20171227-IR-312160230FRA

• Jurisdiction: Indiana
• Library: Indiana Register
• Year: 2017

TITLE 312 NATURAL RESOURCES COMMISSION

Final Rule

LSA Document #16-230(F)

DIGEST

Adds 312 IAC 29 to govern oil and gas well activities that are controlled by IC 14-37. Repeals 312 IAC 16.

Effective 30 days after filing with the Publisher.

312 IAC 16;312 IAC 29

SECTION 1. 312 IAC 29 IS ADDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS:

ARTICLE 29. OIL AND GAS

Rule 1. Application and Administration

312 IAC 29-1-1 Application of article

Authority: IC 14-10-2-4;IC 14-37-3

Affected: IC 14-37

Sec. 1. This article assists with the implementation of IC 14-37.

(Natural Resources Commission; 312 IAC 29-1-1; filed Dec 1, 2017, 10:35 a.m.: 20171227-IR-312160230FRA)

312 IAC 29-1-2 Administration

Authority: IC 14-10-2-4;IC 14-37-3

Affected: IC 14-37

Sec. 2. (a) The department's division of oil and gas administers IC 14-37 and this article.

(b) Unless otherwise specified, the division director or a designee of the division director shall take

any action that is appropriate for the implementation of IC 14-37 and this article.

(Natural Resources Commission; 312 IAC 29-1-2; filed Dec 1, 2017, 10:35 a.m.: 20171227-IR-312160230FRA)

312 IAC 29-1-3 Incorporation by reference

Authority: IC 14-10-2-4;IC 14-37-3

Affected: IC 14-37

Sec. 3. If not specified in any document incorporated by reference in this article, the version or edition

of material incorporated by reference in the document is the version or edition that was in effect on the

effective date of this article. When the version or edition is expressly stated in the document incorporated

by reference in this article, that version or edition shall control.

(Natural Resources Commission; 312 IAC 29-1-3; filed Dec 1, 2017, 10:35 a.m.: 20171227-IR-312160230FRA)

Rule 2. Definitions

312 IAC 29-2-1 Applicability

Authority: IC 14-10-2-4;IC 14-37-3

Affected: IC 14-8-2;IC 14-37

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Sec. 1. The definitions in IC 14-8-2 and this rule apply throughout this article.

(Natural Resources Commission; 312 IAC 29-2-1; filed Dec 1, 2017, 10:35 a.m.: 20171227-IR-312160230FRA)

312 IAC 29-2-2 "Abandon" defined

Authority: IC 14-10-2-4;IC 14-37-3

Affected: IC 14-37

Sec. 2. "Abandon" means to:

(1) terminate operations of a well for oil and gas purposes; and

(2) reclaim and restore the site of the well in a manner that will protect the waters and lands of the

state against pollution.

(Natural Resources Commission; 312 IAC 29-2-2; filed Dec 1, 2017, 10:35 a.m.: 20171227-IR-312160230FRA)

312 IAC 29-2-3 "Acid well stimulation treatment" defined

Authority: IC 14-10-2-4;IC 14-37-3

Affected: IC 14-37

Sec. 3. "Acid well stimulation treatment" means a well stimulation treatment that uses, in whole or in

part, the application of one (1) or more acids to the well or underground geologic formation. The acid well

stimulation treatment may be at any applied pressure and may be used in combination with hydraulic

fracturing treatments or other well stimulation treatments.

(Natural Resources Commission; 312 IAC 29-2-3; filed Dec 1, 2017, 10:35 a.m.: 20171227-IR-312160230FRA)

312 IAC 29-2-4 "Additive" or "additive product" defined

Authority: IC 14-10-2-4;IC 14-37-3

Affected: IC 14-37

Sec. 4. "Additive" or "additive product" means any substance or combination of substances having a

specified purpose that is combined with a base fluid (typically water) to create a fluid that is pumped into

a formation during hydraulic fracturing operations or acid well stimulation treatments. A nonexclusive list

of common additives are acids, biocides, breakers, buffers, corrosion inhibitors, crosslinkers,

demulsifiers, fluid loss additives, friction reducers, gels, iron control agents, oxygen scavengers, pH

adjusting agents, proppants (typically sand), scale inhibitors, stabilizers, and surfactants.

