Current through Register Vol. 54, No. 50, December 14, 2024
Section 78.402 - Inspections by the gas storage operator(a) A gas storage operator shall inspect every storage well and observation well in the gas storage field at least once each month. The results of the inspections shall be recorded and retained by the operator and shall be available for review by the Department and the coal owner or operator.(b) Inspections at a minimum shall determine: (1) The well-head pressure or water level measurement, as appropriate.(2) The open flow on the annulus of the production casing or the annulus pressure if the annulus is shut in.(3) If there is evidence of gas escaping from a well using measurement or best estimate of quantity.(4) If there is evidence of progressive corrosion, rusting or other signs of equipment deterioration.(c) Storage operators shall inspect the gas storage reservoir and storage protective area at least annually to discover if material changes have occurred that require an amendment or supplement of the map and data as required in section 301(a) and (b) of the act (58 P. S. § 601.301(a) and (b)). As part of that inspection, gas storage operators shall inspect known abandoned wells and plugged wells within the gas storage reservoir area and the gas storage protective area, subject to the right of entry, at the end of the injection season when the storage pressure is at its highest. The inspection record shall include observed evidence of gas leaking and other conditions that may be hazardous to the public or property.(d) Evidence of a new gas leak and leaks that exceed 5,000 cubic feet per day shall be reported to the Department within 24 hours. Following notification, the gas storage reservoir operator shall file a written report including corrective action taken, or planned, and a detailed explanation of the problem within 10 days. Subsequent reports describing additional corrective action and acquired data may be requested by the Department. This section cited in 25 Pa. Code § 78.403 (relating to gas storage well integrity testing); and 25 Pa. Code § 78.406 (relating to recordkeeping).