Post on 31-Dec-2015
description
RAILROAD COMMISSION OF TEXAS
Groundwater Protection Determination Letters
Norman Gearhart, P.G.Manager Groundwater Advisory Unit
Groundwater Advisory Unit
Purpose
• Provide recommendations for groundwater to be protected during oil and gas drilling and production.
• Evaluate Saltwater Disposal Well applications for geologic isolation from the base of usable-quality water and injection below the underground source of drinking water.
• Hydrogeological evaluation concerning groundwater contamination.
Protected Aquifers
For oil and gas wells
• Freshwater (less than 1,000 mg/l total dissolved solids, TDS), and
• Usable-quality water (less than 3,000 mg/l TDS, waters known to be used, and waters identified by the Texas Water Development Board for use in desalination)
For saltwater injection wells in addition to the above
• Underground source of drinking water (less than 10,000 mg/l TDS)
RAILROAD COMMISSION OF TEXAS
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Types of Applications
• Surface Casing Applications
• Microseismic Applications
• Seismic Applications (shot holes)
• Saltwater Disposal Applications (W-14)
What Requires a Surface Casing Letter
• New Drills
• Well Integrity Test
• Plugging and Abandoning
• Cathodic Protection
• Microseismic Boreholes
• Re-entering a Well
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Seismic Letter
• Send a Dated letter Including
– Company Name and Address
– Contact Person and Phone Number
– Project Name
– County Name(s)
– Shot Hole Depth
– Map Showing Shot Points
• Receive a Seismic Groundwater Protection Letter (Base of Usable-Quailty Water)
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Base of Usable-Quality Water
Base Underground Source of Drinking Water
Carrizo
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Contact Information
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Milton Rister, Executive Director 512/463-7068 Milton.Rister@rrc.state.tx.us
Gil Bujano, Director, Oil & Gas Division
512/463-4513 Gil.Bujano@rrc.state.tx.us
Ramon Fernandez, Deputy Director, Field Operations, Oil & Gas Division
512/463-6827 Ramon.Fernandez@rrc.state.tx.us
Norman Gearhart, P.G., Manger Groundwater Advisory Unit
512/463-2937 Norman.Gearhart@rrc.state.tx.us