[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 40, Volume 22]
[Revised as of July 1, 2007]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 40CFR146.65]

[Page 783-785]
 
                   TITLE 40--PROTECTION OF ENVIRONMENT
 
         CHAPTER I--ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY (CONTINUED)
 
PART 146_UNDERGROUND INJECTION CONTROL PROGRAM: CRITERIA AND STANDARDS--Table 
 
 Subpart G_Criteria and Standards Applicable to Class I Hazardous Waste 
 
Sec. 146.65  Construction requirements.

    (a) General. All existing and new Class I hazardous waste injection 
wells shall be constructed and completed to:
    (1) Prevent the movement of fluids into or between USDWs or into any 
unauthorized zones;

[[Page 784]]

    (2) Permit the use of appropriate testing devices and workover 
tools; and
    (3) Permit continuous monitoring of injection tubing and long string 
casing as required pursuant to Sec. 146.67(f).
    (b) Compatibility. All well materials must be compatible with fluids 
with which the materials may be expected to come into contact. A well 
shall be deemed to have compatibility as long as the materials used in 
the construction of the well meet or exceed standards developed for such 
materials by the American Petroleum Institute, The American Society for 
Testing Materials, or comparable standards acceptable to the Director.
    (c) Casing and Cementing of New Wells. (1) Casing and cement used in 
the construction of each newly drilled well shall be designed for the 
life expectancy of the well, including the post-closure care period. The 
casing and cementing program shall be designed to prevent the movement 
of fluids into or between USDWs, and to prevent potential leaks of 
fluids from the well. In determining and specifying casing and cementing 
requirements, the Director shall consider the following information as 
required by Sec. 146.70:
    (i) Depth to the injection zone;
    (ii) Injection pressure, external pressure, internal pressure and 
axial loading;
    (iii) Hole size;
    (iv) Size and grade of all casing strings (well thickness, diameter, 
nominal weight, length, joint specification and construction material);
    (v) Corrosiveness of injected fluid, formation fluids and 
temperature;
    (vi) Lithology of injection and confining zones;
    (vii) Type or grade of cement; and
    (viii) Quantity and chemical composition of the injected fluid.
    (2) One surface casing string shall, at a minimum, extend into the 
confining bed below the lowest formation that contains a USDW and be 
cemented by circulating cement from the base of the casing to the 
surface, using a minimum of 120% of the calculated annual volume. The 
Director may require more than 120% when the geology or other 
circumstances warrant it.
    (3) At least one long string casing, using a sufficient number of 
centralizers, shall extend to the injection zone and shall be cemented 
by circulating cement to the surface in one or more stages:
    (i) Of sufficient quantity and quality to withstand the maximum 
operating pressure; and
    (ii) In a quantity no less than 120% of the calculated volume 
necessary to fill the annular space. The Director may require more than 
120% when the geology or other circumstances warrant it.
    (4) Circulation of cement may be accomplished by staging. The 
Director may approve an alternative method of cementing in cases where 
the cement cannot be recirculated to the surface, provided the owner or 
operator can demonstrate by using logs that the cement is continuous and 
does not allow fluid movement behind the well bore.
    (5) Casings, including any casing connections, must be rated to have 
sufficient structural strength to withstand, for the design life of the 
well:
    (i) The maximum burst and collapse pressures which may be 
experienced during the construction, operation and closure of the well; 
and
    (ii) The maximum tensile stress which may be experienced at any 
point along the length of the casing during the construction, operation, 
and closure of the well.
    (6) At a minimum, cement and cement additivies must be of sufficient 
quality and quantity to maintain integrity over the design life of the 
well.
    (d) Tubing and packer. (1) All Class I hazardous waste injection 
wells shall inject fluids through tubing with a packer set at a point 
specified by the Director.
    (2) In determining and specifying requirements for tubing and 
packer, the following factors shall be considered:
    (i) Depth of setting;
    (ii) Characteristics of injection fluid (chemical content, 
corrosiveness, temperature and density);
    (iii) Injection pressure;
    (iv) Annular pressure;
    (v) Rate (intermittent or continuous), temperature and volume of 
injected fluid;
    (vi) Size of casing; and
    (vii) Tubing tensile, burst, and collapse strengths.

[[Page 785]]

    (3) The Director may approve the use of a fluid seal if he 
determines that the following conditions are met:
    (i) The operator demonstrates that the seal will provide a level of 
protection comparable to a packer;
    (ii) The operator demonstrates that the staff is, and will remain, 
adequately trained to operate and maintain the well and to identify and 
interpret variations in parameters of concern;
    (iii) The permit contains specific limitations on variations in 
annular pressure and loss of annular fluid;
    (iv) The design and construction of the well allows continuous 
monitoring of the annular pressure and mass balance of annular fluid; 
and
    (v) A secondary system is used to monitor the interface between the 
annulus fluid and the injection fluid and the permit contains 
requirements for testing the system every three months and recording the 
results.