Nebraska Administrative Code
Topic - ENVIRONMENT AND ENERGY
Title 122 - NEBRASKA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
Chapter 17 - CONSTRUCTION AND SITING REQUIREMENTS; CLASS I, III, and V INJECTION WELLS AND MINERAL PRODUCTION WELLS
Section 122-17-002 - Specific Requirements for Class I Injection Wells

Universal Citation: 122 NE Admin Rules and Regs ch 17 ยง 002

Current through March 20, 2024

002.01 All Class I well designs shall be submitted by a professional engineer.

002.02 All Class I wells shall be sited in such a fashion that they inject into a formation which is beneath the lowermost formation containing an underground source of drinking water that is located within one quarter mile of the injection well bore.

002.03 All Class I wells shall be cased and cemented to prevent the movement of fluids into or between underground sources of drinking water. The casing and cement used in the construction of each newly drilled well shall be designed for the life expectancy of the well. In determining and specifying casing and cementing requirements the following factors shall be considered:

002.03A Depth to the injection zone;

002.03B Injection pressure, external pressure, internal pressure, and axial loading;

002.03C Hole size;

002.03D Size and grade of all casing strings (wall thickness, diameter, nominal weight, length, joint specification, and construction material);

002.03E Corrosiveness of injected fluid, formation fluids, and temperatures;

002.03F Lithology of injection and confining intervals; and

002.03G Type and grade of cement.

002.04 All Class I injection wells shall inject fluids through tubing with a packer set immediately above the injection zone, or tubing with an approved fluid seal as an alternative. The tubing, packer, and fluid seal shall be designed for the expected service.

002.04A. The use of other alternatives to a packer may be allowed with the written approval of the Director. To obtain approval, the operator shall submit a written request to the Director, which shall set forth the proposed alternative and all technical data supporting its use. The Director shall approve the request if the alternative method will reliably provide a comparable level of protection to underground sources of drinking water. The Director may approve an alternative method solely for an individual well or for general use.

002.04B. In determining and specifying requirements for tubing, packer, or alternatives the following factors shall be considered:
002.04B1 Depth of setting;

002.04B2 Characteristics of injection fluid (chemical content, corrosiveness, and density);

002.04B3 Injection pressure;

002.04B4 Annular pressure;

002.04B5 Temperature and volume of injected fluid;

002.04B6 Rate of fluid injection; and

002.04B7 Size, composition and specifications of casing.

002.04C Each Class I well utilizing a positive displacement pump shall be equipped with both high and low pressure safety switches which will shut down the pump in case of pressure increase over the authorized pressure or sudden pressure loss.

002.04D Appropriate logs and other tests shall be conducted during the drilling and construction of new Class I wells. A descriptive report interpreting the results of such logs and tests shall be prepared by a qualified log analyst and submitted to the Director. At a minimum, such logs and tests shall include:
002.04D1 Deviation checks on all holes constructed by first drilling a pilot hole, and then enlarging the pilot hole by reaming or another method. Such checks shall be at sufficiently frequent intervals to assure that vertical avenues for fluid migration in the form of diverging holes are not created during drilling;

002.04D2 Such other logs and tests as may be needed after taking into account the availability of similar data in the area of the drilling site, the construction plan, and the need for additional information that may arise from time to time as the construction of the well progresses. In determining which logs and tests shall be required, the following logs shall be considered for use in the following situations:
002.04D2(a) For surface casing intended to protect underground sources of drinking water:
002.04D2(a)(1) Resistivity, spontaneous potential, and caliper logs before the casing is installed; and

002.04D2(a)(2) A cement bond, temperature, or density log after the casing is set and cemented.

002.04D2(b) For intermediate and long strings of casing intended to facilitate injection:
002.04D2(b)(1) Resistivity, spontaneous potential, porosity, and gamma ray logs before the casing is installed;

002.04D2(b)(2) Fracture finder logs; and

002.04D2(b)(3) A cement bond, temperature, or density log after the casing is set and cemented.

002.04E At a minimum, the following information concerning the injection formation shall be determined or calculated for new Class I wells:
002.04E1 Fluid pressure;

002.04E2 Temperature;

002.04E3 Fracture pressure;

002.04E4 Other physical and chemical characteristics of the injection zone; and

002.04E5 Physical and chemical characteristics of the formation fluids.

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