La. Admin. Code tit. 43 § XVII-329

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

Section XVII-329 - Cavern Configuration and Capacity Measurements

A. Sonar caliper surveys shall be performed on all storage caverns. With prior approval of the Office of Conservation, the operator may use another similar proven technology designed to determine cavern configuration and measure cavern capacity as a substitute for a sonar survey.

B. Frequency of Surveys. For liquid hydrocarbon storage caverns, a sonar caliper survey of the entire cavern, or other approved survey, shall be performed at least once every 5 years and must include horizontal shots beginning just below the deepest cemented casing shoe. At least once every 10 years a sonar caliper survey, or other approved survey, shall be performed that logs the roof of the cavern using uptilted shots. For natural gas storage caverns, a sonar caliper survey, or other approved survey, shall be performed at least once every 5 years and must include horizontal shots beginning just below the deepest cemented casing shoe. At least once every 15 years a sonar caliper survey, or other approved survey, shall be performed that logs the roof of the cavern using uptilted shots. For natural gas storage caverns engaging in simultaneous storage and salt solution mining or washing, a sonar caliper survey, or other approved survey, shall be performed in accordance with this article or in accordance with LAC 43:XVII.3329, whichever requires the more frequent survey. For storage caverns of a small size, stable configuration, and favorable positioning within the salt stock, the commissioner may approve partial sonar caliper surveys in fulfillment of the required surveys excepting the required survey at least once every 15 years to log the roof of the cavern. Additional surveys as specified by the Office of Conservation shall be performed for any of the following reasons regardless of frequency:

1. before commencing cavern closure operations;

2. whenever leakage into or out of the cavern system is suspected;

3. before returning the cavern to storage service after a period of salt solution-mining or washing to purposely increase storage cavern size or capacity;

4. after completion of any additional mining or salt washing for caverns engaging in simultaneous storage and salt solution-mining or washing;

5. after completion of any additional mining or salt washing for caverns engaging in simultaneous storage and salt solution mining or washing;

6. whenever the Office of Conservation determines a survey is warranted.

C. Submission of Survey Results. A complete electronic version of each survey shall be submitted to the Office of Conservation within 60 days of survey completion.

1. Survey readings shall be taken a minimum of every 10 feet of vertical depth. Sonar reports shall contain the following minimum information and presentations:

a. tabulation of incremental and total cavern volume for every survey reading;

b. tabulation of the cavern radii at various azimuths for every survey reading;

c. tabulation of the maximum cavern radii at various azimuths;

d. graphical plot of cavern depth versus volume;

e. graphical plot of the maximum cavern radii;

f. vertical cross-sections of the cavern at various azimuths drawn to an appropriate horizontal and vertical scale;

g. cross-section overlays comparing results of current survey and at least two previous surveys, if available;

h. isometric or 3-D shade profile of the cavern at various azimuths and rotations;

i. any data collected from prior surveys shall be clearly identified if included in the submitted report.

2. The information submitted resulting from use of an approved alternative survey method to determine cavern configuration and measure cavern capacity shall be determined based on the method or type of survey.

La. Admin. Code tit. 43, § XVII-329

Promulgated by the Department of Natural Resources, Office of Conservation, LR 40:366 (February 2014), Amended LR 42423 (3/1/2016), Amended LR 482357 (9/1/2022).

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