Oklahoma Administrative Code › Title 165 - Corporation Commission › Chapter 10 - Oil And Gas Conservation › Subchapter 7 - Pollution Abatement › Part 3 - STORAGE AND DISPOSAL OF FLUIDS › Section 165:10-7-20 - Noncommercial disposal or enhanced recovery well pits used for temporary storage of saltwater

Current through Vol. 41, No. 20, July 1, 2024
(a)
Scope.
This Section shall apply to any production operation where
				  a pit is used for temporary storage of saltwater, except (c)(7) of this
				  Section, which shall apply to any noncommercial well, regardless of whether or
				  not a pit is used. Any pit sought to be approved pursuant to this Section will
				  require a permit. The operator of the proposed pit shall submit Form 1014 to
				  the appropriate Conservation Division District Office for review and
				  approval.
(b)
Construction
				  requirements.
(1)
Splash
				  pad/apron.
A splash pad/apron shall be constructed at the unloading area
				  of any noncommercial disposal well or enhanced recovery pit to the design and
				  dimensions necessary to contain and direct all materials unloaded into the pit,
				  unless the pit is of such design that discharge directly into it presents no
				  spill potential.
(2)
Pit
				  specifications.
Except as provided by (4)(A) of this subsection, any
				  noncommercial disposal or enhanced recovery well pit shall be constructed of
				  concrete or steel or be lined with a geomembrane liner according to the
				  following:
(A) Concrete pits must be steel
				  reinforced and have a minimum wall thickness of six inches.
(B) Steel pits must have a minimum wall
				  thickness of three-sixteenths (3/16) inch. A previously used steel pit may be
				  installed, provided it is free of corrosion or other damage.
(C) Geomembrane liners must:
(i) Have a minimum thickness of 30 mils, be
				  chemically compatible with the type of wastes to be contained, and have
				  ultraviolet light protection.
(ii)
				  Be placed over a specially prepared, smooth, compacted surface void of sharp
				  changes in elevation, rocks, clods, organic debris, or other objects.
(iii) Be continuous (may include seams) and
				  cover the bottom and interior sides of the pit entirely. The edges must be
				  securely placed in a minimum twelve inch deep anchor trench around the
				  perimeter of the pit.
(3)
Certification of liner.
The
				  operator of any saltwater storage pit that is constructed with a geomembrane
				  liner shall secure an affidavit signed by the installer, certifying that the
				  liner meets minimum requirements and was installed in accordance with
				  Commission rules. It shall be the operator's responsibility to maintain the
				  affidavit and all supporting documentation pertaining to the liner, such as
				  geomembrane liner specifications from the manufacturer, etc., and shall make
				  them available to a representative of the Conservation Division upon
				  request.
(4)
Monitoring of
				  site.
(A) If not constructed according
				  to one of the three methods in (2) of this subsection, any noncommercial
				  disposal or enhanced recovery well pit shall be required to have a leachate
				  collection system or at least one monitor well, unless it can be shown that the
				  pit is not located over a hydrologically sensitive area. The District Manager
				  may require more than one monitor well if he has reason to believe one would
				  not be sufficient to adequately monitor the site.
(B) Any monitor well shall be installed
				  within 100 feet of the pit. An existing nearby water well may be used as a
				  monitor well upon written approval by the District Manager or Manager of Field
				  Operations.
(C) Any new monitor
				  well shall be drilled to a depth of at least ten feet below the top of the
				  first free water encountered and shall be drilled and completed by a licensed
				  monitor well driller. If documentation is submitted to the District Manager
				  prior to drilling the monitor well to show that no free water will be
				  encountered within a depth of 50 feet from the surface, the District Manager
				  may allow the monitor well(s) to be drilled to a lesser depth or
				  eliminated.
(D) Any new monitor
				  well shall meet the requirements as set out in rules established by the
				  Oklahoma Water Resources Board, in addition to the following requirements:
(i) A removable and lockable cap placed on
				  top of the casing. The cap must remain locked at all times, except when a well
				  is being sampled.
(ii) Within 30
				  days of installation, construction details for any leachate collection system
				  or specific completion information for any monitor well and a diagram of the
				  location of any monitor well in relation to the pit shall be submitted to the
				  Manager of Field Operations.