| (F) a description of the formation testing program
used and the analytical results used to determine the chemical and
physical characteristics of the injection zone and the confining zone;
and
(G) baseline geochemical data for subsurface formations
that will be used for monitoring purposes, including all formations
containing USDWs within the AOR.
(d) AOR and corrective action. This subsection describes
the standards for the information regarding the delineation of the
AOR, the identification of penetrations, and corrective action that
an applicant must include in an application.
(1) Initial delineation of the AOR and initial corrective
action. The applicant must delineate the AOR, identify all wells that
require corrective action, and perform corrective action on those
wells. Corrective action may be phased.
(A) Delineation of AOR.
(i) Using computational modeling that considers the
volumes and/or mass and the physical and chemical properties of the
injected CO2 stream, the physical properties
of the formation into which the CO2 stream
is to be injected, and available data including data available from
logging, testing, or operation of wells, the applicant must predict
the lateral and vertical extent of migration for the CO2 plume and formation fluids and the pressure
differentials required to cause movement of injected fluids or formation
fluids into a USDW in the subsurface for the following time periods:
(I) five years after initiation of injection;
(II) from initiation of injection to the end of the
injection period proposed by the applicant; and
(III) from initiation of injection until the movement
of the CO2 plume and associated pressure
front stabilizes.
(ii) The applicant must use a computational model that:
(I) is based on geologic and reservoir engineering
information collected to characterize the injection zone and the confining
zone;
(II) is based on anticipated operating data, including
injection pressures, rates, temperatures, and total volumes and/or
mass over the proposed duration of injection;
(III) takes into account relevant geologic heterogeneities
and data quality, and their possible impact on model predictions;
(IV) considers the physical and chemical properties
of injected and formation fluids; and
(V) considers potential migration through known faults,
fractures, and artificial penetrations and beyond lateral spill points.
(iii) The applicant must provide the name and a description
of the model, software, the assumptions used to determine the AOR,
and the equations solved.
(B) Identification and table of penetrations. The applicant
must identify, compile, and submit a table listing all penetrations,
including active, inactive, plugged, and unplugged wells and underground
mines in the AOR that may penetrate the confining zone, that are known
or reasonably discoverable through specialized knowledge or experience.
The applicant must provide a description of each penetration's type,
construction, date drilled or excavated, location, depth, and record
of plugging and/or completion or closure. Examples of specialized
knowledge or experience may include reviews of federal, state, and
local government records, interviews with past and present owners,
operators, and occupants, reviews of historical information (including
aerial photographs, chain of title documents, and land use records),
and visual inspections of the facility and adjoining properties.
(C) Corrective action. The applicant must demonstrate
whether each of the wells on the table of penetrations has or has
not been plugged and whether each of the underground mines (if any)
on the table of penetrations has or has not been closed in a manner
that prevents the movement of injected fluids or displaced formation
fluids that may endanger USDWs or allow the injected fluids or formation
fluids to escape the permitted injection zone. The demonstration shall
include evidence that the materials used are compatible with the carbon
dioxide stream. The applicant must perform corrective action on all
wells and underground mines in the AOR that are determined to need
corrective action. The operator must perform corrective action using
materials suitable for use with the CO2 stream.
Corrective action may be phased.
(2) AOR and corrective action plan. As part of an application,
the applicant must submit an AOR and corrective action plan that includes
the following information:
(A) the method for delineating the AOR, including the
model to be used, assumptions that will be made, and the site characterization
data on which the model will be based;
(B) for the AOR, a description of:
(i) the minimum fixed frequency, not to exceed five
years, at which the applicant proposes to re-evaluate the AOR during
the life of the geologic storage facility;
(ii) how monitoring and operational data will be used
to re-evaluate the AOR; and
(iii) the monitoring and operational conditions that
would warrant a re-evaluation of the AOR prior to the next scheduled
re-evaluation; and
(C) a corrective action plan that describes:
(i) how the corrective action will be conducted;
(ii) how corrective action will be adjusted if there
are changes in the AOR;
(iii) if a phased corrective action is planned, how
the phasing will be determined; and
(iv) how site access will be secured for future corrective
action.
(e) Injection well construction.
(1) Criteria for construction of anthropogenic CO2 injection wells. This paragraph establishes
the criteria for the information about the construction and casing
and cementing of, and special equipment for, anthropogenic CO2 injection wells that an applicant must include
in an application.
(A) General. The operator of a geologic storage facility
must ensure that all anthropogenic CO2 injection
wells are constructed and completed in a manner that will:
(i) prevent the movement of injected CO2 or displaced formation fluids into any unauthorized
zones or into any areas where they could endanger USDWs;
(ii) allow the use of appropriate testing devices and
workover tools; and
(iii) allow continuous monitoring of the annulus space
between the injection tubing and long string casing.
(B) Casing and cementing of anthropogenic CO2 injection wells.
(i) The operator must ensure that injection wells are
cased and the casing cemented in compliance with §3.13 of this
title (relating to Casing, Cementing, Drilling, Well Control, and
Completion Requirements), in addition to the requirements of this
section.
(ii) Casing, cement, cement additives, and/or other
materials used in the construction of each injection well must have
sufficient structural strength and must be of sufficient quality and
quantity to maintain integrity over the design life of the injection
well. All well materials must be suitable for use with fluids with
which the well materials may be expected to come into contact and
must meet or exceed test standards developed for such materials by
the American Petroleum Institute, ASTM International, or comparable
standards as approved by the director.
(iii) Surface casing must extend through the base of
the lowermost USDW above the injection zone and must be cemented to
the surface.
(iv) Circulation of cement may be accomplished by staging.
The director may approve an alternative method of cementing in cases
where the cement cannot be circulated to the surface, provided the
applicant can demonstrate by using logs that the cement does not allow
fluid movement between the casing and the well bore.
(v) At least one long string casing, using a sufficient
number of centralizers, must extend from the surface to the injection
zone and must be cemented by circulating cement to the surface in
one or more stages. The long string casing must isolate the injection
zone and other intervals as necessary for the protection of USDWs
and to ensure confinement of the injected and formation fluids to
the permitted injection zone using cement and/or other isolation techniques.
If the long string casing does not extend through the injection zone,
another well string or liner must be cemented through the injection
zone (for example, a chrome liner).
(vi) The applicant must verify the integrity and location
of the cement using technology capable of radial evaluation of cement
quality and identification of the location of channels to ensure that
USDWs will not be endangered.
Cont'd... |
