Current through Register Vol. 50, No. 9, September 20, 2024
A.
Pressure Gauges, Pressure Sensors, Flow Sensors
1. Pressure gauges that show pressure on the
fluid injection string, fluid withdrawal string, and any annulus of the well,
including the blanket material annulus, shall be installed at each wellhead.
Gauges shall be designed to read in 10 PSI increments. All gauges shall be
properly calibrated and shall always be maintained in good working order. The
pressure valves onto which the pressure gauges are affixed shall have 1/2 inch
female fittings.
2. Pressure
sensors designed to automatically close all emergency shutdown valves in
response to a preset pressure (high/low) shall be installed and properly
maintained for all fluid injection and fluid withdrawal strings, and blanket
material annulus.
3. Flow sensors
designed to automatically close all emergency shutdown valves in response to
abnormal increases in cavern injection and withdrawal flow rates shall be
installed and properly maintained on each salt cavern well.
B. Continuous Recording
Instruments. Continuous recording instrumentation shall be installed and
properly maintained for each salt cavern well. Continuous recordings may
consist of circular charts, digital recordings, or similar type. Mechanical
charts shall not exceed a clock period of 24-hour duration. The chart shall be
selected such that its scaling is of sufficient sensitivity to record all
fluctuations of pressure or any other parameter being monitored. The chart
shall be scaled such that the parameter being recorded is 30 percent to 70
percent of full scale. Instruments shall be housed in weatherproof enclosures
when located in areas exposed to climatic conditions. All fluid volumes shall
be determined by metering or an alternate method approved by the Office of
Conservation. Minimum data recorded shall include the following:
1. wellhead pressures on both the fluid
injection and fluid withdrawal strings;
2. wellhead pressure on the blanket material
annulus;
3. volume and flow rate of
waste injected;
4. volume of fluid
withdrawn;
5. salinity of injected
material including the carrier fluid; and
6. density of injected material.
C. Vapor Monitoring and Leak
Detection
1. Without exception or variance to
these rules and regulations, the operator shall develop a monitoring plan
designed to detect the presence of a buildup of noxious vapors, combustible
gases, or any potentially ignitable substances in the atmosphere resulting from
the storage, treatment, processing, and disposal of waste at the facility.
Variations in topography, atmospheric conditions typical to the area,
characteristics of the wastes, nearness of the facility to homes, schools,
commercial establishments, etc. shall be considered in developing the
monitoring plan. The plan shall be submitted as part of the permit application
and should include provisions for the strategic placement of detection devices
at various areas of the facility such as:
a.
waste transfer, waste storage, and waste process areas;
b. salt cavern wellhead(s). An exception may
be allowed for salt cavern wells in close proximity to each other, thus, the
monitoring plan may include installation of detection devices around the
perimeter of the well field; and
c.
any other areas of the facility where may be appropriate.
2. All detection devices or systems
identified in the monitoring plan shall include their integration into the
facility's automatic alarm system. Activation of a detection device or system
alarm shall cause a cessation of all waste acceptance, waste transfer, waste
processing, and waste injection until the reason for the alarm activation has
been determined and corrected.
D. Subsidence Monitoring. The owner or
operator shall prepare and carry out a plan to monitor ground subsidence at and
in the vicinity of the waste disposal cavern(s). Frequency of subsidence
monitoring shall be scheduled to occur annually during the same period. A
monitoring report shall be prepared and submitted to the Office of Conservation
after completion of each monitoring event.
E. Wind Sock. At least one wind sock shall be
installed at all salt cavern waste disposal facilities. The wind sock shall be
visible from any normal work location within the facility.
AUTHORITY NOTE:
Promulgated in accordance with
R.S.
30:4 et
seq.
