Okla. Admin. Code § 165:10-7-20 - Noncommercial disposal or enhanced recovery well pits used for temporary storage of saltwater
(a)
Scope. This Section shall apply to any production operation where a pit is used for temporary storage of saltwater, except (c)(7) of this Section, which shall apply to any noncommercial well, regardless of whether or not a pit is used. Any pit sought to be approved pursuant to this Section will require a permit. The operator of the proposed pit shall submit Form 1014 to the appropriate Conservation Division District Office for review and approval.
(b)
Construction requirements.
(1)
Splash pad/apron. A splash pad/apron shall be constructed at the unloading area of any noncommercial disposal well or enhanced recovery pit to the design and dimensions necessary to contain and direct all materials unloaded into the pit, unless the pit is of such design that discharge directly into it presents no spill potential.
(2)
Pit specifications. Except as provided by (4)(A) of this subsection, any noncommercial disposal or enhanced recovery well pit shall be constructed of concrete or steel or be lined with a geomembrane liner according to the following:
(A) Concrete pits must be steel reinforced and have a minimum wall thickness of six inches.
(B) Steel pits must have a minimum wall thickness of three-sixteenths (3/16) inch. A previously used steel pit may be installed, provided it is free of corrosion or other damage.
(C) Geomembrane liners must:
(i) Have a minimum thickness of 30 mils, be chemically compatible with the type of wastes to be contained, and have ultraviolet light protection.
(ii) Be placed over a specially prepared, smooth, compacted surface void of sharp changes in elevation, rocks, clods, organic debris, or other objects.
(iii) Be continuous (may include seams) and cover the bottom and interior sides of the pit entirely. The edges must be securely placed in a minimum twelve inch deep anchor trench around the perimeter of the pit.
(3)
Certification of liner. The operator of any saltwater storage pit that is constructed with a geomembrane liner shall secure an affidavit signed by the installer, certifying that the liner meets minimum requirements and was installed in accordance with Commission rules. It shall be the operator's responsibility to maintain the affidavit and all supporting documentation pertaining to the liner, such as geomembrane liner specifications from the manufacturer, etc., and shall make them available to a representative of the Conservation Division upon request.
(4)
Monitoring of site.
(A) If not constructed according to one of the three methods in (2) of this subsection, any noncommercial disposal or enhanced recovery well pit shall be required to have a leachate collection system or at least one monitor well, unless it can be shown that the pit is not located over a hydrologically sensitive area. The District Manager may require more than one monitor well if he has reason to believe one would not be sufficient to adequately monitor the site.
(B) Any monitor well shall be installed within 100 feet of the pit. An existing nearby water well may be used as a monitor well upon written approval by the District Manager or Manager of Field Operations.
(C) Any new monitor well shall be drilled to a depth of at least ten feet below the top of the first free water encountered and shall be drilled and completed by a licensed monitor well driller. If documentation is submitted to the District Manager prior to drilling the monitor well to show that no free water will be encountered within a depth of 50 feet from the surface, the District Manager may allow the monitor well(s) to be drilled to a lesser depth or eliminated.
(D) Any new monitor well shall meet the requirements as set out in rules established by the Oklahoma Water Resources Board, in addition to the following requirements:
(i) A removable and lockable cap placed on top of the casing. The cap must remain locked at all times, except when a well is being sampled.
(ii) Within 30 days of installation, construction details for any leachate collection system or specific completion information for any monitor well and a diagram of the location of any monitor well in relation to the pit shall be submitted to the Manager of Field Operations.
(c)
Operation and maintenance requirements.
(1)
Fencing. All noncommercial disposal or enhanced recovery well surface facilities that have a pit shall be completely enclosed by a fence at least four feet in height. Said fence shall be constructed in such a manner as to prevent livestock from entering the pit area.
(2)
Site maintenance. The normal access surface of any well site that has a pit, including the access road(s), shall be maintained in a condition that will safely and easily allow access.
(3)
Exclusion of runoff water. No pit shall be allowed to receive runoff water.
(4)
Freeboard. The fluid level in any concrete or steel noncommercial disposal or enhanced recovery well pit shall be maintained at all times at least six inches below the top of the pit wall. Any geomembrane lined pit shall have a minimum of 18 inches of freeboard at all times.
(5)
Temporary storage only. No pit shall be used as permanent storage for salt water.
(6)
Sampling of monitor wells or leachate collection systems.
(A) Sampling of monitor wells and leachate collection systems shall occur once every six months, during the months of January and July.
(B) The appropriate District Manager shall be notified at least 24 hours in advance of sampling to allow a Commission representative an opportunity to witness the sampling.
(C) Samples shall be collected, preserved, and handled by the operator according to EPA approved standards (RCRA Groundwater Monitoring Technical Enforcement Guidance Document, EPA, OSWER-9950.1, September, 1986, pp. 99-107) and analyzed for pH, chlorides (Cl) and total dissolved solids (TDS) by a laboratory certified by the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality or operated by the State of Oklahoma. Analysis of additional parameters may be required as determined by the District Manager or Manager of Field Operations. A copy of each analysis and a statement as to the depth to groundwater encountered in each well, or a written statement that no water was encountered, shall be forwarded to the Manager of Field Operations, within 30 days of sampling.
(D) All samples delivered to the laboratory shall be accompanied by a chain of custody form. The chain of custody form and sample analyses must be submitted to the Conservation Division.
(7)
Prevention of pollution. All noncommercial disposal or enhanced recovery wells shall be maintained at all times so as to prevent pollution. In the event of a nonpermitted discharge from surface facilities, sufficient measures shall be taken immediately to stop, contain, and control the loss of materials. Reporting of said discharge shall be in compliance with 165:10-7-5(c). Any materials lost due to such discharge shall be cleaned up as directed by a representative of the Conservation Division of the Commission.
(8)
Oil film. The operator of a saltwater pit shall be responsible for the protection of migratory birds. Therefore, the Conservation Division recommends that to prevent the loss of birds due to oil films, all open top tanks and pits containing fluid be kept free of oil films or sludge or be protected from access to birds. [See Advisory Notice 165:10-7-3(c)]
(d)
Closure requirements.
(1)
Time limit. Within 180 days of the cessation of operations, all associated pits shall be emptied of all contents, and either removed or filled with soil. All monitor wells shall be plugged with bentonite or cement, unless exempt in writing by the District Manager or Manager of Field Operations. The site shall be revegetated within one (1) year.
(2)
Burial. If any concrete, steel, geomembrane, or other materials associated with the site are to be left on-site, they shall be buried under a minimum soil cover of three feet, pursuant to 165:10-3-17.
(e)
Prospective application to existing facilities. All provisions of this Section, except those in (b)(2) and (b)(3), shall apply to all existing pits within the scope of this Section which are, or have been, in operation prior to the effective date of this Section. Operators shall have one (1) year from the effective date of this Section in which to bring their facilities into compliance with the applicable provisions of this Section. Failure to comply with any applicable provision may result in revocation of the authority to operate.
(f)
Variances.
(1) A variance from the time requirements of (c)(6), (d)(1), or (e) of this Section may be granted by the District Manager or Manager of Field Operations for justifiable cause. A written request and justifiable explanation is required. The District Manager or Manager of Field Operations shall respond in writing within five business days, either approving or disapproving the request.
(2) Any variance from the liner requirements as required under (b)(2) of this Section may be granted by the Manager of Field Operations after receipt of a written request and supporting documentation required by the department.
Notes
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