Source: https://hew-tex.com/facts-and-information/
Timestamp: 2019-04-21 18:48:34+00:00

Document:
What is the difference between a disposal well and an injection well?
Injection wells inject fluids into a reservoir for the purpose of enhanced oil recovery from the reservoir. The vast majority of wells in Texas are injection wells. Operators use injection wells to increase or maintain pressure in an oil field that has been depleted by oil production and also to displace or sweep more oil toward producing wells. This type of secondary recovery is sometimes referred to as waterflooding.
SOURCE: Distribution of Wells Monitored by the Railroad Commission, updated August 29, 2014 and online Oil and Gas Data Query-Injection/ Disposal Permit Query.
Operators are required to follow the Railroad Commission of Texas (Commission) disposal regulations administered by the agency’s Technical Permitting Section - Underground Injection Control (UIC) Program. Underground Injection Control is a program that is federally delegated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to Texas, and it follows national guidelines under the federal Safe Drinking Water Act for surface and groundwater protection. EPA awarded the Commission primary enforcement responsibility over oil and gas injection and disposal wells on April 23, 1982.
How does the Railroad Commission regulate injection and disposal wells?
Authority over underground injection of fluids produced as a result of oil and gas exploration and production activities has been delegated to the Commission by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and follows national requirements adopted under the federal Safe Drinking Water Act regarding groundwater protection. The Commission’s Underground Injection Control (UIC) program features regulations specifically tailored to protect underground sources of drinking water from harm resulting from injection or disposal of oilfield waste into underground formations.
In accordance with 16 Texas Administrative Code (TAC) §3.9 and §3.46 (Statewide Rules 9 and 46)], the Commission grants injection and disposal wells permits for UIC Class II wells (injection wells associated with oil and gas production) when they meet the requirements of the Commission’s UIC Program. The UIC permitting process features numerous requirements and safeguards including: notice to the public [16 TAC §3.9(5) and §3.46(c)]; hearing opportunities; a review of area geology; and required areas of review [16 TAC §3.9(7)(A) and §3.46(e)(1)] near the proposed wells to determine if there are other wells penetrating the same geologic horizon proposed for disposal.
determine that there are no known improperly completed, improperly plugged or unplugged and abandoned oil and gas wells within at least a ¼ mile radius of the proposed injection well (This is known as the area of review 16 TAC §3.9 (7) and §3.46 (e), and may be expanded up to one mile radius or more in some circumstances).
For a commercial disposal facility, permits include requirements in addition to those listed above, such as restricted access through a 24-hour security guard or a gated and locked facility, and leak and overflow protection requirements.
In addition to the UIC permitting process, the Commission’s requirements for proper well construction and completion, injection procedures and monitoring ensure that fresh water sources are not impacted by produced water.
The Commission also regulates the surface management of oil and gas waste through other rules. See 16 TAC §3.8 (Statewide Rule 8).
What factors may the Commission consider in determining whether to grant or deny an application for a disposal well?
The Commission has been granted the authority to issue permits for oil and gas disposal wells. See Section 27.031 of the Texas Water Code. In reviewing applications for disposal well permits, the Commission is tasked with determining whether: both ground and surface fresh water can be adequately protected from pollution; the use or installation of the well is in the public interest; the installation of the well will endanger or injure any oil, gas or other mineral formation; and the applicant has made a satisfactory showing of financial responsibility. See Section 27.051(b) of the Texas Water Code.
In fulfilling its responsibilities under this statutory provision, the Commission’s focus is on protecting the public and our state’s natural environment, while allowing for the safe, responsible production of our natural resources. In determining whether the use of the proposed disposal well is in the public interest, the Commission analyzes whether the well will provide needed additional disposal capacity and an economical and safe means of disposing of oil and gas waste, thereby increasing the ultimate recovery of oil and gas and preventing waste. Matters such as increased truck traffic, perceived safety threats to the public, diminution of property values and other general community impacts have long been viewed as matters beyond the Commission’s jurisdiction. In Railroad Commission of Texas v. Texas Citizens for Safe and Clean Water, et al., 336 S.W.3d 619 (2011), the Texas Supreme Court held that the Commission’s longstanding interpretation of this statutory provision was reasonable and in accord with its plain language.
What are the construction standards for a disposal well?
Commission rules for the construction of all oil and gas related wells, including injection or disposal wells, are intended to protect groundwater and require multiple layers of cement and steel to ensure that usable quality water is protected. Disposal wells inject saltwater into underground formations, often over a mile in depth, into sub-surface zones that already contain naturally occurring saltwater. In contrast, wells that supply fresh water can vary in depth throughout the state, but generally range from no deeper than a few hundred to a thousand feet.
In accordance with 16 TAC §3.13 (Statewide Rule 13), a disposal well’s construction standards for disposal wells typically require three layers of casing to ensure groundwater is protected.
The first protection layer is surface casing; a steel pipe that is encased in cement that reaches from the ground surface to the base of the deepest usable quality groundwater. Surface casing also acts as a protective sleeve through which deeper drilling occurs.
The second protection layer is the production casing;a pipe inside the surface casing and extending to the well’s total depth and permanently cemented in place. Wells may also be constructed with an intermediate casing between the surface casing and the production casing.
The third protection layer is the injection tubing string and packer that conducts the injected water down through the production casing to perforations at the bottom of the well to inject the water into an underground formation. The tubing/packer assembly creates an isolated annulus that is monitored to detect any pressure changes that may indicate a leak or other type of mechanical issue and allow the well to be shut down before any harm could occur. [Also see 16 TAC §3.9 (9)(A) and §3.46 (g)(1).
How are these wells monitored and inspected?
