La. Admin. Code tit. 43 § XVII-3131

Current through Register Vol. 50, No. 9, September 20, 2024

Section XVII-3131 - Cavern Configuration and Capacity Measurements

A. Sonar caliper surveys shall be performed on all salt caverns. With prior approval of the Office of Conservation, the operator may use another similar proven technology designed to determine cavern configuration and measure cavern capacity as a substitute for a sonar survey.

B. Frequency of Surveys. A sonar caliper survey shall be performed and submitted as part of the salt cavern waste disposal permit application. All subsequent surveys shall occur at least once every five years. Additional surveys shall be done for any of the following reasons regardless of frequency:

1. before commencing salt cavern closure operations;

2. whenever leakage into or out of the salt cavern is suspected;

3. after performing any remedial work to reestablish salt cavern well or salt cavern integrity; or

4. whenever the Office of Conservation believes a survey is warranted.

C. Submission of Survey Results. One complete copy of each survey shall be submitted to the Office of Conservation within 30 days of survey completion.

1. Survey readings shall be taken a minimum of every 10 feet of vertical depth. Sonar reports shall contain the following minimum information and presentations:

a. tabulation of incremental and total salt cavern volume for every survey reading;

b. tabulation of the salt cavern radii at various azimuths for every survey reading;

c. tabulation of the maximum salt cavern radii at various azimuths;

d. graphical plot of Cavern Depth versus Volume;

e. graphical plot of the maximum salt cavern radii;

f. vertical cross sections of the salt cavern at various azimuths drawn to an appropriate horizontal and vertical scale;

g. vertical cross section overlays comparing results of current survey and previous surveys;

h. (optional)-isometric or 3-D shade profile of the salt cavern at various azimuths and rotations.

2. The information submitted resulting from use of an approved alternative survey method to determine cavern configuration and measure cavern capacity shall be determined based on the method or type of survey.

La. Admin. Code tit. 43, § XVII-3131

Promulgated by the Department of Natural Resources, Office of Conservation, LR 29:933 (June 2003).

AUTHORITY NOTE: Promulgated in accordance with R.S. 30:4 et seq.