New Mexico Administrative Code
Title 19 - NATURAL RESOURCES AND WILDLIFE
Chapter 15 - OIL AND GAS
Part 35 - WASTE DISPOSAL
Section 19.15.35.13 - INJECTION

Universal Citation: 19 NM Admin Code 19.15.35.13

Current through Register Vol. 35, No. 18, September 24, 2024

A. The division shall consider an operator's proposal for injecting regulated NORM into injection wells provided the operator will perform the injection in a manner that protects the environment, public health and fresh waters and complies with division rules pertaining to injection. Division approval is contingent on the applicant meeting the requirements in Subsection B of 19.15.35.13 NMAC at a minimum.

B. An applicant wishing to dispose of regulated NORM in a disposal well shall comply with the following requirements.

(1) An application submitted to the division for permission to dispose of a regulated NORM in an existing or newly permitted disposal well shall contain the following information at a minimum:
(a) a completed form C-108 with proof of required notification and a statement that regulated NORM will be injected;

(b) a description of regulated NORM to be disposed including its source, radiation levels and quantity; and

(c) a description of the process used on the material to improve injectivity.

(2) An operator shall comply with the following requirements when disposing of regulated NORM in a disposal well.
(a) The operator may only inject regulated NORM from the operator's operations.

(b) Each time the operator injects regulated NORM into the disposal well, the operator shall submit a form C-103 to the division and the appropriate division district office. The operator shall submit the completed form C-103 five working days following the injection, which contains the following information: source of regulated NORM, NORM radiation level, quantity of material injected, description of any process the operator used on the material to improve injectivity, the injection pressure while injecting and dates of injection.

(c) The operator shall report mechanical failures to the appropriate division district office within 24 hours of the failure. The operator shall submit a description of the failure and immediate measures the operator took in response to the failure no later than 15 days following the failure. The operator shall notify the appropriate division district office of proposed repair plans. The operator shall receive division approval of repair plans prior to commencing work and provide notice of commencement to the appropriate division district office so that the division may witness or inspect repairs. The operator shall monitor well repairs to ensure regulated NORM does not escape the well bore or is completely contained in the repair operations.

(d) At the time of the disposal well's abandonment, the operator shall squeeze the injection interval that the operator used for regulated NORM injection with cement or locate a cement plug directly above the injection interval. Cement in either case shall contain red iron oxide.

(e) The injection zone shall be at a depth of at least 100 feet below the lower most known underground drinking water zone.

C. Injection in EOR injection wells. The division shall consider issuing a permit for the disposal of regulated NORM into injection wells within an approved EOR project only after notice and hearing and upon the applicant's minimum demonstration that:

(1) the injection will not reduce the project's efficiency or otherwise cause a reduction in the ultimate recovery of hydrocarbons from the project;

(2) the injection will not cause an increase in the radiation level of regulated NORM produced from the EOR interval in an producing well located either within or offsetting the project area; and

(3) the operations will conform to provisions of Subsection B of 19.15.35.13 NMAC.

D. Injection above fracture pressure.

(1) The division shall consider issuing a permit for the disposal of regulated NORM in a disposal well above fracture pressure only after notice and hearing and upon receiving the following minimum information from the applicant:
(a) a completed form C-108 clearly stating that disposal of regulated NORM at or above fracture pressure is proposed;

(b) information required under Subsection B of 19.15.35.13 NMAC above;

(c) model results predicting the fracture propagation including the expected height, extension, direction and any other evidence sufficient to demonstrate that the fracture will not extend beyond the injection interval or into the confining zones; the application shall include the procedure, the anticipated pressures and the type and pressure rating of equipment that the operator will use; the division may consider the current or potential utilization of zones immediately above and below the zone of interest in the acceptance or rejection of model predictions; and

(d) a contingency plan of the procedures, including containment plans that the operator will employ if a mechanical failure occurs.

(2) The operator shall comply with the following requirements when disposing of regulated NORM in a disposal well above fracture pressure.
(a) The operator shall notify the appropriate division district office 24 hours prior to commencing injection.

(b) Upon completion of the injection, the operator shall squeeze the disposal interval with cement or locate a cement plug directly above the injection interval. In either case the cement in either case shall contain red iron oxide. The operator shall submit a completed form C-103 to the division and the appropriate division district office within five working days of the injection. If the operator desires to return the well to injection below fracture pressure, the operator shall include those plans in the application.

E. Injection in commercial disposal facilities. The division shall consider issuing a permit for the commercial disposal of regulated NORM by injection only after notice and hearing, and provided the applicant has obtained a specific license pursuant to 20.3.14 NMAC and pursuant to 20.3.13 NMAC. In addition to obtaining these licenses the operator shall also comply with Subparagraph (a) of Paragraph 2 of Subsection B of 19.15.35.13 NMAC.

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