Virginia Administrative Code › Title 4 - CONSERVATION AND NATURAL RESOURCES › Agency 25 - DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY › Chapter 170 - GEOTHERMAL ENERGY REGULATIONS › Section 4VAC25-170-40 - Notification of intent to proceed

Current through Register Vol. 40, No. 24, July 15, 2024
The notification of intent to proceed with geothermal
				  production or injection as required by
				  4VAC25-170-30
				  must be accompanied by (i) an operations plan, (ii) a geothermal fluid
				  analysis, and (iii) a proposal for injection of spent fluids.
1. The operations plan shall become part of
				the terms and conditions of any permit that is issued, and the provisions of
				this plan shall be carried out where applicable in the drilling, production,
				and abandonment phase of the operation. The department may require any changes
				in the operations plan necessary to promote geothermal and water resource
				conservation and management, prevent waste, protect potable groundwater
				drinking supplies, or protect the environment, including a requirement for
				injection or unitization. The operations plan shall include the following
				information:
a. An accurate plat or map, on a
				scale not smaller than 400 feet to the inch, showing the proposed location
				using the Virginia Coordinate System of 1983 (§ 1-600 of the Code of
				Virginia), and surface elevation of the production and injection wells as
				determined by survey, the courses and distances of such locations from two
				permanent points or landmarks on said tract, the well numbers, the name of the
				owner, the boundaries and acreage of the tract on which the wells are to be
				drilled, the location of water wells, surface bodies of water, actual or
				proposed access roads, other production and injection wells on adjoining
				tracts, the names of the owners of all adjoining tracts and of any other tract
				within 500 feet of the proposed location, and any building, highway, railroad,
				stream, oil or gas well, mine openings or workings, or quarry within 500 feet
				of the proposed location. The location must be surveyed and the plat certified
				by a professional engineer or registered surveyor and bear his certificate
				number.
b. A summary geologic
				report of the area, including depth to proposed reservoir; type of reservoir;
				anticipated thickness of reservoir; anticipated temperature of the geothermal
				resource; anticipated porosity, permeability and pressure; geologic structures;
				and description of overlying formations and aquifers.
c. The method of meeting the guidelines of
				the Erosion and Sediment Control Regulations as adopted by the State Water
				Control Board pursuant to § 62.1-44.15:52 of the Code of
				Virginia.
d. The method of
				disposing of all drilling muds and fluids, and all cement and other drilling
				materials from the well site; the proposed method of preventing such muds,
				fluids, drillings, or materials from seeping into springs, water wells, and
				surface waters during drilling operations.
e. The method of construction and maintenance
				of access roads, materials to be used, method to maintain the natural drainage
				area, and method of directing surface water runoff from disturbed areas around
				undisturbed areas.
f. The method of
				removing any rubbish or debris during the drilling, production, and abandonment
				phases of the project. All waste shall be handled in a manner that prevents
				fire hazards or the pollution of surface streams and groundwater.
g. The primary and alternative method of
				spent geothermal fluid disposal. All disposal methods shall be in accordance
				with state and federal laws for the protection of land and water
				resources.
h. The methods of
				monitoring fluid quality, fluid temperature, and volumetric rate of production
				and injection wells.
i. The method
				of monitoring potable drinking water aquifers close to production and injection
				zones.
j. The method of monitoring
				for land subsidence.
k. The method
				of plugging and abandoning wells and a plan for reclaiming production and
				injection well sites.
l. The method
				of cleaning scale and corrosion in geothermal casing.
m. A description of measures that will be
				used to minimize any adverse environmental impact of the proposed activities on
				the area's natural resources, aquatic life, or wildlife.