Real World Pressure Buildup Issues

Brian Graves

TCEQ UIC Symposium

UIC Land Ban Coordinator

May 6, 2015

graves.brian@epa.gov

Reservoir Pressure Trend

3316 psia

2248 psia

Allowable injectionpressure riseof 1068 psi

Annual falloff injecting pressures corrected for skin factor in psia

.2818 psia 2012

*

*

2012 range3340-3150 psia

2816 psia 2013

*

*2013 range3255-3125 psia

.

Approved Petition Compliance Limit*

2014 3472 psia

. 2853 psia 2014

Source Well Layout and Forecast Rates in Pressure Build Up Model

185 GPM235 GPM

230 GPM

50 GPM

40 GPM

0 GPM

Sealed Boundary

Class I well

4-14-14

American Association of Drilling Engineers (AADE) 2005 National Technical Conference and Exhibition (NTCE)

Summary• Rapid development in Haynesville-Bossier and Cotton

Valley formations have caused related dramatic increases in injection of produced water volumes in East Texas.• This increased injection has resulted in increased injection

reservoir pressures that have caused:• High bradenhead pressures (potential threat to USDWs).• Surface breaches that can cause surface contamination.• Production well casing leaks.

Conclusions• Pressure capacity has been reached in some reservoirs. • This will have permitting implications for industry (non-

renewals or investigations for new/deeper formations to inject into).• These conditions significantly increase the risk to

USDWs and warrant a more holistic approach to injection well regulation.