Download - Groundwater Advisory Unit

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

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

Contact Information

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Milton Rister, Executive Director 512/463-7068 [email protected]

Gil Bujano, Director, Oil & Gas Division

512/463-4513 [email protected]

Ramon Fernandez, Deputy Director, Field Operations, Oil & Gas Division


Norman Gearhart, P.G., Manger Groundwater Advisory Unit


mailto:[email protected]


