La. Admin. Code tit. 43 § XVII-3125

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

Section XVII-3125 - Monitoring Requirements

A. Pressure Gauges, Pressure Sensors, Flow Sensors

1. Pressure gauges that show pressure on the fluid injection string, fluid withdrawal string, and any annulus of the well, including the blanket material annulus, shall be installed at each wellhead. Gauges shall be designed to read in 10 PSI increments. All gauges 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 automatically close all emergency shutdown valves in response to a preset pressure (high/low) shall be installed and properly maintained for all fluid injection and fluid withdrawal strings, and blanket material annulus.

3. Flow sensors designed to automatically close all emergency shutdown valves in response to abnormal increases in cavern injection and withdrawal flow rates shall be installed and properly maintained on each salt cavern well.

B. Continuous Recording Instruments. Continuous recording instrumentation shall be installed and properly maintained for each salt cavern well. Continuous recordings may consist of circular charts, digital recordings, or similar type. 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 both the fluid injection and fluid withdrawal strings;

2. wellhead pressure on the blanket material annulus;

3. volume and flow rate of waste injected;

4. volume of fluid withdrawn;

5. salinity of injected material including the carrier fluid; and

6. density of injected material.

C. Vapor Monitoring and Leak Detection

1. Without exception or variance to these rules and regulations, the operator shall develop a monitoring plan designed to detect the presence of a buildup of noxious vapors, combustible gases, or any potentially ignitable substances in the atmosphere resulting from the storage, treatment, processing, and disposal of waste at the facility. Variations in topography, atmospheric conditions typical to the area, characteristics of the wastes, nearness of the facility to homes, schools, commercial establishments, etc. shall be considered in developing the monitoring plan. The plan shall be submitted as part of the permit application and should include provisions for the strategic placement of detection devices at various areas of the facility such as:

a. waste transfer, waste storage, and waste process areas;

b. salt cavern wellhead(s). An exception may be allowed for salt cavern wells in close proximity to each other, thus, the monitoring plan may include installation of detection devices around the perimeter of the well field; and

c. any other areas of the facility where may be appropriate.

2. All detection devices or systems identified in the monitoring plan shall include their integration into the facility's automatic alarm system. Activation of a detection device or system alarm shall cause a cessation of all waste acceptance, waste transfer, waste processing, and waste injection until the reason for the alarm activation has been determined and corrected.

D. Subsidence Monitoring. The owner or operator shall prepare and carry out a plan to monitor ground subsidence at and in the vicinity of the waste disposal cavern(s). Frequency of subsidence monitoring shall be scheduled to occur annually during the same period. A monitoring report shall be prepared and submitted to the Office of Conservation after completion of each monitoring event.

E. Wind Sock. At least one wind sock shall be installed at all salt cavern waste disposal facilities. The wind sock shall be visible from any normal work location within the facility.

La. Admin. Code tit. 43, § XVII-3125

Promulgated by the Department of Natural Resources, Office of Conservation, LR 29:931 (June 2003).

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