(GP/GT) for Additional Water Supply in the Lower Rio Grande

There are approxim'ately 54.000 injection/disposal wells In Texas which are associated
with oU and gas production and are on the Railroad Commission computer system. As a
result. information concerning permits. lease names or lease numbers. counties. and
operators can be retrieved from the "system" instantaneously via system termInals.
On April 23. 1982. Texas became one of the first two states In the Nation to be granted
"primary enforcement responsiblllty" by the EPA. (The other state was Louisiana) The
success of the program depends on how well you. as injection well operators, comply with the
program requirements and how well we all communicate with each other. From experience.
we know that many fallures In compliance matters are actually fallures to communicate. It Is
for that reason that this seminar was organized: to communlca~ew1thyou and toexplaln to
you what the program Involves and what Is expected of you. While our objective Is to properly
fulfill federal and state mandates. our aim Is to provide you with the Information and
assistance which will ease your problems. '
Background
The Commission's Jurisdiction and responslb1l1ties in petroleum regulation have
Increased steadily through the years. Today.i 15 broad authority over oil and gas production
Is derived from the Texas Natural Resources Code and from Chapters 26. 27, and 29 of the
Texas Water Code. The CommiSSion has been active in the control of underground injection
activities for more than forty years. The first permit to inject water Into a productlve
reservoir was Issued In 1938.
On January 2, 1980, the Underground Injectlon Control (UlC) Section of the 011 and Gas
Division was created to administer a program conSistent with state and federal law.
Including: oversight of the injection. disposal. and hydrocarbon storage well permits
· already issued: processing and Issuing of new permit applications: and coordination with
· EPA and other federal and state agencies in a concerted program to protect fresh water in
Texas.
The ,State UlC Program In Texas is jointly enforced by two agencies: the Texas Water
CommiSSion and the Railroad Commission. The Railroad Commission has juriscUction over
Class II wells injecting "011 and gas waste," a term that Is defined in Chapter 27 of the Texas
Water Code to include the disposal of salt water and other produced flUids. disposal
associated with the underground storage of hydrocarbons. and injection arlsing out of, or
InCidental to. the operation of gasoline plants. natural gas processing plants. and pressure
maintenance or repressurlng plants. The CommiSSion also has authority over Class II wells
used for enhanced recovery of 011 and gas (§91.101. Natural Resources Code) and
· underground hydrocarbon storage wells (§91.20 1 et.seq .• Natural Resources Code).
The 69th SeSSion of the Texas Legislature amended the Texas Injection Well Act (Texas
Water Code - Chapter 27) to transfer brine mining Injection wells from the Texas Water
Commission to the Railroad CommiSSion effective September 1. 1985. Brine mining
Injection operations produce brine by Injecting fresh water. dissolvtng salt strata. and
producing the brine. usually through the same well. This type of well Is classified by EPA as a
Class III well. or one which Injects for the extractlon of minerals.
2.