La. Admin. Code tit. 43 § XVII-3301
Act-Part I, Chapter 1 of Title 30 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes.
Active Cavern Well-a solution-mining well or cavern that is actively being used, or capable of being used, to mine minerals, including standby wells. The term does not include an inactive cavern well.
Application-the filing on the appropriate Office of Conservation form(s), including any additions, revisions, modifications, or required attachments to the form(s), for a permit to operate a solution-mining well or parts thereof.
Aquifer-a geologic formation, groups of formations, or part of a formation that is capable of yielding a significant amount of water to a well or spring.
Blanket Material-sometimes referred to as a pad. The blanket material is a fluid or gas placed within a cavern that is lighter than the water in the cavern and will not dissolve the salt or any mineral impurities that may be contained within the salt. The function of the blanket is to prevent unwanted leaching of the cavern roof, prevent leaching of salt from around the cemented casing, and to protect the cemented casing from internal corrosion. Blanket material typically consists of crude oil, diesel, mineral oil, or some fluid or gas possessing similar noncorrosive, non-solvent, low density properties. The blanket material is placed against the cavern roof, within the cavern neck, and between the cavern's outermost hanging string and innermost cemented casing.
Brine-water within a salt cavern that is saturated partially or completely with salt.
Cap Rock-the porous and permeable strata immediately overlying all or part of the salt stock of some salt structures typically composed of anhydrite, gypsum, limestone, and occasionally sulfur.
Casing-metallic pipe placed and cemented in the wellbore for the purpose of supporting the sides of the wellbore and to act as a barrier preventing subsurface migration of fluids out of or into the wellbore.
Catastrophic Collapse-the sudden failure of the overlying strata caused by the removal or otherwise weakening of underlying sediments.
Cavern Neck-the uncased wellbore between the deepest casing shoe and the cavern roof, if present.
Cavern Roof-the uppermost part of a cavern being just below the neck of the wellbore. The shape of the salt cavern roof may be flat or domed.
Cavern Well-a well extending into the salt stock to facilitate the injection and withdrawal of fluids into and from a salt cavern.
Cementing-the operation (either primary, secondary, or squeeze) whereby a cement slurry is pumped into a drilled hole and/or forced behind the casing.
Circulate to the Surface-the observing of actual cement returns to the surface during the primary cementing operation.
Commissioner-the commissioner of conservation for the state of Louisiana.
Contamination-the introduction of substances or contaminants into a groundwater aquifer, a USDW or soil in such quantities as to render them unusable for their intended purposes.
Discharge-the placing, releasing, spilling, percolating, draining, pumping, leaking, mixing, migrating, seeping, emitting, disposing, by-passing, or other escaping of pollutants on or into the air, ground, or waters of the state. A discharge shall not include that which is allowed through a federal or state permit.
Dual-Bore Mining-for the purposes of these rules, dual bore mining shall be defined as the solution-mining process whereby fluid injection and brine extraction are accomplished through different permitted wells.
Effective Date-the date of final promulgation of these rules and regulations.
Emergency Shutdown Valve-for the purposes of these rules, a valve that automatically closes to isolate a solution mining well from surface piping in the event of a specified condition that, if uncontrolled, may cause an emergency.
Exempted Aquifer-an aquifer or its portion that meets the criteria of the definition of underground source of drinking water but which has been exempted according to the procedures set forth in §3303.E 2
Existing Solution-Mining Well or Project-a well, salt cavern, or project permitted to solution-mine prior to the effective date of these regulations.
Facility or Activity-any facility or activity, including land or appurtenances thereto, that is subject to these regulations
Fluid-any material or substance which flows or moves whether in a semisolid, liquid, sludge, gas or any other form or state.
Ground Subsidence-the downward settling of the Earth's surface with little or no horizontal motion in response to natural or manmade subsurface actions.
Groundwater Aquifer-water in the saturated zone beneath the land surface that contains less than 10,000 mg/l total dissolved solids.
Groundwater Contamination-the degradation of naturally occurring groundwater quality either directly or indirectly as a result of human activities.
Hanging String-casing whose weight is supported at the wellhead and hangs vertically in a larger cemented casing or another larger hanging string.
Improved Sinkhole-a naturally occurring karst depression or other natural crevice found in volcanic terrain and other geologic settings which have been modified by man for the purpose of directing and emplacing fluids into the subsurface.
Inactive Cavern Well-a solution-mining well or cavern that is capable of being used to solution-mine minerals but is not being so used, as evidenced by the filing of a written notice with the Office of Conservation in accordance with §3309.I.3 and §3331
Injection and Mining Division-the Injection and Mining Division of the Louisiana Office of Conservation within the Louisiana Department of Natural Resources.
Injection Well-a well into which fluids are being injected, excepting fluids associated with active drilling operations.
Injection Zone-a geological formation, group of formations or part of a formation receiving fluids through a well. The portion of the salt stock from the top of the salt stock to the original total depth of the injection well.
Leaching-the process of introducing an under-saturated fluid into a salt cavern thereby dissolving additional salt and increasing the volume of the salt cavern.
Mechanical Integrity-an injection well has mechanical integrity if there is no significant leak in the casing, tubing, or packer and there is no significant fluid movement into an underground source of drinking water through vertical channels adjacent to the injection well bore.
Mechanical Integrity Pressure and Leak Test (also called Mechanical Integrity Test)-a test performed to determine whether a cavern or well has mechanical integrity.
