California Code of Regulations
Title 14 - Natural Resources
Division 2 - Department of Conservation
Chapter 4 - Development, Regulation, and Conservation of Oil and Gas Resources
Subchapter 1 - Onshore Well Regulations
Article 4 - Underground Injection Control
Section 1724.11 - Surface Expression Prevention and Response

Universal Citation: 14 CA Code of Regs 1724.11

Current through Register 2024 Notice Reg. No. 38, September 20, 2024

(a) Underground injection projects shall not result in any surface expression.

(b) The following requirements apply to all underground injection projects that the Division determines have been known to cause a surface expression, and to all underground injection projects that involve the application of steam to a diatomaceous formation unless it has been demonstrated to the Division's satisfaction on a project-specific basis that surface expressions are not a concern for that project:

(1) The operator shall develop a surface expression monitoring and prevention plan for review and approval by the Division. At a minimum, the plan shall include the following:

(A) A subsurface injection-production mass balancing surveillance system utilizing a continuous tilt meter array or other ground monitoring system approved by the Division; or implementation of a real-time pressure/flow monitoring system that will give adequate warning to prevent surface expressions.

(B) A map of the project area with all surface expressions, including cracks, fissures, and sink holes related to underground injection, and containment measures prominently marked. A current map of these features shall be provided to the Division and shall be updated as these features are discovered, installed, or changed.

(C) Protocols for restriction of access to areas where there are surface expressions or surface expression containment measures.

(D) Training, including safety measures and identification of possible hazards, for field personnel working in areas where there are surface expressions or where surface expressions may occur.

(E) If the Division's determination that an underground injection project is subject to the requirements of this subdivision does not occur until after the Division's approval of the underground injection project, then the operator shall submit this plan to the Division within six months of the Division's determination.

(2) The operator shall have staff on site 24 hours a day to monitor underground injection project operations.

(3) The operator shall conduct daily visual inspections of all wells and production facilities associated with the underground injection project.

(4) The operator shall continuously monitor steam injection rates for active injection wells, and shall monitor injection pressures in accordance with Section 1724.10.4. If, over any 48-hour period, injection pressures show an unplanned variance of more than 25 percent or the injection rate shows an unplanned variance of more than 30 percent, the operator shall immediately notify the Division and initiate a diagnosis within 12 hours, including but not limited to:

(A) Confirmation of data.

(B) Inspection of wells and facilities associated with the anomaly.

(D) Evaluation of ground monitoring data.

(5) If a diagnosis conducted pursuant to subdivision (b)(4) indicates there is a threat of steam leaving the approved injection zone, or if after 72 hours the diagnosis is inconclusive, then the operator shall immediately cease injection in wells with a wellhead that is within 300 feet of the wellhead of the well that experienced the variance. Injection may resume once the Division is satisfied that the threat has been resolved and the appropriate Division district deputy has provided the operator with written approval to restart injection.

(c) Operators shall immediately notify the Division if a surface expression occurs, increases in flow or size, or reactivates within the operator's lease. The notification to the Division shall include a list of all injection wells with a wellhead that is 300 feet or less from any point of the surface expression, ground monitoring data for no less than 14 days immediately preceding the occurrence, and additional data as may be requested by the Division.

(d) The operator shall immediately cease injection in a well if there is a surface expression within 150 feet of its wellhead. If the surface expression continues to flow for more than 24 hours, then the operator shall immediately cease injection in a well if the surface expression is within 300 feet of its wellhead. If the surface expression continues to flow for more than five days, then the operator shall immediately cease injection in a well if the surface expression is within 600 feet of its wellhead. If a surface expression continues to flow for more than 10 days, then the Division will determine an expanded radius around the surface expression within which injection shall cease. The Division will determine the expanded radius based on consideration of the flow rate of the surface expression, geologic factors, and operational parameters.

(e) The Division may direct injection to cease at any injection well, regardless of its distance from a surface expression, if the Division finds reason to believe that the injection well is causing or contributing to a surface expression.

(f) All wells that have ceased injecting pursuant to subdivisions (d) or (e) shall be prominently marked and tagged in the field to indicate that injection is not occurring.

(g) Wells that have ceased injecting pursuant to subdivisions (d) or (e) may not resume injection until the Division is satisfied that the cause of the surface expression has been determined and remediated and the appropriate Division district deputy has provided the operator with written approval to restart injection. With the advance written approval of the Division, the operator may be allowed to conduct limited injection for purposes of identifying the cause of a surface expression.

(h) If a surface expression discharges oil in a reportable quantity, then it shall be immediately reported as an oil spill to the Division and the California Governor's Office of Emergency Services at (800) 852-7550.

(i) Until there has been a determination by a professional engineer licensed under Chapter 7 of Division 3 of the California Business and Professions Code that the surface expression has stopped flowing and the area is safe for reentry, the area where a surface expression has occurred shall be cordoned off to restrict access to the surface expression. Additionally, the operator shall place prominent "Danger" or "Warning" signs, compliant with section of Title 83340 of Title 8 of the California Code of Regulations, near (as safety dictates) the surface expression.

(j) As long as the Division concurs that a surface expression is a low-energy seep, the surface expression is not subject to the prohibition of subdivision (a) or the response requirements of subdivisions (d) through (g).

(k) The volume of any oil removed from the site of the surface expression shall be measured and reported to the Division, consistent with Public Resources Code section 3227, using a unique identifier assigned by the Division.

1. New section filed 2-6-2019; operative 4-1-2019 (Register 2019, No. 6).

Note: Authority cited: Sections 3013 and 3106, Public Resources Code. Reference: Section 3106, Public Resources Code.

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