This rule was filed as Rule G-505.

 

TITLE 19               NATURAL RESOURCES AND WILDLIFE

CHAPTER 14       GEOTHERMAL POWER

PART 95               SURVEILLANCE

 

19.14.95.1             ISSUING AGENCY:  Energy and Minerals Department, Oil Conservation Division, P.O. Box 2088, Santa Fe, New Mexico.

[Recompiled 12/31/01]

 

19.14.95.2             SCOPE:  [RESERVED]

[Recompiled 12/31/01]

 

19.14.95.3             STATUTORY AUTHORITY:  [RESERVED]

[Recompiled 12/31/01]

 

19.14.95.4             DURATION:  [RESERVED]

[Recompiled 12/31/01]

 

19.14.95.5             EFFECTIVE DATE:  [November 15, 1983]

[Recompiled 12/31/01]

 

19.14.95.6             OBJECTIVE:  [RESERVED]

[Recompiled 12/31/01]

 

19.14.95.7             DEFINITIONS:  [RESERVED]

[Recompiled 12/31/01]

 

19.14.95.8             SURVEILLANCE:

                A.            Surveillance of waste water disposal or injection projects is necessary on a continuing basis in order to establish to the satisfaction of the division that all water is confined to the intended zone of injection.

                B.            When an operator proposes to drill an injection well, convert a producing or inactive well to an injection well or rework an injection well and return it to injection service, he shall be required to demonstrate to the division by means of such tests as the division may deem necessary the integrity of the well's casing.

                C.            To establish the integrity of the annular cement above the shoe of the casing, the operator shall make sufficient surveys, within 30 days after injection is started into a well, to demonstrate that all the injected fluid is confined to the intended zone of injection. Thereafter, such surveys shall be made at least every two years, or more often if ordered by the division. All such surveys may be witnessed by a representative of the division.

                D.            After the well has been placed on injection, a division representative shall visit the wellsite periodically. At these times, surface conditions shall be noted and if any unsatisfactory conditions exist, the operator shall be notified of needed remedial work. If this required work is no performed within 90 days, the approval issued by the division may be rescinded. If it is determined that damage is occurring at a rapid rate, the division may order that the repair work be done immediately.  Injection pressures shall be recorded by the division representative and compared with the pressure reported on the appropriate forms. Any discrepancies shall be rectified immediately by the operator. A graph of daily injection rates and pressures versus time shall be maintained by the operator. Reasons for anomalies shall be promptly ascertained. If these reasons are such that it appears damage is being done, approval by the division may be rescinded, and injection shall cease.

                E.             When an injection well has been left idle for six months, the operator shall be informed by letter that approval for use of the well for injection purposes has been rescinded, and that he should proceed in accordance with the provisions of Rule G-302 [now 19.14.72 NMAC] and Rule G-303 A [now 19.14.73.8 NMAC] or Rule G-303 B [now 19.14.73.9 NMAC]. In the event the operator intends to again use the well for injection purposes, he shall be required to demonstrate by means of surveys that the injected water will be confined to the intended zone of injection.

[Recompiled 12/31/01]

 

HISTORY OF 19.14.95 NMAC:

Pre-NMAC History:  The material in this Part was derived from that previously filed with the State Records Center and Archives:

Rule G-505, Surveillance, 11/1/83.

 

History of Repealed Material:  [RESERVED]