Louisiana Administrative Code
Title 43 - NATURAL RESOURCES
Part XVII - Office of Conservation-Injection and Mining
Subpart 6 - Statewide Order No. 29-N-6
Chapter 6 - Class VI Injection Wells
Section XVII-627 - Mechanical Integrity
Universal Citation: LA Admin Code XVII-627
Current through Register Vol. 50, No. 9, September 20, 2024
A. Mechanical Integrity
1. A Class VI well has
mechanical integrity if:
a. there is no
significant leak in the casing, tubing, or packer; and
b. there is no significant fluid movement
into a USDW through channels adjacent to the injection wellbore.
2. To evaluate the absence of
significant leaks, owners or operators must:
a. perform an annulus pressure test:
i. after initial well construction or
conversion as part of the pre-operating requirements;
ii. at least once every 12 months witnessed
by an agent of the Office of Conservation; and
iii. after performing any well remedial work
that involves unseating the tubing or packer.
b. continuously monitor injection pressure,
rate, injected volumes; pressure on the annulus between tubing and long-string
casing; and annulus fluid volume as specified in
§621.A 6
3. At least once every 12 months,
use one of the following methods to determine the absence of significant fluid
movement:
a. an approved tracer-type survey
such as a radioactive tracer, oxygen-activation log, or similar tool;
or
b. a temperature or noise
log.
4. If required by
the commissioner, run a casing inspection log at a frequency specified in the
testing and monitoring plan at
§625 to determine the presence or
absence of corrosion in the long-string casing.
5. The commissioner may require other tests
to evaluate well mechanical integrity.
a. The
commissioner may allow the use of a test to demonstrate mechanical integrity
other than those listed above with written approval of the USEPA. To obtain
approval for the use of a new mechanical integrity test, the owner or operator
must submit a written request to the commissioner with details of the proposed
test and all technical data supporting its use, and the commissioner will
submit a written request to the USEPA.
6. In conducting and evaluating the tests
enumerated in this section to be allowed by the commissioner, the owner or
operator and the commissioner must apply methods and standards generally
accepted in the industry. When the owner or operator reports the results of
mechanical integrity tests to the commissioner, a description of the test(s)
and the method(s) used must be included. In making the evaluation, the
commissioner must review monitoring and other test data submitted since the
previous evaluation.
7. The
commissioner may require additional or alternative tests if the mechanical
integrity test results presented are not satisfactory to the commissioner to
demonstrate that there is no significant leak in the casing, tubing, or packer,
or to demonstrate that there is no significant movement of fluid into a USDW
resulting from the injection activity.
AUTHORITY NOTE: Promulgated in accordance with R.S. 30:4 et seq., 30:22 et seq., and 30:1101 et seq.
Disclaimer: These regulations may not be the most recent version. Louisiana may have more current or accurate information. We make no warranties or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained on this site or the information linked to on the state site. Please check official sources.
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