Migrating-any movement of fluids by leaching, spilling, discharging, or any other uncontained or uncontrolled manner, except as allowed by law, regulation, or permit.
New Cavern Well-a solution-mining well permitted by the Office of Conservation after the effective date of these regulations.
Office of Conservation-the Louisiana Office of Conservation within the Department of Natural Resources.
Open Borehole-the portion of the drilled well bore that is uncased at any point in time.
Operator-the person recognized by the Office of Conservation as being responsible for the physical operation of the facility or activity subject to regulatory authority under these rules and regulations.
Owner-the person recognized by the Office of Conservation as owning the facility or activity subject to regulatory authority under these rules and regulations.
Permanent Conclusion-no additional solution-mining activities will be conducted in the cavern. This term will not apply to caverns that are being converted to hydrocarbon storage.
Permit-an authorization, license, or equivalent control document issued by the commissioner to implement the requirements of these regulations. Permit includes, but is not limited to, area permits and emergency permits. Permit does not include UIC authorization by rule or any permit which has not yet been the subject of final agency action, such as a draft permit.
Person-an individual, association, partnership, public or private corporation, firm, municipality, state or federal agency and any agent or employee thereof, or any other juridical person.
Previously Closed Cavern Well- a solution-mining well that is no longer used, or capable of being used, to solution-mine minerals and was closed prior to the effective date of these regulations.
Post-Closure Care-the appropriate monitoring and other actions (including corrective action) needed following cessation of a solution-mining project to ensure that USDWs are not endangered.
Produced Water-liquids and suspended particulate matter that is obtained by processing fluids brought to the surface in conjunction with the recovery of oil and gas from underground geologic formations, with underground storage of hydrocarbons, or with solution-mining for brine.
Project-a group of wells or salt caverns used in a single operation.
Public Water System-a system for the provision to the public of piped water for human consumption, if such system has at least 15 service connections or regularly serves at least 25 individuals. Such term includes:
1. any collection, treatment, storage, and distribution facilities under control of the operator of such system and used primarily in connection with such system; and
2. any collection or pretreatment storage facilities not under such control which are used primarily in connection with such system.
Qualified Professional Appraiser-for the purposes of these rules, any licensed real estate appraiser holding current certification from the Louisiana Real Estate Appraisers Board and functioning within the rules and regulations of their licensure.
Release-the accidental or intentional spilling, pumping, leaking, pouring, emitting, leaching, escaping, or dumping of pollutants into or on any air, land, groundwater, or waters of the state. A release shall not include that which is allowed through a federal or state permit.
Salt Dome-a diapiric, typically circular structure that penetrates, uplifts, and deforms overlying sediments as a result of the upward movement of a salt stock in the subsurface. Collectively, the salt dome includes the salt stock and any overlying uplifted sediments.
Salt Stock-a typically cylindrical formation composed chiefly of an evaporite mineral that forms the core of a salt dome. The most common form of the evaporite mineral is halite known chemically as sodium chloride (NaCl). Cap rock shall not be considered a part of the salt stock.
Schedule of Compliance-a schedule or remedial measures included in a permit, including an enforceable sequence of interim requirements (for example, actions, operations, or milestone events) leading to compliance with the act and these regulations.
Site-the land or water area where any facility or activity is physically located or conducted including adjacent land used in connection with the facility or activity.
Solution-Mined Cavern-a cavity created within the salt stock by dissolution with water.
Solution-Mining Well-a well which injects for extraction of minerals including:
1. mining of sulfur by the Frasch process;
2. in situ production of uranium or other metals.
3. solution mining of salts or potash.
State-the state of Louisiana.
Subsidence-see ground subsidence.
Surface Casing-steel pipe placed inside the conductor casing in the borehole which extends below, and is protective of, the USDW and other shallow geologic formations.
UIC-the Louisiana State Underground Injection Control Program.
Unauthorized Discharge-a continuous, intermittent, or one-time discharge, whether intentional or unintentional, anticipated or unanticipated, from any permitted or unpermitted source which is in contravention of any provision of the Louisiana Environmental Quality Act (R.S. 30:2001 et seq.) or of any permit or license terms and conditions, or of any applicable regulation, compliance schedule, variance, or exception of the Commissioner of Conservation.
Underground Source of Drinking Water-an aquifer or its portion:
1. which supplies any public water system; or
2. which contains a sufficient quantity of groundwater to supply a public water system; and
a. currently supplies drinking water for human consumption; or
b. contains fewer than 10,000 mg/1 total dissolved solids; and which is not an exempted aquifer.
USDW-see underground source of drinking water.
Waters of the State-both surface and underground waters within the state of Louisiana including all rivers, streams, lakes, groundwaters, and all other water courses and waters within the confines of the state, and all bordering waters, and the Gulf of Mexico.
Well-a bored, drilled, or driven shaft whose depth is greater than the largest surface dimension; or, a dug hole whose depth is greater than the largest surface dimension; or, a subsurface fluid distribution system.
Well Plug-a fluid-tight seal installed in a borehole or well to prevent movement of fluids.
Well Stimulation-several processes used to clean the well bore, enlarge channels, and increase pore space in the interval to be injected thus making it possible for injection fluids to move more readily into the formation, and includes:
1. surging;
2. jetting;
3. blasting;
4. acidizing; or
5. hydraulic fracturing.
Workover-to perform one or more of a variety of remedial operations on an injection well, such as cleaning, perforation, changing tubing, deepening, squeezing, plugging back, etc.
La. Admin. Code tit. 43, § XVII-3301