Operators are required to report to the Railroad Commission monthly average injection rates, total monthly volumes, and maximum wellhead injection pressures for wells, both to assure the injection rates and pressures are consistent with amounts specified in the Commission’s injection/disposal permit and to signal if a significant pressure change occurs. If there is a significant pressure change on the well or if other monitoring data indicates the presence of leaks, an operator is required to notify the RRC District Office within 24 hours. If there is a problem, the Commission requires wells to be shut in and repaired.
The Railroad Commission inspects commercial disposal wells (wells that take produced water from various operators for a fee) at least once per year.
There is no “schedule” for non-commercial disposal or injection well inspections. These wells are inspected based on several factors including their location (near sensitive environmental areas or public areas) and the operator’s compliance record.
In addition to inspections, each saltwater disposal well is required to be tested for mechanical integrity to show there are no leaks before the well begins to inject fluid. After this initial test, wells also must undergo mechanical integrity tests at least once every five years. The Railroad Commission’s standard mechanical integrity test (MIT) is designed to identify small leaks before they become catastrophic failures. Wells that fail MITs must be shut in immediately and repaired until they pass an MIT, or plugged within 60 to 90 days. Operators are required to notify the commission prior to conducting the test to allow the Commission’s staff the opportunity to witness the test. Commission inspectors randomly witness about one third of these tests to verify compliance. The commission often directs injection well operators to conduct an MIT to verify the mechanical integrity of a well when troubleshooting potential problems.
How are interested persons in a community notified of a proposed disposal or injection well?
Notification requirements are found in 16 TAC §3.9 (5) and §3.46 (c). For non-commercial wells, the surface owner, county clerk, city clerk for wells within municipal boundaries, and nearby oil and gas well operators must be mailed or hand delivered a copy of the application. In addition, notice of the application must be published in a local newspaper of general circulation. For commercial wells, all surface owners adjoining the tract of the well’s location are required to be directly notified.
What is the procedure to protest a proposed disposal well or injection?
In accordance with 16 TAC §3.9 (5)(E) and §3.46 (c)(5), any permit application that is timely protested cannot be approved until there has been notice and opportunity for hearing. To be timely, a protest must be received within 15 days of receipt of the application of publication, whichever is later [See 16 TAC §3.9(5)(E)(i) and §3.46(c)(5)(A)].
All applications for injection and disposal well permits are carefully reviewed by the Commission’s technical staff to ensure they meet the Commission’s requirements. Additionally, the EPA reviews the Commission’s program each year to ensure that it is in compliance with federal standards and the Commission’s primary agreement.
How many gallons of fluid are disposed in the wells?
You can use the online H-10 Annual Disposal/Injection Well Monitoring Report Query to obtain information on the amounts of fluid injected. Searches can be conducted by Commission district or county, operator number, lease or field. Be sure to use the reset button if you are performing more than one query.
Is it possible to look up injection/disposal wells on the RRC website?
Yes, you can view currently permitted injection/disposal wells on the Commission website using the Injection/Disposal Permit Query .
Operator contact information needed to conduct the query, such as telephone numbers and addresses, is available on the Commission’s website.
Is there a map that show where these wells are located?
All wells, including injection/disposal wells, can be found on the Commission’s Public GIS Map Viewer for Oil Gas Wells, Pipeline Data and LP Gas Sites. The map includes a legend designating the icon for an injection/disposal well. It is best to block pop-ups when using this map.
Has the Railroad Commission found any relationship between saltwater disposal wells and earthquakes?
In April 2014, the Commission hired a seismologist to strengthen the Commission’s ability to understand and evaluate new research, as well as to coordinate an exchange of information with the research community regarding seismic activity that might be related to oil and gas activities. The Commission seismologist has also assisted in drafting rule amendments relating to the issue of seismicity and disposal well operations in Texas.
Why isn’t this fluid being recycled instead of injected?
While some portion of hydraulic fracturing flow back fluid may be recycled or reused in subsequent hydraulic fracturing jobs, the majority of these fluids are disposed of by injection into geologically confined underground formations.
The primary reason cited by operators for injecting waste fluid is that it is less expensive than recycling. However, just as operators have used technology to bring about advances in oil production, they are also looking for technological advances to reduce fresh water use.
In March 2013, the Commission adopted new rules to encourage Texas operators to continue their efforts at conserving water used in the hydraulic fracturing process for oil and gas wells, even though hydraulic fracturing and total mining use accounts for less than 1 percent of statewide water use, with irrigation, municipalities and manufacturing making up state’s top three water consumers.
Major changes adopted to the Commission’s water recycling rules include eliminating the need for a Commission recycling permit if operators are recycling fluid on their own leases or transferring their fluids to another operator’s lease for recycling. The changes adopted by the Commission also clearly identify recycling permit application requirements and reflect existing standard field conditions for recycling permits.
The Commission hopes that by removing regulatory hurdles, these rule amendments will help foster recycling efforts by oil and gas operators who continue to examine ways to reduce freshwater use when hydraulically fracturing wells.
Click here to learn more about hydraulic fracturing.
Click here to learn more about water use in association with oil and gas activities.
What can be done about the increased truck traffic and potential road damage caused by traffic going to and from saltwater disposal wells?
The Commission does not have the statutory authority to regulate truck traffic or potential road damage, but encourages the safe, reasonable transportation of materials used or produced by the oil and gas industry. The Texas Department of Transportation and local county or municipal governments have the authority and jurisdiction to address traffic and road damage issues.

References: §3
 §3
 §3
 §3
 §3
 §3
 §3
 §3
 §3
 v. 
 §3
 §3
 §3
 §3
 §3
 §3
 §3
 §3
 §3