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 2 - Environmental Protection
Article 4 - Well Stimulation Treatments
Section 1785 - Monitoring During Well Stimulation Treatment Operations

Universal Citation: 14 CA Code of Regs 1785

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

(a) The operator shall continuously monitor and record all of the following parameters during the well stimulation treatment, if applicable:

(1) Surface injection pressure;

(2) Slurry rate;

(3) Proppant concentration;

(4) Fluid rate; and

(5) All annuli pressures.

(b) The operator shall terminate the well stimulation treatment and immediately provide the collected data to the Division if any of the following occurs:

(1) A pressure change in the annulus between the tubing or casing through which well stimulation treatment fluid is conducted and the next larger tubular or casing more than 20% or greater than the calculated pressure increase due to pressure and/or temperature expansion;

(2) Pressure exceeding 90% of the API rated minimum internal yield on any casing string in communication with the well stimulation treatment, if the pressure testing under Section 1784.1(a)(1) was done at a pressure equal to 100% of the API rated minimum internal yield of the tested casing;

(3) Pressure exceeding 80% of the API rated minimum internal yield on any casing string in communication with the well stimulation treatment, if the pressure testing under Section 1784.1(a)(1) was done at a pressure equal to less than 100% of the API rated minimum internal yield of the tested casing; or

(4) The operator has reason to suspect a potential breach in the cemented casing strings, the tubing strings utilized in the well stimulation treatment operations, or the geologic or hydrologic isolation of the formation.

(c) If any of the events listed in subdivision (b) occurs, then the operator shall perform diagnostic testing on the well to determine whether a breach has occurred. Diagnostic testing shall be done as soon as is reasonably practical. The Division shall be notified when diagnostic testing is being done so that Division staff may witness the testing. All diagnostic testing results shall be immediately provided to the Division.

(d) If diagnostic testing reveals that a breach has occurred, then the operator shall immediately shut-in the well, isolate the perforated interval, and notify the Division and the Regional Water Board with all of the following information:

(1) A description of the activities leading up to the well breach.

(2) Depth interval of the well breach and methods used to determine the depth interval.

(3) An exact description of the chemical constituents of the well stimulation treatment fluid, or of the fluid that is most representative of the fluid composition in the well at the time of the well breach.

(e) The operator shall not resume operation of a well that has been shut-in under subdivision (d) without first obtaining approval from the Division.

(f) Groundwater quality data submitted under subdivision (d) shall be in an electronic format that follows the guidelines detailed in California Code of Regulations, title 23, chapter 30.

(g) If the surface casing annulus is not open to atmospheric pressure, then the surface casing pressures shall be monitored with a gauge and pressure relief device. The maximum set pressure on the relief device shall be the lowest of the following and well stimulation treatment shall be terminated if pressures in excess of the maximum set pressure are observed in the surface casing annulus:

(1) A pressure equal to: 0.70 times 0.433 times the true vertical depth of the surface casing shoe (expressed in feet);

(2) 70% of the API rated minimum internal yield for the surface casing; or

(3) A pressure change that is 20% or greater than the calculated pressure increase due to pressure and/or temperature expansion.

1. New section filed 12-30-2014; operative 7-1-2015 pursuant to Public Resources Code section 3161(a), as amended by SB 4, Stats. 2014, c. 313 (Register 2015, No. 1).
2. Editorial correction of HISTORY 1 (Register 2017, No. 24).

Note: Authority cited: Sections 3013 and 3160, Public Resources Code. Reference: Sections 3106 and 3160, Public Resources Code.

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