California Code of Regulations › Title 14 - Natural Resources › Division 2 - Department of Conservation › Chapter 4 - Development, Regulation, and Conservation of Oil and Gas Resources › Subchapter 2 - Environmental Protection › Article 4 - Well Stimulation Treatments › Section 1783.4 - Groundwater Sampling, Testing, and Monitoring

Current through Register 2024 Notice Reg. No. 28, July 12, 2024
(a) The purpose of this section is to provide
					 interim model groundwater monitoring criteria for groundwater sampling,
					 testing, and monitoring related to well stimulation that is conducted prior to
					 the finalization of model groundwater monitoring criteria by the State Water
					 Resources Control Board. These interim criteria do not apply to regional
					 groundwater monitoring programs developed by the State Water Resources Control
					 Board or the Regional Water Board.
(b) A well-specific (also referred to as
					 "well-by-well") or area-specific (also referred to as "oil or gas
					 field-specific") groundwater monitoring plan shall include all of the
					 following:
(1) A map and cross section of the
					 well borehole(s) to undergo well stimulation treatment, showing the well
					 name(s), extent and orientation of the planned fracture network, the
					 stratigraphic depths of protected waters, and the stratigraphic depths of
					 low-permeability zones that will function to slow the migration of fluids
					 towards protected waters or the surface.
(2) Complete well construction details for
					 the well borehole(s) to undergo well stimulation treatment and all new and
					 existing groundwater wells that will be used for monitoring.
(3) To the extent that information is
					 publicly available, a map showing the location of all existing groundwater
					 supply wells (public, private domestic, irrigation, and industrial) and
					 groundwater monitoring wells within a 1500-foot radius of the well(s) to
					 undergo well stimulation treatment, or within 500 feet of the surface
					 representation of the horizontal path of the wellbore of any such
					 well.
(4) A map showing location of
					 any abandoned or inactive wells within a 1500-foot radius of the well(s) to
					 undergo well stimulation treatment, or within 500 feet of the surface
					 representation of the horizontal path of the wellbore of any such
					 well.
(5) A map showing location of
					 groundwater wells (new and existing monitoring wells and supply wells) to be
					 sampled in the groundwater monitoring plan.
(6) A contingency plan for reporting
					 information in the event of a well failure, or any other unintended event that
					 has the potential to affect groundwater quality, such as the detection of a
					 fracture beyond the intended zone or into protected waters. A "well failure"
					 means instances where the well casing has been compromised producing a
					 subsurface leak into water bearing zones and is a potential threat to
					 groundwater quality. The contingency plan shall, at a minimum, require the well
					 operator to submit the following information to the Division, the State Water
					 Resources Control Board, and the appropriate Regional Water Board within 48
					 hours of discovery of a well failure or other unintended event that has the
					 potential to affect groundwater quality:
(A) A
					 description of the activities leading up to the well failure or unintended
					 event;
(B) Depth interval(s) of the
					 well failure or unintended event;
(C) Chemical composition of the well
					 stimulation treatment fluid and of the fluid in the well at the time of the
					 well failure, or unintended event; and
(D) An estimate of the volume of fluid lost
					 during well failure, or unintended event.