USDW, the parameters to be measured and the frequency
of monitoring.
(2) When the executive director determines that an
injection well lacks mechanical integrity pursuant to paragraph (4)
of this subsection, the executive director shall give written notice
of his determination to the owner or operator. Unless the executive
director requires immediate cessation, the owner or operator shall
cease injection into the well within 48 hours of receipt of the executive
director's determination. The executive director may allow plugging
of the well in accordance with the requirements of §331.46 of
this title (relating to Closure Standards) or require the owner or
operator to perform such additional construction, operation, monitoring,
reporting and corrective action as is necessary to prevent the movement
of fluid into or between USDWs caused by the lack of mechanical integrity.
The owner or operator may resume injection upon receipt of written
notification from the executive director that the owner or operator
has demonstrated mechanical integrity under paragraph (4) of this
subsection.
(3) The executive director may allow the owner or operator
of a well which lacks mechanical integrity under paragraph (4) of
this subsection to continue or resume injection if the owner or operator
has made a satisfactory demonstration that there is no movement of
fluid into or between USDWs.
(4) Mechanical Integrity Testing. An injection well
has mechanical integrity if:
(A) There is no significant leak in the casing, tubing
or packer; and
(B) There is no significant fluid movement into an
USDW through vertical channels adjacent to the injection well bore.
(5) One of the following methods shall be used to evaluate
the absence of significant leaks under paragraph (4)(A) of this subsection:
(A) Following an initial pressure test, monitoring
of the tubing-casing annulus pressure with sufficient frequency to
be representative, as determined by the executive director, while
maintaining an annulus pressure different from atmospheric pressure
measured at the surface; or
(B) Pressure test with liquid or gas.
(6) The results of a temperature or noise log must
be used to determine the absence of significant fluid movement under
paragraph (4)(B) of this subsection.
(7) The executive director may allow the use of a test
to demonstrate mechanical integrity other than those listed in paragraph
(5)(A) and (B) of this subsection with the written approval of the
executive director. To obtain approval, the permittee shall submit
a written request to the executive director, which shall set forth
the proposed test and all technical data supporting its use. The executive
director shall approve the request if it will reliably demonstrate
the mechanical integrity of wells for which its use is proposed.
(8) In conducting and evaluating the tests enumerated
in this section or others to be allowed by the executive director,
the owner or operator and the executive director shall apply methods
and standards generally accepted in the industry. 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 evaluation, the executive director
shall review monitoring and other test data submitted since the previous
evaluation.
(9) The executive director may require additional or
alternative tests if the results presented by the owner or operator
under §331.64(k)(5) of this title (relating to Monitoring and
Testing Requirements) are not satisfactory to the executive director
to demonstrate that there is no movement of fluid into or between
USDWs resulting from the injection activity.
(10) Ambient monitoring.
(A) Based on a site-specific assessment of the potential
for fluid movement from the well or injection zone and on the potential
value of monitoring wells to detect such movement, the executive director
shall require the owner or operator to develop a monitoring program.
At a minimum, the executive director shall require monitoring of the
pressure buildup in the injection zone annually, including a shut
down of the well for a time sufficient to conduct a valid observation
of the pressure fall-off curve.
(B) When prescribing a monitoring system the executive
director may also require:
(i) Continuous monitoring for pressure changes in the
first aquifer overlying the confining zone. When such a well is installed,
the owner or operator shall, on a quarterly basis, sample the aquifer
and analyze for constituents specified by the executive director;
(ii) The use of indirect, geophysical techniques to
determine the position of the waste front, the water quality in a
formation designated by the executive director, or to provide other
site-specific data;
(iii) Periodic monitoring of the ground water quality
in the first aquifer overlying the injection zone;
(iv) Periodic monitoring of the ground water quality
in the lowermost USDW; and
(v) Any additional monitoring necessary to determine
whether fluids are moving into or between USDWs.
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Source Note: The provisions of this §331.64 adopted to be effective May 13, 1986, 11 TexReg 1983; amended to be effective July 5, 1989, 14 TexReg 3047; amended to be effective January 2, 1995, 19 TexReg 10099; amended to be effective April 28, 1997, 22 TexReg 3526; amended to be effective July 10, 2008, 33 TexReg 5342; amended to be effective January 7, 2021, 46 TexReg 191 |