[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 40, Volume 19]
[Revised as of July 1, 2002]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 40CFR146.66]

[Page 718-719]
 
                   TITLE 40--PROTECTION OF ENVIRONMENT
 
         CHAPTER I--ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY (CONTINUED)
 
PART 146--UNDERGROUND INJECTION CONTROL PROGRAM: CRITERIA AND STANDARDS--Table of Contents
 
Subpart G--Criteria and Standards Applicable to Class I Hazardous Waste 
                             Injection Wells
 
Sec. 146.66  Logging, sampling, and testing prior to new well operation.

    (a) During the drilling and construction of a new Class I hazardous 
waste injection well, appropriate logs and tests shall be run to 
determine or verify the depth, thickness, porosity, permeability, and 
rock type of, and the salinity of any entrained fluids in, all relevant 
geologic units to assure conformance with performance standards in 
Sec. 146.65, and to establish accurate baseline data against which 
future measurements may be compared. A descriptive report interpreting 
results of such logs and tests shall be prepared by a knowledgeable log 
analyst and submitted to the Director. At a minimum, such logs and tests 
shall include:
    (1) Deviation checks during drilling on all holes constructed by 
drilling a pilot hole which are enlarged by reaming or another method. 
Such checks shall be at sufficiently frequent intervals to determine the 
location of the borehole and to assure that vertical avenues for fluid 
movement in the form of diverging holes are not created during drilling; 
and
    (2) Such other logs and tests as may be needed after taking into 
account the availability of similar data in the area of the drilling 
site, the construction plan, and the need for additional information 
that may arise from time to time as the construction of the well 
progresses. At a minimum, the following logs shall be required in the 
following situations:
    (i) Upon installation of the surface casing:
    (A) Resistivity, spontaneous potential, and caliper logs before the 
casing is installed; and
    (B) A cement bond and variable density log, and a temperature log 
after the casing is set and cemented.
    (ii) Upon installation of the long string casing:
    (A) Resistivity, spontaneous potential, porosity, caliper, gamma 
ray, and fracture finder logs before the casing is installed; and
    (B) A cement bond and variable density log, and a temperature log 
after the casing is set and cemented.
    (iii) The Director may allow the use of an alternative to the above 
logs when an alternative will provide equivalent or better information; 
and
    (3) A mechanical integrity test consisting of:
    (i) A pressure test with liquid or gas;
    (ii) A radioactive tracer survey;
    (iii) A temperature or noise log;
    (iv) A casing inspection log, if required by the Director; and
    (v) Any other test required by the Director.
    (b) Whole cores or sidewall cores of the confining and injection 
zones and formation fluid samples from the injection zone shall be 
taken. The Director may accept cores from nearby wells if the owner or 
operator can demonstrate that core retrieval is not possible and that 
such cores are representative of conditions at the well. The Director 
may require the owner or operator to core other formations in the 
borehole.
    (c) The fluid temperature, pH, conductivity, pressure and the static 
fluid level of the injection zone must be recorded.
    (d) At a minimum, the following information concerning the injection 
and

[[Page 719]]

confining zones shall be determined or calculated for Class I hazardous 
waste injection wells:
    (1) Fracture pressure;
    (2) Other physical and chemical characteristics of the injection and 
confining zones; and
    (3) Physical and chemical characteristics of the formation fluids in 
the injection zone.
    (e) Upon completion, but prior to operation, the owner or operator 
shall conduct the following tests to verify hydrogeologic 
characteristics of the injection zone:
    (1) A pump test; or
    (2) Injectivity tests.
    (f) The Director shall have the opportunity to witness all logging 
and testing by this subpart. The owner or operator shall submit a 
schedule of such activities to the Director 30 days prior to conducting 
the first test.