HAR §13-183-79. Surveillance of injection wells

(a) Surveillance of injection wells shall be necessary in order to establish that all injection effluent is confined to the intended zone of injection. When an owner or operator proposes to drill a new well or modify an existing well the owner or operator shall be required to demonstrate to the satisfaction of the chairperson that the casing has complete integrity by approved test methods. (b) To establish the integrity of the annular cement above the shoe of the casing, the operator shall make sufficient surveys, within thirty days after injection is started into a well, to demonstrate that all the injected fluid is confined to the intended zone of injection. Surveys shall thereafter be made at least every two years, or as often as the chairperson may order. All the surveys shall be witnessed by the chairperson. (c) After the injection well has been put into service, the chairperson may visit the well site periodically. At these times, surface conditions shall be noted and if any unsatisfactory conditions exist, the operator shall be notified of needed remedial work. If this required work is not performed within ninety days, the permit issued for the well by the chairperson shall be rescinded. If it is determined that damage is occurring, the chairperson may order that the repair work be done immediately. (d) Injection pressures shall be recorded and compared with the pressure reported on the appropriate forms. Any discrepancies shall be rectified immediately by the operator. A graph of pressures and rates versus time shall be maintained by the operator. Reasons for anomalies shall be promptly ascertained. If these anomalies demonstrate that damage is being done, the permit issued by the chairperson may be rescinded and injection shall cease. (e) At the discretion of the chairperson, when an injection well has been left idle for a period of two years or longer, the operator shall be informed by letter that the permit issued for use of the well for injection purposes has been rescinded. In the event the operator intends again to use the well for injection purposes, the operator shall be required to file a new application for permit and demonstrate to the satisfaction of the chairperson by means of surveys that the injected fluids will be confined to the intended zone of injection. [Eff. JUN 22 1981] (Auth: HRS §182-14) (Imp: HRS §182-14) Subchapter 10. Drilling; Operation and Maintenance 45