Illinois Administrative Code
Title 62 - MINING
Part 245 - HYDRAULIC FRACTURING REGULATORY ACT
Subpart H - HIGH VOLUME HORIZONTAL HYDRAULIC FRACTURING PREPARATIONS AND OPERATIONS
Section 245.845 - Management of Gas and Produced Hydrocarbons During Flowback
Current through Register Vol. 48, No. 12, March 22, 2024
For wells regulated by this Part, permittees shall be responsible for managing natural gas and hydrocarbon fluids produced during the flowback period to ensure no direct release to the atmosphere or environment as follows:
a) Except for wells covered by subsection (f), recovered hydrocarbon fluids shall be:
b) Except for wells covered by subsection (e), recovered natural gas shall be:
c) If it is technically infeasible or economically unreasonable to minimize emissions associated with the venting of hydrocarbon fluids and natural gas during the flowback period using the methods specified in subsections (a) and (b), the Department, in consultation with the Agency as the Department deems appropriate, shall require the permittee to capture and direct the emissions to a completion combustion device, except:
d) In order to establish technical infeasibility under subsection (c), the permittee must demonstrate to the Department's satisfaction that the technology listed in subsections (a) and (b) does not exist, cannot be installed at the well site, will not achieve the result intended, or is otherwise unavailable or ineffective. The permittee claiming economic unreasonableness shall provide the Department with the following:
e) Completion combustion devices must be equipped with an auto-igniter and a reliable continuous ignition source over the duration of the flowback period. (Section 1-75(e)(3) of the Act)
f) For each wildcat well, delineation well, or low pressure well, permittees shall be responsible for minimizing the emissions associated with venting of hydrocarbon fluids and natural gas during the flowback period by capturing and directing the emissions to a completion combustion device during the flowback period, except in conditions that may result in a fire hazard or explosion, or where high heat emissions from a completion combustion device may negatively impact waterways. Completion combustion devices shall be equipped with a reliable continuous ignition source over the duration of the flowback period. (Section 1-75(e)(8) of the Act)