(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.
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Source Note: 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 |