Alabama Administrative Code Chapter 400-3-6 — Production

400 State Oil and Gas Board of Alabama

Ala. Admin. Code r. 400-3-6-.01 General

The design and construction of all wells and production facilities shall be based on sound engineering principles and must take into account the composition of the well stream, maximum pressures, and other pertinent engineering data and information. All flowing wells shall be equipped with a master valve and adequate chokes or beans to properly control the flow thereof. The Supervisor may approve alternative procedures for properly controlling well flow, upon request by the operator.

History

• Author: State Oil and Gas Board
• Authority: Code of Ala. 1975, §§9-17-1, et seq.
• New Rule: Filed April 11, 2000; effective May 16, 2000.

Ala. Admin. Code r. 400-3-6-.02 Holding Ponds

All holding ponds for produced water shall be constructed and maintained consistent with appropriate permit(s) and regulation(s).

History

• Author: State Oil and Gas Board
• Authority: Code of Ala. 1975, §§9-17-1, et seq.
• New Rule: Filed April 11, 2000; effective May 16, 2000.

Ala. Admin. Code r. 400-3-6-.03 Produced Water

No produced water, unless immediately contained or not leaving the location, shall be discharged to land surface, streams or rivers unless the appropriate approved permit(s) allowing such discharge is on file with the Board. The Supervisor and Board reserve the authority to prevent the discharge of any substances that may be harmful to the environment.

History

• Author: State Oil and Gas Board
• Authority: Code of Ala. 1975, §§9-17-1, et seq.
• New Rule: Filed April 11, 2000; effective May 16, 2000.

Ala. Admin. Code r. 400-3-6-.04 Commingling

Each coalbed methane gas well shall be allowed to commingle production from distinct coalbed methane pools.

History

• Author: State Oil and Gas Board
• Authority: Code of Ala. 1975, §§9-17-1, et seq.
• New Rule: Filed April 11, 2000; effective May 16, 2000.

Ala. Admin. Code r. 400-3-6-.05 Recompilation Or Reworking

Prior to commencing recompletion or reworking operations, approval shall be obtained from the Supervisor. All recompletion or reworking operations shall be conducted in a manner to ensure continuous control of the well. Adequate well control equipment and procedures shall be used to prevent uncontrolled release of methane, produced water, completion fluids or other material during recompletion or reworking operations. The method of well control may consist of conventional blow-out preventers, stripper heads, and other equipment or techniques, which provide for safe operations. Within thirty (30) days of recompletion or reworking operations, the operator shall submit a revised Form OGB-6, OGB-7, OGB-8, and OGB-9, where applicable, and one (1) copy of any additional logs.

History

• Author: State Oil and Gas Board
• Authority: Code of Ala. 1975, §§9-17-1, et seq.
• New Rule: Filed April 11, 2000; effective May 16, 2000. Amended: Filed August 5, 2005; effective September 9, 2005.

Ala. Admin. Code r. 400-3-6-.06 Tanks Or Tank Batteries

A sign shall be posted and maintained in a legible state, in a conspicuous place near a tank or tank battery. Such sign shall be posted when the tank or tank battery is installed and shall remain posted until the tank or tank battery is removed and the location restored. The sign shall include the name of the operator, the name or number designation of the battery, a listing of the permit number(s) from well(s) with fluids flowing into the battery, and the section, township, range, and county in which the tank or tank battery is located.

History

• Author: State Oil and Gas Board
• Authority: Code of Ala. 1975, §§9-17-1, et seq.
• New Rule: Filed April 11, 2000; effective May 16, 2000.

Ala. Admin. Code r. 400-3-6-.07 Dikes

All permanent tanks, tank outlets, treaters, or other facilities used to store salt water, must be surrounded by a dike constructed with impermeable material. The containment area surrounded by the dike shall be lined with impermeable material. The containment area shall have a capacity of at least one-and-one-half (1 1/2) times that of the tank or other vessel containing fluids and in any event the dike shall be at least two (2) feet high on the inside wall unless otherwise approved by the Supervisor. The Supervisor may require dikes around other facilities that contain salt water or other fluids. In the case of tank batteries, the dike must have the capacity to contain a volume equal to one-and-one-half (1 1/2) times that of the largest tank in the battery and in any event the dike shall be at least two (2) feet high on the inside wall unless otherwise approved by the Supervisor. The top of the dike must be at least two (2) feet higher than the bottom of the lowest tank or other vessel containing fluids. The tanks or other vessels containing fluids must be elevated to provide enough gradient to allow drainage away from the tanks toward the dike. No salt water shall be allowed to remain within containment areas. Drainage of fluids from containment areas shall be authorized by appropriate permit(s) or regulations.

History

• Author: State Oil and Gas Board
• Authority: Code of Ala. 1975, §§9-17-1, et seq.
• New Rule: Filed April 11, 2000; effective May 16, 2000.

Ala. Admin. Code r. 400-3-6-.08 Site Maintenance

(1) Access roads shall be maintained to allow motor vehicle access to all sites, such as well sites, production facility sites, and Class II injection facility sites.

(2) All unusable materials or equipment shall be removed from sites.

(3) Any rubbish, debris, or vegetation that might constitute a fire hazard shall be removed to a distance of at least thirty (30) feet from the wellhead, production facilities, and meter run, or to the boundary of the well site, whichever is less. All wastes and other materials shall be recycled or disposed of as allowed by appropriate permit(s) or regulations. All site conditions must meet the approval of the Supervisor.

History

• Author: State Oil and Gas Board
• Authority: Code of Ala. 1975, §§9-17-1, et seq.
• New Rule: Filed April 11, 2000; effective May 16, 2000.

Ala. Admin. Code r. 400-3-6-.09 Production Facilities

(1) All production facilities shall be designed, installed, and maintained in accordance with generally accepted industry practices or standards and in a manner which provides for efficiency, safety of operation, and protection of the environment.

(2) Prior to placing equipment in service, a generalized schematic flow diagram showing all equipment on location shall be submitted to the Supervisor.

(3) For operations within designated field boundaries where well sites and equipment are the same, a typical schematic may be submitted by the operator for that field. Any deviation from the typical schematic should be submitted to the Supervisor.

History

• Author: State Oil and Gas Board
• Authority: Code of Ala. 1975, §§9-17-1, et seq.
• New Rule: Filed April 11, 2000; effective May 16, 2000.