Current through Bulletin 2024-18, September 15, 2024
1. Evaporation
facilities shall be designed, constructed and operated to meet the following
specific requirements in addition to
R649-9-3,
Permit and Application Requirements for Disposal Facilities.
2. Applicant shall submit detailed
construction/installation diagrams of ponds, side slopes, liners, pond storage
capacity, leak detection systems, dikes or levees, wind fences, piping,
enhanced evaporation systems with justification, water treatment systems and
tanks.
2.1. Detailed information shall be
submitted for all enhanced evaporation systems which demonstrates that unlawful
discharge will not occur.
2.2. The
facility shall be designed, maintained and operated to separate oil from
produced water prior to discharge into a pond.
3. Applicant shall submit detailed
construction/installation diagrams of unloading facilities and an explanation
of the method for controlling and disposing of any liquid hydrocarbon
accumulation on the ponds.
3.1. The unloading
facility shall be designed, maintained and operated to adequately process the
anticipated maximum daily quantity of produced water.
3.2. The unloading facility shall be designed
with a leak detection system if determined necessary by the division.
3.2.1. Applicant shall submit procedures for
repair should leakage occur.
4. Applicant shall submit the maximum daily
quantity of water to be disposed of and a representative water analysis of such
water that includes the concentrations of chlorides and sulfates, pH, total
dissolved solids "TDS", and information regarding any other significant
constituents if requested by the division.
5. Applicant shall submit climatological data
describing the average annual evaporation and precipitation.
6. Ponds shall be designed, maintained and
operated to meet the following requirements.
6.1. Ponds shall be designed for 10 acre-feet
of water or less, unless otherwise approved by the division.
6.2. Ponds shall have adequate storage
capacity to safely contain all produced water even during those periods when
evaporation rates are at a minimum.
6.3. Ponds shall be designed to prevent
unauthorized surface or subsurface discharge of water.
6.4. Ponds shall be designed to include a
2-foot free-board at all times.
6.5. Pond levees shall be constructed so that
the inside grade of the levee is no steeper than 3:1 and the outside grade no
steeper than 2:1.
6.5.1. The top of the levee
shall be level and of sufficient width to allow for adequate
compaction.
6.5.2. Vertical height
of the levees shall not exceed 25 percent of the total vertical depth of the
pond.
7.
Ponds shall be designed with two synthetic liners, an upper primary and lower
secondary liner, with a leak detection system between them. Synthetic liners
shall be installed according to the manufacturer's instructions.
7.1. The primary liner shall be impervious (a
hydraulic conductivity no greater than 1 x 10-9 cm/sec) and constructed with a
minimum 60-mil HDPE or equivalent liner approved by the division.
7.2. The secondary liner shall be impervious
and constructed with a minimum 40-mil HDPE or equivalent liner approved by the
division.
7.3. If rigid materials
are used, leak proof expansion joints shall be provided, or the material shall
be of sufficient thickness and strength to withstand expansion, contraction and
settling movements in the underlying earth, without cracking.
7.4. Materials used in lining ponds shall be
impervious and resistant to weather, tears and punctures, sunlight,
hydrocarbons, aqueous acids, alkalies, salt, fungi, or other substances that
might be contained in the produced water.
7.5. Applicant shall submit the type,
thickness, strength, and life span of material(s) to be used for lining the
pond and the method of installation.
7.6. Applicant shall submit procedures for
repair of the liner, should leakage occur.
8. Applicant shall submit detailed
construction/installation diagram for the leak detection system.
8.1. The leak detection design shall include,
a drainage and collection system placed between the upper and lower liners and
sloped so as to facilitate the earliest possible detection of a leak.
8.2. The leak detection design shall include
a vertical riser outside the dike allowing direct visual inspection of the sump
from the surface.
8.2.1. The sump shall be
designed to extend a minimum of two feet below the inlet line from the pond,
allowing visual detection of any fluid and sampling of fluid.
8.2.2. Designed with a removable top for the
sump riser that will prevent entry of fluids.
8.3. Designed with leak detection piping
capable of withstanding chemical attack from oil field waste, structural
loading from stresses and disturbances from overlying oil field waste and cover
materials, equipment operation, expansion and/or contraction, and facilitate
clean-out maintenance.
9. Evaporation facilities shall be operated
to separate oil from produced water prior to discharge into a pond and prevent
unauthorized surface discharge of water.
9.1.
Hydrocarbon accumulation, other than de minimis quantities, on an evaporation
pond is considered a violation and shall be removed within 24 hours.
9.2. Overspray from sprinklers and/or
overspray caused by wind, including foam, outside lined areas are considered a
violation and shall be corrected immediately.
9.3. Sampling and testing of soils suspected
to be contaminated from overspray may be required by the division.
