020-24 Wyo. Code R. §§ 24-18 - Injection Well Operating Requirements

(a) The owner or operator shall ensure that injection pressure does not exceed ninety percent (90%) of the fracture pressure of the injection zone(s) to ensure that the injection does not initiate new fractures or propagate existing fractures in the injection zone(s).

(i) In no case may injection pressure cause movement of injection or formation fluids in a manner that endangers a USDW, or otherwise threatens human health, safety, or the environment.

(ii) In no case may injection pressure initiate fractures in the confining zones or cause the movement of injectate or formation fluids that endangers a USDW or otherwise threatens human health, safety, or the environment.

(b) Injection of the carbon dioxide stream between the outermost casing protecting USDWs and the wellbore is prohibited.

(c) The owner or operator shall fill the annulus between the tubing and the long string casing with a non-corrosive fluid approved by the Administrator. The owner or operator shall maintain on the annulus a pressure that exceeds the operating injection pressure, unless the Administrator determines that such requirement might harm the integrity of the well or endanger USDWs.

(d) Other than during periods of well workover or maintenance approved by the Administrator in which the sealed tubing-casing annulus is, by necessity, disassembled for maintenance or corrective procedures, the owner or operator shall maintain mechanical integrity of the injection well at all times.

(e) The owner or operator shall install and use continuous recording devices to monitor:

(i) Injection pressure; and

(ii) Injection rate, volume, and temperature of the carbon dioxide stream.

(f) The owner or operator shall install and use continuous recording devices to monitor the pressure on the annulus between the tubing and the long string casing and annulus fluid volume.

(g) The owner or operator shall install, test, and use alarms and automatic surface shut-off systems or, at the discretion of the Administrator, use down-hole shut-off systems (e.g., automatic shut-off, check valves) or other mechanical devices that provide equivalent protection, designed to alert the operator and shut-in the well when operating parameters such as injection rate, injection pressure, or other parameters approved by the Administrator diverge beyond ranges or gradients specified in the permit.

(h) If an automatic shutdown is triggered or a loss of mechanical integrity is discovered, the owner or operator shall immediately investigate and identify as expeditiously as possible the cause. If, upon such investigation, the well appears to be lacking mechanical integrity, or if monitoring required under paragraphs (e), (f), and (g) of this Section otherwise indicates that the well may be lacking mechanical integrity, the owner or operator shall:

(i) Immediately cease injection;

(ii) Take all steps reasonably necessary to determine whether there may have been a release of the injected carbon dioxide stream or formation fluids into any unauthorized zone;

(iii) Notify the Administrator within twenty-four (24) hours;

(iv) Restore and demonstrate mechanical integrity to the satisfaction of the Administrator as soon as practicable and prior to resuming injection; and

(v) Notify the Administrator when injection can be expected to resume.

Notes

020-24 Wyo. Code R. §§ 24-18

Amended, Eff. 7/25/2016. Amended, Eff. 1/7/2020. Amended, Eff. 10/5/2021.