Louisiana Administrative Code
Title 43 - NATURAL RESOURCES
Part XVII - Office of Conservation-Injection and Mining
Subpart 7 - Statewide Order No. 29-M-5
Chapter 37 - Storage Wells in Solution-Mined Salt Dome Cavities
Section XVII-3739 - Additional Criteria Specific to Stored Media
Universal Citation: LA Admin Code XVII-3739
Current through Register Vol. 50, No. 9, September 20, 2024
A. Hydrogen
1. Spacing.
a. Adjacent Structures within the Salt. The
minimum pillar spacing between a hydrogen storage cavern and any other adjacent
structures within the salt shall be determined on a case-by-case basis, and
based upon the depth and configuration of cavern, any geomechanical analyses,
monitoring plan, etc. However, without exception or variance to these rules and
regulations, as measured in any direction, the minimum separation between walls
of adjacent caverns or between the walls of the cavern and any adjacent cavern
or any other manmade structure within the salt stock shall not be less than 200
feet. Hydrogen storage caverns must be operated in a manner that ensures the
walls between any cavern and any other manmade structure maintain the minimum
separation of 200 feet.
b. Salt
Periphery. The minimum separation between the outermost extent of the cavern
and the periphery of the salt stock shall be determined on a case-by-case basis
based upon the substances to be stored, the depth and configuration of the
cavern, any geomechanical analyses, monitoring plan, etc. However, without
exception or variance to these rules and regulations, at no time shall the
minimum separation between the cavern walls at any point and the periphery of
the salt stock for a Class V storage cavern be less than 300 feet.
3. Casing and Cementing
a. The first casing string cemented into the
salt stock shall have connections with seals approved by the
commissioner.
b. Any cemented
casing in contact with the hydrogen stream must have welded connections with
integrity verified by a method approved by the commissioner.
4. Casing Inspection Logs. Unless
specifically exempted by the commissioner, a casing inspection log or approved
alternative method of evaluation shall be run on the entire length of the
innermost cemented casing in each well at least once every five years for Class
V hydrogen storage caverns. Casing inspection logs shall be submitted to the
Office of Conservation and shall include an interpretive report.
5. Any storage of hydrogen into a
solution-mined salt cavern shall require a Class V Hydrogen Storage permit
pursuant to this Chapter unless:
a. the
hydrogen is an incidental part of another permitted constituent stream;
and
b. the hydrogen is compatible
with the cavern, wellbore, and wellhead materials.
6. Any monitoring plan approved by the
commissioner shall include the specific method(s) for detecting and controlling
any hydrogen emissions.
B. Nitrogen
1. Nothing in this chapter shall require
Class V permitting for the use of nitrogen as a blanket material or a test
medium in a Class III solution-mined cavern or Class II hydrocarbon storage
cavern.
C. Helium
1. Spacing
a. Adjacent Structures. Within the Salt. The
minimum pillar spacing between a helium storage cavern and any other adjacent
structures within the salt shall be determined on a case-by-case basis, and
based upon the depth and configuration of cavern, any geomechanical analyses,
monitoring plan, etc. However, without exception or variance to these rules and
regulations, as measured in any direction, the minimum separation between walls
of adjacent caverns or between the walls of the cavern and any adjacent cavern
or any other manmade structure within the salt stock shall not be less than 200
feet. Helium storage caverns must be operated in a manner that ensures the
walls between any cavern and any other manmade structure maintain the minimum
separation of 200 feet.
b. Salt
Periphery. The minimum separation between the outermost extent of the cavern
and the periphery of the salt stock shall be determined on a case-by-case basis
based upon the substances to be stored, the depth and configuration of the
cavern, any geomechanical analyses, monitoring plan, etc. However, without
exception or variance to these rules and regulations, at no time shall the
minimum separation between the cavern walls at any point and the periphery of
the salt stock for a Class V storage cavern be less than 300 feet.
2. Casing and Cementing
a. The first casing string cemented into the
salt stock shall have connections with seals approved by the
commissioner.
b. Any cemented
casing in contact with the helium stream must have welded connections with
integrity verified by a method approved by the commissioner.
AUTHORITY NOTE: Promulgated in accordance with R.S. 30:4 et seq. and R.S. 30:23 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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