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 4 - State-Wide Geothermal Regulations
Article 6 - Injection
Section 1966 - Surveillance

(a) Surveillance of waste water disposal or injection projects is necessary on a continuing basis to establish to the satisfaction of the Supervisor that all water is confined to the intended zone of injection.

(b) When an operator proposes to drill an injection well, convert a producing or idle well to an injection well, or rework an injection well and return it to injection service, the operator shall be required to demonstrate complete casing integrity to the Division by means of a specific test.

(c) To establish the integrity of the casing and the annular cement above the shoe of the casing, within 30 days after injection is started into a well, the operator shall make sufficient surveys to demonstrate that all the injected fluid is confined to the intended zone of injection. Thereafter, such surveys shall be made at least every two years, or more often if ordered by the Supervisor or his or her representative. All such surveys shall be witnessed by a Division engineer.

(d) After the well has been placed on injection, a Division inspector shall visit the well site periodically. At these times, surface conditions shall be noted and, if any unsatisfactory conditions exist, the operator shall be notified of required remedial work. If this required work is not performed within 90 days, the approval issued by the Division shall be rescinded. The Supervisor may order that the repair work be done immediately if it is determined that damage is occurring at a rapid rate.

(e) Injection pressures shall be recorded and compared with the pressures reported on the monthly injection reports. Any discrepancies shall be rectified immediately by the operator. A graph of pressures and rates versus time shall be maintained by the operator. Reasons for anomalies shall be promptly ascertained. If these reasons are such that it appears damage is being done, approval by the Division may be rescinded, and injection shall cease.

(f) When an injection well has been idle for two years, the Division may inform the operator, by letter, that approval for use of the well for injection purposes is rescinded. If the operator intends to reclaim the well for injection purposes, a Rework/Supplementary Notice shall be filed proposing to demonstrate by specified tests that the injected fluid will be confined to the intended zone of injection.