Louisiana Administrative Code › Title 43 - NATURAL RESOURCES › Part XIX - Office of Conservation-General Operations › Subpart 1 - Statewide Order No. 29-B › Chapter 5 - Off-Site Storage, Treatment and/or Disposal of Exploration and Production Waste Generated from Drilling and Production of Oil and Gas Wells › Section XIX-547 - Commercial Exploration and Production Waste Treatment and Disposal Options

Current through Register Vol. 50, No. 6, June 20, 2024
A. Commercial
				  facilities and transfer stations may be permitted to conduct one or more of the
				  following acceptable commercial E and P Waste treatment and disposal options.
1. Class II Injection Well. Produced salt
				  water is required to be disposed by injection into a Class II well pursuant to
				  the requirements of Chapter 4 of LAC 43:XIX. Other E and P Waste fluids may be
				  injected into a Class II well upon approval of the Office of Conservation.
				  Class II wells may be operated in conjunction with other treatment and disposal
				  options. The requirements for permitting a Class II well are found in Chapter 4
				  of these regulations (LAC 43:XIX.401 et seq.).
2. Class II Well Slurry Fracture Injection.
				  The process of mixing E and P Waste solids with fluids for subsurface
				  injection. The solids/fluids mixture (slurry) is then pumped at or above
				  fracture gradients into a suitably characterized subsurface reservoir. A series
				  of fractures are created forming a sphere around the perforated interval. These
				  fractures grow at different orientations around the wellbore and constitute the
				  disposal domain. Slurry fracture injection can only be approved when
				  appropriate regulations are adopted/promulgated.
3. Land Treatment. A dynamic process
				  involving the controlled application of E and P Waste onto or into the aerobic
				  surface soil horizon by a commercial facility, accompanied by continued
				  monitoring and management, to alter the physical, chemical, and biological
				  state of the E and P Waste. Site, soil, climate, and biological activity
				  interact as a system to degrade and immobilize E and P Waste constituents
				  thereby rendering the area suitable for the support of vegetative growth and
				  providing for beneficial future land use or to meet the reuse criteria of
				  §565 The requirements for permitting a land treatment system are found in
				  §519. C and §523
4.
				  Phase Separation. The process of treating or pretreating oil and gas E and P
				  Waste by physical and/or chemical methods which separate the fluid (water),
				  solid, and oily fractions. Such process can be accomplished by any number of
				  methods, including, but not limited to the use of a centrifuge, belt-press,
				  flocculation, or other methods. The fractions are then further treated or
				  disposed by other acceptable methods. Fluids generally are required to be
				  disposed of into a Class II disposal well. Solids may be further treated or
				  disposed of by one of the options listed herewith. Oil may be sent to a salvage
				  oil reclaimer or sold to a refiner. The equipment and processes utilized in
				  phase separation of E and P Waste must be described in detail in the permit
				  application.
5. Thermal Desorption.
				  The process of heating E and P Waste in an enclosed chamber under either
				  oxidizing or non-oxidizing atmospheres at sufficient temperature and residence
				  time to vaporize organic contaminants from contaminated surfaces and surface
				  pores and to remove the contaminants from the heating chamber in a gaseous
				  exhaust system. The equipment and processes utilized in thermal desorption of E
				  and P Waste must be described in detail in the permit application. The criteria
				  for treatment of E and P Waste by thermal desorption will be set on a
				  case-by-case basis.
6. Cavern
				  Disposal. The utilization of a solution-mined salt cavern for the disposal of E
				  and P waste fluids and solids. Applicants for permits and operators of
				  commercial E and P waste salt cavern disposal wells must comply with the
				  requirements of this Chapter (LAC 43:XIX.501 et seq.) and the applicable
				  requirements of Statewide Order No. 29-M-2, LAC 43:XVII, 3101 et seq. (see
				  §555).
7. Incineration. The
				  burning of organic E and P Waste materials. This treatment/disposal technique
				  is used to destroy organic compounds with the reduction of the material to its
				  mineral constituents. The equipment and processes utilized to incinerate E and
				  P Waste must be described in detail in the permit application. The criteria for
				  treatment of E and P Waste by incineration will be set on a case-by-case
				  basis.
8. Solidification (Chemical
				  Fixation). The addition of agents to convert liquid or semi-liquid E and P
				  Waste to a solid before burial to reduce leaching of E and P Waste material and
				  the possible migration of the E and P Waste or its constituents from the
				  facility. The equipment and processes utilized to solidify E and P Waste must
				  be described in detail in the permit application. The criteria for treatment of
				  E and P Waste by solidification will be set on a case-by-case basis.
9. Stabilization (Chemical Fixation). An E
				  and P Waste treatment process that decreases the mobility or solubility of E
				  and P Waste constituents by means other than solidification. Examples of
				  stabilization techniques include chemical precipitation or pH alteration to
				  limit solubility and mixing of E and P Waste with sorbents such as fly ash to
				  remove free liquids. The equipment and processes utilized to stabilize E and P
				  Waste must be described in detail in the permit application. The criteria for
				  treatment of E and P Waste by stabilization will be set on a case-by-case
				  basis.