(Natural Resources Commission; 312 IAC 29-2-4; filed Dec 1, 2017, 10:35 a.m.: 20171227-IR-312160230FRA)

312 IAC 29-2-5 "Administrator" defined

Authority: IC 14-10-2-4;IC 14-37-3

Affected: IC 14-37

Sec. 5. "Administrator" means:

(1) the administrator of the United States Environmental Protection Agency; or

(2) an authorized representative of the United States Environmental Protection Agency.

(Natural Resources Commission; 312 IAC 29-2-5; filed Dec 1, 2017, 10:35 a.m.: 20171227-IR-312160230FRA)

312 IAC 29-2-6 "Annulus" defined

Authority: IC 14-10-2-4;IC 14-37-3

Affected: IC 14-37

Sec. 6. "Annulus" means the space between:

(1) the well bore wall and a string of casing;

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(2) two (2) strings of casing; or

(3) tubing and the innermost casing.

(Natural Resources Commission; 312 IAC 29-2-6; filed Dec 1, 2017, 10:35 a.m.: 20171227-IR-312160230FRA)

312 IAC 29-2-7 "Aquifer" defined

Authority: IC 14-10-2-4;IC 14-37-3

Affected: IC 14-37

Sec. 7. "Aquifer" means an underground geological formation containing or conducting groundwater.

Aquifers are sources of groundwater for wells and springs.

(Natural Resources Commission; 312 IAC 29-2-7; filed Dec 1, 2017, 10:35 a.m.: 20171227-IR-312160230FRA)

312 IAC 29-2-8 "Area of review" defined

Authority: IC 14-10-2-4;IC 14-37-3

Affected: IC 14-37

Sec. 8. "Area of review" means that area within one-fourth (1/4) mile of an existing or a proposed Class

II well, underground gas storage facility, or underground petroleum storage facility that is reviewed

during the permitting process and periodically throughout the life of the permitted well or storage facility

to evaluate if fluid flow between different formations might occur as a result of operating the permitted

well or storage facility.

(Natural Resources Commission; 312 IAC 29-2-8; filed Dec 1, 2017, 10:35 a.m.: 20171227-IR-312160230FRA)

312 IAC 29-2-9 "Background radiation" defined

Authority: IC 14-37-3

Affected: IC 14-37

Sec. 9. "Background radiation" means radiation at the ground surface from:

(1) cosmic sources;

(2) non-technologically enhanced naturally occurring radioactive material, including radon, except as

a decay product of source or special nuclear material; or

(3) global fallout as it exists in the environment from the testing of nuclear explosive devices.

The term does not include sources of radiation from NORM-contaminated equipment regulated under this

article.

(Natural Resources Commission; 312 IAC 29-2-9; filed Dec 1, 2017, 10:35 a.m.: 20171227-IR-312160230FRA)

312 IAC 29-2-10 "Base fluid" defined

Authority: IC 14-10-2-4;IC 14-37-3

Affected: IC 14-37

Sec. 10. "Base fluid" means a fluid into which additives are mixed to form the hydraulic fracturing fluid

that transports proppants into a geologic formation.

(Natural Resources Commission; 312 IAC 29-2-10; filed Dec 1, 2017, 10:35 a.m.: 20171227-IR-312160230FRA)

312 IAC 29-2-11 "Blind ram" defined

Authority: IC 14-10-2-4;IC 14-37-3

Affected: IC 14-37

Sec. 11. "Blind ram" refers to a thick, heavy steel component of certain blowout preventers that, when

activated, closes and mates with another horizontally opposed ram to close over a well that does not

Indiana Register

Date: Jan 03,2018 9:48:26PM EST DIN: 20171227-IR-312160230FRA Page 3