La. Admin. Code tit. 43 § XVII-323

Current through Register Vol. 50, No. 11, November 20, 2024

Section XVII-323 - Monitoring Requirements

A. Pressure Gauges, Pressure Sensors, Flow Sensors

1. Pressure gauges or pressure sensors/transmitters that show pressure on the fluid injection string, fluid withdrawal string, and any other string in the well shall be installed at each wellhead. Gauges or pressure sensors/transmitters shall be designed to read gauge pressure in 25 PSIG increments. All gauges or pressure sensors/transmitters shall be properly calibrated and shall always be maintained in good working order. The pressure valves onto which the pressure gauges are affixed shall have 1/2 inch female fittings.

2. Pressure sensors designed to actuate the automatic closure of all emergency shutdown valves in response to a preset pressure (high/low) shall be installed and properly maintained for all fluid injection, withdrawal, and any other appropriate string in the well.

3. Flow sensors designed to actuate the automatic closure of all emergency shutdown valves in response to abnormal changes in cavern injection and withdrawal flow rates shall be installed and properly maintained on each hydrocarbon storage well.

B. Continuous Recording Instruments. Continuous recording instrumentation shall be installed and properly maintained for each hydrocarbon storage well. Continuous recordings may consist of circular charts, digital recordings, or similar type. Unless otherwise specified by the commissioner, digital instruments shall record the required information at no greater than one minute intervals. Mechanical charts shall not exceed a clock period of 24-hour duration. The chart shall be selected such that its scaling is of sufficient sensitivity to record all fluctuations of pressure or any other parameter being monitored. The chart shall be scaled such that the parameter being recorded is 30 percent to 70 percent of full scale. Instruments shall be housed in weatherproof enclosures when located in areas exposed to climatic conditions. All fluid volumes shall be determined by metering or an alternate method approved by the Office of Conservation. Minimum data recorded shall include the following:

1. wellhead pressures on the fluid injection, fluid withdrawal, and any other string in the well;

2. volume and flow rate of fluid injected;

3. volume of fluid withdrawn.

C. Casing Inspection

1. A casing inspection or similar log shall be run on the entire length of the innermost cemented casing in each well at least once every 10 years for liquid hydrocarbon storage caverns and every 15 years for natural gas storage caverns. Casing inspection logs shall be submitted to the Office of Conservation and shall include an interpretive report.

2. Equivalent alternate monitoring programs to ensure the integrity of the innermost, cemented casing may be approved by the Office of Conservation in place of §323.C 1

3. - 4. Repealed.

D. Vapor Detection. The operator shall develop a monitoring plan designed to detect the presence of a buildup of combustible gases or any potentially ignitable substances in the atmosphere resulting from the hydrocarbon storage operation. Variations in surface topography, atmospheric conditions typical to the area, characteristics of the stored product, proximity of the facility to homes, schools, commercial establishments, etc., should be considered in developing the monitoring plan. The plan shall be submitted as part of the permit application and should be updated as needed but no less than every five years, and may be included within the submittal required in §309.K The monitoring plan should include provisions for strategic placement of stationary detection devices at various areas of the facility, portable monitoring devices, or any other appropriate system acceptable to the commissioner.

1. Any stationary detection devices or systems identified in the monitoring plan shall include their integration into the facility's automatic alarm system.

2. Detection of a buildup of combustible gases or any potentially ignitable substances in the atmosphere or system alarm shall cause an immediate investigation by the operator for reason of and correction of the detection.

E. Subsidence Monitoring and Frequency. The owner or operator shall prepare and carry out a plan approved by the commissioner to monitor subsidence at and in the vicinity of the hydrocarbon storage cavern(s). A monitoring report shall be prepared and submitted to the Office of Conservation after completion of each monitoring even.

1. Subsidence monitoring surveys for caverns in gas or liquid storage shall be scheduled to occur annually during the same period each year. If there are multiple operators on the same salt dome, a collaborative effort to conduct a joint subsidence survey is recommended.

2. When multiple cavern owners or operators participate in dome-wide subsidence monitoring, a single dome-wide subsidence monitoring report shall be submitted to the Office of Conservation on behalf of all participating owners or operators. The report must clearly identify all owners or operators participating in the monitoring and all wells/caverns.

F. Wind Sock. At least one windsock shall be installed at all storage cavern facilities. The windsock shall be visible from any normal work location within the facility.

G. Monitor Wells. Quarterly monitoring of any monitor wells required by §317. A.2 a

La. Admin. Code tit. 43, § XVII-323

Promulgated by the Department of Natural Resources, Office of Conservation, LR 40:363 (February 2014), Amended LR 42423 (3/1/2016), Amended LR 482355 (9/1/2022).

AUTHORITY NOTE: Promulgated in accordance with R.S. 30:4 et seq.