Fresh Water Aquifer Supplementary Permit Conditions
1. All pits must be properly constructed, lined and maintained to ensure stability. Pits must fully contain all cuttings, drilling, cementing and stimulation fluids, plus any fluids which may accumulate resulting from natural precipitation. A synthetic pit liner must be installed with adequate excess material to accommodate the weight and volume of drill cuttings and fluids, and maintained in a leak-free condition. Use of these pits for anything other than approved operations is prohibited.
2. All fluids must be contained on the site and disposed of properly.
- If operations are suspended, and the site is left unattended at any time, pit fluids must be removed from the site immediately.
- After the cessation of drilling and/or stimulation operations, pit fluids must be removed within 7 days.
Waste fluids must only be transported by a waste transporter with a valid New York State Part 364 Waste Transporter Permit.
3. Any hole drilled for conductor or surface casing (i.e., "water string") must be drilled on air, fresh water, or fresh water mud. For any holes drilled with mud, techniques for removal of filter cake (e.g., spacers, additional cement, appropriate flow regimes) must be considered when designing any primary cement job on conductor and surface casing.
4. If conductor pipe is used, it must be run in a drilled hole and it must be cemented back to surface by circulation down the inside of the pipe and up the annulus, or installed by another procedure approved by this office. Lost circulation materials must be added to the cement to ensure satisfactory results. Additionally, at least two centralizers must be run with one each at the shoe and at the middle of the string. In the event that cement circulation is not achieved, cement must be grouted (or squeezed) down from the surface to ensure a complete cement bond. In lieu of, or in combination with, such grouting or squeezing from the surface, this office may require perforation of the conductor casing and squeeze cementing of perforations. This office must be notified at least 6 hours prior to cementing operations, and cementing cannot commence until a DEC inspector is present.
5. A surface casing string must be set at least 100 feet below the deepest fresh water zone and at least 100 feet into bedrock. If shallow gas is known to exist, or is anticipated in this bedrock interval, the depth at which casing is set may be adjusted based on site-specific conditions, provided it is approved by this office. There must a minimum 2½-inch difference (clearance) between the hole diameter and the outer casing diameter (excluding couplings), or the clearance specified in DEC's Casing and Cementing Conditions, whichever is greater. Cement must be circulated back to the surface with a minimum calculated 50% excess. Lost circulation materials must be added to the cement to ensure satisfactory results. Additionally, cement baskets must be installed appropriately above major lost circulation zones and centralizers must be run at least every 120 feet. Pipe must be either new API-graded pipe with a minimum internal yield pressure of 1,800 psi or reconditioned pipe that has been tested internally to a minimum of 2,700 psi. If reconditioned pipe is used, an affidavit that the pipe has been tested must be submitted to this office before the pipe is run. This office must be notified at least 6 hours prior to cementing operations and cementing cannot commence until a DEC inspector is present.
6. If multiple fresh water zones are known to exist or are found or if shallow gas is present, this office may require multiple strings of surface casing to prevent gas intrusion and/or preserve the hydraulic characteristics and water quality of each fresh water zone. The permittee must immediately inform this office of the occurrence of any fresh water or shallow gas zones not noted on the permittee's drilling application and prognosis. This office may require changes to the casing and cementing plan in response to unexpected occurrences of fresh water or shallow gas, and may also require the immediate, temporary cessation of operations while such alterations are developed by the permittee and evaluated by DEC for approval.
7. The Operator must complete the "Record of Formations Penetrated" on the Well Drilling and Completion Report; providing a written log of formations - both unconsolidated and consolidated - and all water and gas producing zones.
8. Prior to commencing production, the installation of holding tanks with capacity sufficient for the containment of oil, brine and other production fluids is required. Holding tanks must be placed within a water-tight diked area capable of retaining 150% of the total capacity of the tank or tank battery.