| (3) Gas metering. The total volume of gas injected
into and withdrawn from the storage project shall be metered through
a master meter.
(4) Record retention. All wellhead pressure records,
gas metering records, and leak detector test results shall be retained
by the operator for at least five years.
(5) Reporting of leaks. The operator shall report to
the appropriate district office the discovery of any pressure changes
or other monitoring data that indicate the presence of leaks in the
well or the lack of confinement of the injected gases to the gas storage
reservoir. Such report shall be made orally as soon as practicable
following the discovery of the leak, and shall be confirmed in writing
within five working days.
(6) Gas volume reports. On or before the last day of
each month, the operator of each gas storage project that stores gas
to supply a public utility shall file with the commission a report
showing the volume of gas placed into storage and the volume of gas
removed from storage at the project during the preceding month. The
report shall also state the total volume of gas stored on the first
and last days of the preceding month. This report shall be filed in
a format acceptable to the commission.
(o) Integrity testing.
(1) Prior to commencing operations. Before beginning
gas injection operations, the operator shall pressure test the long
string casing, or the tubing-casing annulus if the well is equipped
with tubing set in a packer. Gas storage wells in which injection
occurs through casing shall be tested at the maximum authorized injection
pressure. Gas storage wells in which injection occurs through tubing
and packer shall be tested at no less than 500 psig.
(2) Subsequent tests. Each gas storage well shall be
pressure tested in the manner provided in paragraph (1) of this subsection
at least once every five years to determine if there are leaks in
the casing, tubing, or packer. The commission, or its designee, may
prescribe a schedule and mail notification to operators to allow for
orderly and timely compliance with this requirement.
(3) Alternatives to testing. As an alternative to the
testing required in paragraph (2) of this subsection, the tubing-casing
annulus pressure may be monitored and monitoring results described
in the annual monitoring report required by subsection (n) of this
section, provided that there is no indication of problems with the
well. The commission, or its designee, may also grant an exception
for other viable alternative tests or surveys.
(4) District office notification. The operator shall
notify the appropriate district office at least 48 hours prior to
conducting the test required in paragraphs (1) or (2) of this subsection.
Testing shall not commence before the end of the 48-hour period unless
authorized by the district office.
(5) Test records. A complete record of all tests shall
be filed in duplicate with the district office within 30 days after
the testing.
(6) Gas withdrawal wells exempt. Gas storage wells
that shall be used only for gas withdrawal are excluded from the requirements
of this subsection.
(p) Plugging. Gas storage wells shall be plugged upon
abandonment in accordance with §3.14 of this title (relating
to Plugging).
(q) Penalties.
(1) General. Violations of this section may subject
the operator to penalties and remedies specified in the Texas Natural
Resources Code, Title 3; Texas Civil Statutes, Article 6053-3; and
other statutes administered by the commission.
(2) Certificate of compliance. The certificate of compliance
for any oil, gas, or geothermal resource well may be revoked in the
manner provided in §3.73 of this title (relating to Pipeline
Connection; Cancellation of Certificate of Compliance; Severance)
for violation of this section.
(r) Applicability of other commission rules.
(1) General. The operator of a gas storage project
must comply with the requirements of Chapters 7 and 8 of this title
(relating to Gas Services Division, and Pipeline Safety Regulations)
for both pipelines and associated facilities, and other applicable
commission rules and orders.
(2) Signs. Each location at which gas storage activities
take place, including each gas storage well, shall be identified by
a sign that meets the requirements specified in §3.3(a)(1), (2),
and (5) of this title (relating to Identification of Properties, Wells,
and Tanks). In addition, each sign shall include a telephone number
where the operator, or a representative of the operator, can be reached
in the event of an emergency.
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| Source Note: The provisions of this §3.96 adopted to be effective January 1, 1994, 18 TexReg 8871; amended to be effective July 10, 2000, 25 TexReg 6487; amended to be effective September 1, 2004, 29 TexReg 8271; amended to be effective July 2, 2012, 37 TexReg 4892 |
