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 5 - Requirements for Underground Gas Storage Projects
Section 1726.8 - Inspection, Testing, and Maintenance of Wellheads and Valves
Current through Register 2024 Notice Reg. No. 38, September 20, 2024
(a) Where installed, the operator of an underground gas storage project shall test all surface safety valves on the wellhead and all subsurface safety valve systems at least every six months. The tests shall be conducted in accordance with American Petroleum Institute Recommended Practice 14B (6th Edition, September 2015), hereby incorporated by reference, or a Division approved equivalent, to confirm operational integrity. The appropriate district office shall be notified at least 48 hours before performing testing so that Division staff may witness the operations, and documentation of the testing shall be maintained and available for Division review. A closed storage well safety valve system shall be re-opened with operator staff at the site of the valve to ensure the absence of any unforeseen issues. Within 90 days of finding that a surface or subsurface safety valve is inoperable, the operator shall either repair the safety valve or temporarily plug the well. An appropriate alternative timeframe for testing a valve or addressing an inoperable surface or subsurface safety valve may be required by the Division.
(b) At least annually, the operator of an underground gas storage project shall test all valves on the wellhead, including the master valve and wellhead pipeline isolation valve for proper function and verify ability to isolate the well.
(c) The operator shall equip gas storage wells with valves to provide isolation of the wells from the pipeline system and to allow for entry into the wells.
(d) The operator shall equip all ports on the wellhead assembly above the casing bowl of gas storage wells with valves, blind flanges, or similar equipment that are rated to withstand the maximum operational pressures.
1. New section filed 6-28-2018; operative 10-1-2018 (Register 2018, No. 26).
Note: Authority cited: Sections 3013, 3106 and 3180, Public Resources Code. Reference: Sections 3106, 3180, 3181, 3220 and 3403.5, Public Resources Code.
