(a) Mechanical
integrity testing requirements; existing wells. Each operator of a gas storage
injection and withdrawal well or a gas storage withdrawal well completed before
July 1, 2002 shall demonstrate the mechanical integrity of each such well
according to this regulation before July 1, 2004. Each operator of an existing
gas storage observation well shall demonstrate the mechanical integrity of each
gas storage observation well according to this regulation on or before July 1,
2007. Each operator of a gas storage well shall subsequently retest each well
at least once every five years following the initial mechanical integrity test
performed on the well. The operator and a representative of the conservation
division shall mutually agree to a date for the mechanical integrity test. Test
results shall be verified by the operator's representative.
An extension of time to complete or conduct mechanical
integrity testing may be granted upon a showing of good cause or as part of an
approved alternate testing program. Approved testing procedures for gas storage
wells shall include the following:
(1)
Pressure tests.
(A) Gas storage wells
equipped with a tubing and packer completion shall be pressure tested at no
less than 300 psig or 100 percent of the maximum authorized injection pressure
for the underground porosity gas storage facility, whichever is less. The
pressure shall be applied to the tubing casing annulus at the surface for a
period of 30 minutes and shall have no decrease in pressure greater than 10
percent of the required minimum test pressure. For tubing completions, the
packer shall be set at a depth at which the packer will be opposite a cemented
interval of the long string casing and shall be set no more than 50 feet above
the uppermost perforation or open hole for the gas storage reservoir.
(B) Gas storage wells not
completed with a tubing and packer completion shall be pressure tested at 100
percent of the maximum authorized injection pressure for the underground
porosity gas storage facility. The pressure shall be applied to the long string
casing at the surface after running a retrievable plug, which shall be set no
more than 50 feet above the uppermost perforation or open hole of the gas
storage reservoir. The test pressure shall be applied for at least 30 minutes
and shall have no decrease in pressure greater than 10 percent of the required
minimum test pressure.
(2) Alternate tests. An alternative test
method, including a tracer survey, temperature survey, gamma ray log, neutron
log, noise log, casing inspection log, or a combination of two or more of these
surveys and logs, may be used to demonstrate mechanical integrity if approved
in advance by the conservation division.
(b) Mechanical integrity testing
requirements; newly constructed wells. Each operator of a gas storage well
completed after July 1, 2002 shall demonstrate the mechanical integrity of each
well according to the testing procedures established in subsection (a) of this
regulation before placing the well into service as an active gas storage well.
Each operator of a gas storage well shall subsequently retest each well at
least once every five years following the initial mechanical integrity test
performed on the well. The date for this mechanical integrity test shall be
mutually agreed upon by the operator and a representative of the conservation
division. Test results shall be verified by the operator's representative. An
extension of time to complete or conduct mechanical integrity testing may be
granted upon a showing of good cause or as part of an approved alternate
testing program.
(c) Supervision
of mechanical integrity testing.
Conservation division representatives shall be responsible for
witnessing a minimum of 25 percent of all mechanical integrity tests conducted
by each storage facility operator. However, the conservation division's
inability to witness a minimum of 25 percent of all mechanical integrity tests
shall not result in any penalty to the operator of the underground porosity gas
storage facility if the operator has complied with subsections (a) and (b) of
this regulation.
(d)
Requirements upon test failure. If a gas storage well fails to demonstrate
mechanical integrity by an approved method, the operator of the well shall
immediately isolate the leak or leaks in a manner that contains natural gas and
associated fluids in the well or storage reservoir and demonstrates that the
well does not pose a threat to fresh and usable water resources or to public
safety. The operator shall, within 90 days, perform one of the following:
(1) Repair and retest the well to demonstrate
mechanical integrity;
(2) plug the
well; or
(3) file an application
with the conservation division for temporary abandonment according to
K.A.R.
82-3-1011.
(e) Leak
detector inspections and testing. Each leak detector required under
K.A.R.
82-3-1003 shall be tested once each calendar year and, if defective, shall be
repaired or replaced within 10 days. Each repaired or replaced detector shall
be retested if required by the conservation division.
An extension of time for repair or replacement of a leak
detector may be granted upon a showing of good cause by the operator of the
underground porosity gas storage facility. A record of each inspection, which
shall include the inspection results, shall be maintained by the operator for
at least five years and shall be made available to the conservation division
upon request.
(f)
Penalties.
(1) The failure to perform a
mechanical integrity test on a gas storage well as required under subsection
(a) or (b) of this regulation shall be punishable by a $1,000 penalty.
(2) The failure to comply with the
requirements of subsection (d) of this regulation shall be punishable by a
$1,000 penalty.
(3) The failure to
comply with the requirements of subsection (e) of this regulation shall be
punishable by a $500 penalty per occurrence.
(4) Each day that a violation of this
regulation continues may be considered a separate violation.
The penalties specified in this subsection may be increased by
the commission if it finds that aggravating factors exist.
Notes
Kan. Admin. Regs. §
82-3-1005
Authorized by and
implementing
K.S.A. 55-152, K.S.A. 2003 Supp.
55-162, K.S.A. 2003 Supp.
55-164, and K.S.A. 2003 Supp.
55-1,115; effective, T-82-6-27-02,
July 1, 2002; effective Oct. 29, 2002; amended Jan. 14, 2005.
