| (B) Each project involving the injection of gas or gaseous mixtures containing hydrogen sulfide which does not require a public hearing prior to receiving commission approval specified in this provision shall nevertheless be subject to the other provisions of this section to the extent that such provisions are applicable to such project. (11) In addition to any other requirements of this section, drilling and workover operations, and gasoline plant sites where the 100 ppm radius of exposure is 50 feet or greater shall be subject to the following. (A) Protective breathing equipment shall be maintained in two or more locations at the site. (B) Wind direction indicators shall be installed at strategic locations at or near the site and be readily visible from the site. (C) Automatic hydrogen sulfide detection and alarm equipment that will warn of the presence of hydrogen sulfide gas in concentrations that could be harmful shall be utilized at the site. (12) Drilling provision. Drilling and workover operations where the 100 ppm radius of exposure includes a public area or is 3,000 feet or greater shall be subject to the following additional provisions. (A) Protective breathing equipment shall be maintained at the well site and shall be sufficient to allow for well control operations. (B) The operator shall provide a method of igniting the gas in the event of an uncontrollable emergency. (C) The operator shall install a choke manifold, mud-gas separator, and flare line, and provide a suitable method for lighting the flare. (D) Secondary remote control of blowout prevention and choke equipment to be located away from the rig floor at a safe distance from the wellhead. (E) Drill stem testing of hydrogen sulfide zones is permitted only in daylight hours. (F) The Railroad Commission district office shall be notified of the intention to conduct a drill stem test of a formation containing hydrogen sulfide in sufficient concentration to meet the requirements of this provision. (G) A certificate of compliance shall be required on each well subject to this provision even if well is located on certificated lease. (H) Full compliance with all the requirements of this provision must be satisfied before the well is drilled to a depth that is within 1,000 feet of the hydrogen sulfide zone. Alternate depths may be approved in advance by the appropriate commission district office. (I) API Publication RP-49 is referenced as a suggested guideline for drilling and workover of wells subject to this provision. (J) Blowout preventers and well control systems shall be pressure tested at or near compliance depth or at depth of nearest bit change prior to reaching compliance depth. The appropriate Railroad Commission district office must be notified at least four hours prior to the test. (13) Training requirement provision. (A) Each operator whose operations contain hydrogen sulfide in excess of 100 ppm shall train its employees working in the affected areas in hydrogen sulfide safety. (B) Each operator shall require all service companies working in affected areas to utilize only those service company personnel who have been trained in accordance with the provisions of subparagraphs (C) and (D) of this paragraph. Written certification to the operator by the service company that only those service company personnel who have been trained in accordance with the training requirement provision will be utilized in affected areas complies with this provision. For this provision, service company shall mean any company actually performing work at well sites, gasoline plant sites, or on pipelines, where such work could allow the escape of hydrogen sulfide gas. (C) The training of all personnel working in the affected areas shall include the following elements: (i) hazards and characteristics of hydrogen sulfide; (ii) safety precautions; (iii) operation of safety equipment and life support system. (D) On-site supervisory personnel shall be additionally trained in the following: (i) effect of hydrogen sulfide on metal components in the system; (ii) corrective action and shutdown procedures, and when drilling a well, blowout prevention, and well control procedures; (iii) must have full knowledge of the requirements of the contingency plan, when such plan is required. (E) Training schedules and course outlines shall be provided to the commission personnel upon request for the purpose of commission review to determine compliance with the provisions of subparagraphs (C) and (D) of this paragraph. (14) Accident notification. Operators shall immediately notify the appropriate Railroad Commission District Office of any accidental release of hydrogen sulfide gas of sufficient volume to present a hazard and of any hydrogen sulfide related accident. (d) Reports required. (1) Certificate of compliance provision. A certificate of compliance shall be submitted for operations subject to any provision of this section. The following shall apply to the certificate of compliance provision of the section. (A) The certificate of compliance shall certify that operator has complied or will comply with applicable provisions of this section. (B) The certificate of compliance shall be filed in triplicate in the commission district office where the operation is located. (C) The certificate of compliance shall certify that existing operations subject to this section to be in compliance will be in compliance as specified in an attached schedule, or, for new or modified facilities, will be in compliance upon completion. (D) An approved certificate of compliance will permit an operator to perform all activities described in the certificate without additional filing of approval; provided that, consistent with subsection (c)(12)(G) of this section, a certificate of compliance will be required on each well subject to the provisions of subsection (c)(12)(G) of this section. (E) A new or amended certificate of compliance shall be required if there is a change in public exposure caused by public infringement of an existing radius of exposure resulting in a change in the applicable provisions of this section, not described by the existing certificate. The operator shall file the new or amended certificate within 30 days after such infringement. (F) A new or amended certificate of compliance shall be required if there is modification of an existing operation or facility which increases the radius of exposure in a public area, or results in a change in the applicable provisions of this section not described by the existing certificate. The operator shall file the new or amended certificate at least 30 days prior to initiating the operation or construction. (G) The operator shall file a certificate of compliance 30 days prior to commencement of a drilling or workover operation on wells where a certificate of compliance is required for that well by provisions of this section (wells drilled on noncertificated leases or wells with a 100 ppm radius of exposure greater than 3,000 feet). (H) In case of extenuating circumstances, an operator may file a certificate of compliance with an attached written explanation for those cases where waiver of 30-day prior filing is requested. In such cases, the approval of the certificate of compliance will constitute authority to proceed. (I) The certificate of compliance shall be prepared and executed by a party who, through training and experience, is qualified to make such certification. (J) The certificate of compliance will be in effect until conditions are altered in a manner that would require amending the "certificate." The operator shall notify the commission within 30 days following cessation or abandonment of operations in a certificated area. (K) The certificate of compliance required by the provisions of this order for an existing system are due in the district office as soon as is reasonably possible, and no later than September 1, 1976, and as applicable for new or modified operations. (L) A certificate of compliance may cover a single operation or multiple operations located in an area, a field, or a group of fields within a commission district. The description of the type of operation as indicated on the form must be sufficiently complete to the degree that it is obvious what element of an operation is to be covered by the certificate. All Railroad Commission identification numbers for each element of the system must be shown on the certificate and must be identified as to the type of operation. Cont'd... |
