Louisiana Administrative Code › Title 43 - NATURAL RESOURCES › Part XVII - Office of Conservation-Injection and Mining › Subpart 5 - Statewide Order No. 29-M-3 › Chapter 33 - Class III (Solution-Mining) Injection Wells › Section XVII-3319 - Operating Requirements

Current through Register Vol. 50, No. 6, June 20, 2024
A. Cavern
				  Roof. Without exception or variance to these rules and regulations, no cavern
				  shall be used for solution mining if the cavern roof has grown above the top of
				  the salt stock. The operation of an already permitted cavern shall cease and
				  shall not be allowed to continue if information becomes available that shows
				  this condition exists. The Office of Conservation may order the solution-mining
				  well and cavern closed according to an approved closure and post-closure
				  plan.
B. Blanket Material. Before
				  beginning solution-mining operations, a blanket material shall be placed into
				  the cavern to prevent unwanted leaching of the cavern roof. The blanket
				  material shall consist of crude oil, diesel, mineral oil, or other fluid
				  possessing similar noncorrosive, insoluble, low-density properties. The blanket
				  material shall be placed between the outermost hanging string and innermost
				  cemented casing of the cavern and shall be of sufficient volume to coat the
				  entire cavern roof. In all caverns which have not been plugged and abandoned,
				  the cavern roof and level of the blanket material shall be monitored at least
				  once every five years by running a density interface survey or using an
				  alternative method approved by the Office of Conservation. A blanket meeting
				  the requirements of this section shall remain in place for active caverns and
				  shall be removed from inactive caverns only upon the approval of the Office of
				  Conservation.
C. Remedial Work. No
				  remedial work or repair work of any kind shall be performed on the
				  solution-mining well or cavern without prior authorization from the Office of
				  Conservation. The provision for prior authorization shall also extend to doing
				  mechanical integrity pressure and leak tests, sonar caliper surveys, and all
				  logs, including casing inspection logs and through tubing logs; however, a work
				  permit is not required in order to conduct routine interface surveys. The owner
				  or operator or its agent shall submit a valid work permit request form (Form
				  UIC-17 or successor). Before beginning well or cavern remedial work, the
				  pressure in the cavern shall be relieved, as practicable.
D. Well Recompletion-Casing Repair. The
				  following applies to solution-mining wells where remedial work results from
				  well upgrade, casing wear, or similar condition. For each paragraph below, a
				  casing inspection log shall be performed on the entire length of the innermost
				  cemented casing in the well before doing any casing upgrade or repair.
				  Authorization from the Office of Conservation shall be obtained before
				  beginning any well recompletion, repair, upgrade, or closure. A solution-mining
				  well that cannot be repaired or upgraded shall be properly closed according to
				  an approved closure and post-closure plan.
1.
				  Liner. A liner may be used to recomplete or repair a well with severe casing
				  damage. The liner shall be run from the well surface to the base of the
				  innermost cemented casing. The liner shall be cemented over its entire length
				  and shall be successfully pressure tested.
2. Casing Patch. Internal casing patches
				  shall not be used to repair severely corroded or damaged casing. Casing patches
				  shall only be used for repairing or covering isolated pitting, corrosion, or
				  similar localized damage. The casing patch shall extend a minimum of 10 feet
				  above and below the area being repaired. The entire casing shall be
				  successfully pressure tested.