New Jersey Administrative Code › Title 7 - ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION › Chapter 9D - WELL CONSTRUCTION AND MAINTENANCE; SEALING OF ABANDONED WELLS › Subchapter 2 - REQUIREMENTS AND PROCEDURES FOR THE CONSTRUCTION, INSTALLATION, OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE OF WELLS › Section 7:9D-2.5 - Requirements for the installation of Category 5, 6, and 7 wells

Current through Register Vol. 56, No. 14, July 15, 2024
(a) In
				addition to the well permitting requirements in N.J.A.C. 7:9D-1 and the well
				construction requirements in
N.J.A.C.
				7:9D-2.2
, the following
				requirements apply to all Category 5 vertical closed loop geothermal wells:
1. The vertical closed loop geothermal well
				shall be constructed using a borehole with sufficient diameter to allow for
				proper grouting;
2. The tremie or
				grout pipe shall be installed to the total drilled depth upon completion of the
				borehole. The entire annular space between the closed loop and the uncased
				borehole shall be tremie pressure grouted in accordance with
N.J.A.C. 7:9D-2.9
and
2.10
using the following materials:
i. Sodium-based bentonite, cement-based
				geothermal grout in accordance with Table 4 at Appendix A, bentonite-based
				geothermal grout mixed in accordance with Table 5 at Appendix A and
				incorporated herein by reference or equal for wells constructed into
				unconsolidated formations; and
ii.
				Cement-based geothermal grout or bentonite-based geothermal grout containing a
				minimum silica sand content of 200 pounds per 50 pounds of bentonite for wells
				constructed into consolidated formations;
3. The circulating fluids utilized in the
				closed loop system shall be potable water or an appropriate mixture of potable
				water with one of the following antifreeze solutions:
i. Calcium Chloride;
ii. Ethanol;
iii. Potassium Acetate;
iv. Potassium Carbonate;
v. Propylene Glycol; or
vi. Sodium Chloride;
4. Pipe material for the underground buried
				portion of the heat exchanger shall be polyethylene pipe as specified below:
i. 160 psi Polyethylene - All material shall
				maintain a 1600 psi hydrostatic design basis at 73.4 degrees F per
				ASTMD-2837-11, and shall be listed in PPI TR4 as a PE3408 piping formulation.
				The material shall be a high density, polyethylene extrusion compound having a
				cell classification of PE345434C or PE355434C with a UV stabilizer of C, D or E
				as specified in ASTM D-3350-10A with the following exception: this material
				shall exhibit zero failures (FO) when tested for 192 or more hours under ASTM
				D-1693-08, condition C, as required in ASTM D-3350-10A, incorporated herein by
				reference, as amended and supplemented;
ii. PEXa crosslinked high density
				polyethylene piping manufactured in accordance with ASTM F-876 to a Standard
				Dimension Ratio (SDR) of 9 and rated at 160 psi at 73.4 degrees Fahrenheit per
				ASTM D-2837, incorporated herein by reference, as amended and
				supplemented.
5. Buried
				pipe systems shall be joined so that the resultant assembly is leak-proof using
				one of the following methods:
i. The heat
				fusion process in accordance with the pipe manufacturer's
				specifications;
ii. Those joined
				using the International Ground Source Heat Pump Association (IGSHPA) approved
				mechanical stab fittings; or
iii.
				Polymer electro-fusion fittings and cold-expansion compression-sleeve fittings
				for the joining of PEXa piping in accordance with IGSHPA and the manufacturer's
				specifications.