| (C) Frequency.
(i) Each disposal well completed with surface casing
set and cemented through the entire interval of protected usable-quality
water shall be tested for mechanical integrity at least once every
five years.
(ii) In addition to testing required under clause (i),
each disposal well shall be tested for mechanical integrity after
every workover of the well.
(iii) A disposal well that is completed without surface
casing set and cemented through the entire interval of protected usable-quality
ground water shall be tested at the frequency prescribed in the disposal
well permit.
(iv) The commission or its delegate may prescribe a
schedule and mail notification to operators to allow for orderly and
timely compliance with the requirements in clauses (i) and (ii) of
this subparagraph. Such testing schedule shall not apply to a disposal
well for which a disposal well permit has been issued but the well
has not been drilled or converted to disposal.
(D) Pressure tests.
(i) Test pressure.
(I) The test pressure for wells equipped to dispose
through tubing and packer shall equal the maximum authorized injection
pressure or 500 psig, whichever is less, but shall be at least 200
psig.
(II) The test pressure for wells that are permitted
for disposal through casing shall equal the maximum permitted injection
pressure or 200 psig, whichever is greater.
(ii) Pressure stabilization. The test pressure shall
stabilize within 10% of the test pressure required in clause (i) of
this subparagraph prior to commencement of the test.
(iii) Pressure differential. A pressure differential
of at least 200 psig shall be maintained between the test pressure
on the tubing-casing annulus and the tubing pressure.
(iv) Test duration. A pressure test shall be conducted
for a duration of 30 minutes when the test medium is liquid or for
60 minutes when the test medium is air or gas.
(v) Pressure recorder. Except for tests witnessed by
a commission representative or wells permitted for disposal through
casing, a pressure recorder shall be used to monitor and record the
tubing-casing annulus pressure during the test. The recorder clock
shall not exceed 24 hours. The recorder scale shall be set so that
the test pressure is 30 to 70% of full scale, unless otherwise authorized
by the commission or its delegate.
(vi) Test fluid.
(I) The tubing-casing annulus fluid used in a pressure
test shall be liquid for wells that inject liquid unless the commission
or its delegate authorizes the use of a different test fluid for good
cause.
(II) The tubing-casing annulus fluid used in a pressure
test shall contain no additives that may affect the sensitivity or
otherwise reduce the effectiveness of the test.
(vii) Pressure test results. The commission or its
delegate will consider, in evaluating the results of a test, the level
of pollution risk that loss of well integrity would cause. Factors
that may be taken into account in assessing pollution risk include
injection pressure, frequency of testing and monitoring, and whether
there is sufficient surface casing to cover all zones containing usable-quality
water. A pressure test may be rejected by the commission or its delegate
after consideration of the following factors:
(I) the degree of pressure change during the test,
if any;
(II) the level of risk to usable-quality water if mechanical
integrity of the well is lost; and
(III) whether circumstances surrounding the administration
of the test make the test inconclusive.
(E) Alternative testing methods.
(i) As an alternative to the testing required in subparagraph
(B) of this paragraph, the tubing-casing annulus pressure may be monitored
and included on the annual monitoring report required by paragraph
(11) of this section, with the authorization of the commission or
its delegate and provided that there is no indication of problems
with the well. Wells that are approved for tubing-casing annulus monitoring
under this paragraph shall be tested in the manner provided under
subparagraph (B) of this paragraph at least once every ten years after
January 1, 1990.
(ii) The commission or its delegate may grant an exception
for viable alternative tests or surveys or may require alternative
tests or surveys as a permit condition.
(F) The operator shall notify the appropriate district
office at least 48 hours prior to the testing. Testing shall not commence
before the end of the 48-hour period unless authorized by the district
office.
(G) A complete record of all tests shall be filed in
duplicate in the district office on the appropriate form within 30
days after the testing.
(H) In the case of permits issued under this section
prior to the effective date of this amendment which require pressure
testing more frequently than once every five years, the commission's
delegate may, by letter of authorization, reduce the required frequency
of pressure tests, provided that such tests are required at least
once every three years. The commission shall consider the permit to
have been amended to require pressure tests at the frequency specified
in the letter of authorization.
(13) Plugging. Disposal wells shall be plugged upon
abandonment in accordance with §3.14 of this title (relating
to Plugging).
(14) Penalties.
(A) Violations of this section may subject the operator
to penalties and remedies specified in the Texas Water Code, Chapter
27, and the Natural Resources Code, Title 3.
(B) 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 Certification of Compliance; Severance) for violation of this section.
|
| Source Note: The provisions of this §3.9 adopted to be effective January 1, 1976; amended to be effective February 23, 1979, 4 TexReg 436; amended to be effective April 1, 1982, 7 TexReg 651; amended to be effective December 4, 1996, 21 TexReg 11361; amended to be effective August 4, 1998, 23 TexReg 7768; amended to be effective December 28, 1999, 24 TexReg 11711; amended to be effective November 24, 2004, 29 TexReg 10728; amended to be effective July 2, 2012, 37 TexReg 4892; amended to be effective November 17, 2014, 39 TexReg 8988 |
