312 IAC 29-21-1 - General drilling and completion pit requirements

Authority: IC 14-10-2-4; IC 14-37-3

Affected: IC 14-37

Sec. 1.

(a) The discharge of drilling or completion fluids from well drilling, stimulation, and completion pits into any surface water or water drainage way is prohibited.

(b) Prior to excavating any drilling or completion pit on tillable land, the owner or operator shall:

(1) determine the location of subsurface drainage tiles in the area of excavation, if any; and

(2) conduct excavation operations to minimize damage to subsurface drainage systems.

(c) The owner or operator is responsible to repair or replace any subsurface drainage systems damaged during the construction or backfilling of well drilling pits and completion pits.

(d) The owner or operator shall construct and maintain well drilling pits and completion pits as follows:

(1) A sufficient number of adequately sized pits shall be constructed to ensure storage and containment of all fluids.

(2) The pits shall be located the maximum distance possible from streams and other waters of the state.

(3) Adequate freeboard shall be maintained to protect against overflow or unintended discharge of fluids.

(4) Surface runoff shall be diverted away from pits.

(5) Pits located in areas subject to periodic flooding shall be:

(A) emptied of fluids if pit inundation is inevitable; or

(B) protected by adequately sized berms to prevent pit inundation.

(6) Pits shall be used only for the temporary storage of fluid wastes directly resulting from drilling or completion operations.

(7) Maintain closed loop systems, where used, in a leak-free condition.

(8) Remove hydrocarbons accumulating on the surface of an unlined pit within forty-eight (48) hours of completing drilling operations.

(e) When drilling with cable tools or air rotary equipment, the owner or operator shall provide at least one (1) drilling pit for the deposit of drill cuttings and drilling fluids.

(f) When drilling with rotary drilling equipment using drilling fluids, the owner or operator shall provide:

(1) at least one (1) reserve pit for the deposit of drill cuttings;

(2) at least one (1) circulation pit for the mixing and circulation of drilling fluids; and

(3) additional drilling pits, as necessary, for the temporary storage of:

(A) drill cuttings;

(B) drilling fluids;

(C) encountered water;

(D) rig wash water;

(E) spills or leaks from drilling equipment; or

(F) other fluids associated with drilling operations.

Notes

312 IAC 29-21-1

Natural Resources Commission; 312 IAC 29-21-1; filed 12/1/2017, 10:35 a.m.: 20171227-IR-312160230FRA Readopted filed 1/17/2023, 1:53 p.m.: 20230215-IR-312220328RFA