Current through Register Vol. 39, No. 6, September 16, 2024
(a) Injection wells and injection well
systems shall be abandoned by the well owner in accordance with one of the
following procedures or other alternatives approved by the Director that
ensures compliance with
G.S.
87-84:
(1)
Wells other than closed-loop geothermal wells shall be temporarily or
permanently abandoned as required by Rule .0113 of this Subchapter.
(2) Closed-loop geothermal wells that are
temporarily abandoned shall be maintained so that they are not a source or
channel of contamination during the period of abandonment.
(3) Closed-loop geothermal wells shall be
permanently abandoned as follows:
(A) all
casing, tubing, or piping and associated materials shall be removed prior to
abandonment if that removal will not cause or contribute to contamination of
groundwater;
(B) the boring shall
be filled from bottom to top with grout through a hose or pipe that extends to
the bottom of the well and is raised as the well is filled;
(C) for tubing with an inner diameter of
one-half inch or greater, the entire vertical length of the inner tubing shall
be grouted;
(D) for tubing with an
inner diameter less than one-half inch that cannot feasibly be grouted, the
tubing shall be refilled with potable water and capped or sealed at a depth not
less than two feet below land surface; and
(E) any protective or surface casing not
grouted in accordance with the requirements set forth in this Section shall be
removed and the well shall be grouted in accordance with the requirements set
forth in this Section.
(4) If a subsurface cavity has been created
as a result of the injection operations, the well shall be abandoned in a
manner that will prevent the movement of fluids into or between aquifers and in
accordance with the terms and conditions of the permit.
(b) An injection well that acts as a source
or channel of contamination shall be brought into compliance with the standards
and criteria of these Rules, repaired, or permanently abandoned. Repair or
permanent abandonment shall be completed within 15 days of the discovery of the
noncompliance.
(c) Exploratory or
test wells, constructed for the purposes of obtaining information regarding an
injection well site, shall be permanently abandoned in accordance with Rule
.0113 of this Subchapter within two days after drilling or two days after
testing is complete, whichever is later. However, if a test well is being
converted to a permanent injection well, this conversion shall be completed
within 30 days after drilling.
(d)
An injection well shall be permanently abandoned by the drilling contractor
before removing his or her equipment from the site if the well casing has not
been installed or has been removed from the well bore.
(e) The well owner shall be responsible for
permanent abandonment of a well except that:
(1) the well contractor shall be responsible
for well abandonment if abandonment is required because the well contractor
improperly locates, constructs, repairs or completes the well;
(2) the person who installs, repairs or
removes the well pump shall be responsible for well abandonment if that
abandonment is required because of improper well pump installation, repair or
removal; or
(3) the well contractor
(or individual) who conducts a test boring shall be responsible for its
abandonment at the time the test boring is completed.
(f) Groundwater remediation systems that
include infiltration galleries shall be abandoned as follows:
(1) 30 days prior to initiation of closure of
a groundwater remediation system, the permittee shall submit the following
documentation to the Division:
(A) the reasons
for closure;
(B) a letter from the
oversight agency authorizing closure of the system; and
(C) a description of the proposed closure
procedure.
(2) The
infiltration gallery shall be closed such that it:
(A) will be rendered permanently unusable for
the disposal of fluids; and
(B)
will not serve as a source or channel of contamination.
(3) Within 30 days following upon completion
of the closure, the permittee shall submit the following documentation to the
Division:
(A) a description of the completed
closure procedure;
(B) the dates of
all actions taken for the procedure; and
(C) a written certification a by North
Carolina licensed engineer or geologist that the closure has been accomplished,
and that the information submitted is complete, factual, and
accurate.
Authority
G.S.
87-87;
87-88;
143-211;
143-215.1A;
143-215.3(a)(1);
143-215.3(c);
Eff. May 1, 2012;
Readopted Eff. September 1,
2019.
