RRC Adopts Amendments for Disposal Wells in Seismic Areas

Railroad Commission of Texas (RRC) commissioners have unanimously adopted disposal well rule amendments designed to address operations in areas of historical or future seismic activity. Disposal wells are permitted by RRC to safely dispose of non-hazardous produced water (saltwater) and hydraulic fracture flow-back fluid from oil and gas wells.

“Once again, the Texas Railroad Commission is taking the lead in ensuring our rules follow science in protecting our natural resources, while at the same time providing a stable regulatory environment for our oil and gas operators,” said RRC chairwoman Christi Craddick.

The main components of the adopted rule amendments, which become effective Nov. 17, are: requiring applicants for new disposal wells to conduct a search of the U.S. Geological Survey seismic database for historical earthquakes within a circular area of 100 square miles around a proposed new disposal well; and clarify the commission’s staff authority to modify, suspend, or terminate a disposal well permit, including modifying disposal volumes and pressures or shutting in a well if scientific data indicates a well is likely to be, or determined to be, contributing to seismic activity.

Other components include allowing commission staff to require operators to disclose the current annually reported volumes and pressures on a more frequent basis if staff determines a need for the information; and allowing RRC staff to require an applicant to provide additional information, including pressure front-boundary calculations, to demonstrate that disposal fluids will remain confined if the well is to be located in an area where conditions exist that may increase the risk fluids may not remain confined.