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INJECTION WELL MECHANICAL INTEGRITY
Citation:
Thornhill, J. AND B. Benefield. INJECTION WELL MECHANICAL INTEGRITY. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, D.C., EPA/625/9-89/007 (NTIS PB91145631).
Description:
EPA's underground injection control regulations require that all injection wells demonstrate mechanical integrity. The regulations state that an injection well has mechanical integrity if (1) there is no significant leak in the casing, tubing or packer and (2) there is no significant fluid movement into an underground source of drinking water through vertical channels adjacent to the injection well bore. The initial research project examined the question of mechanical integrity. The three-phased project determined the state-of-the-art for mechanical integrity testing of injection wells and field tested specific analysis methods to determine their adequacy as mechanical integrity tests. The first phase of the project resulted in a separate report entitled, "Methods for Determining the Mechanical Integrity of Class II Injection Wells," EPA/600/2-84-121. he report represented state-of-the-art methods available for determining mechanical integrity of Class II wells. The second and third phases of the study involved test wells constructed for mechanical integrity testing: "Logging Well No. 1" to test for channels in the cement behind the casing; "Logging Well No. 2" to test for channels in the cement behind the casing to evaluate cement behind fiberglass casing; "Fiberglass Calibration Well" for use in calibrating tools to free fiberglass casing; "Leak Test Well" for developing methods for testing the integrity of the tubing, casing and packer as well as locating fluid movement in channels behind the casing; and three monitoring wells to determine fluid movement pressure buildup as a result of injection.