The State Oil and Gas Board of Alabama, under the direction of the State Geologist and Oil and Gas Supervisor, is responsible for the regulation of oil and gas operations. The Board is divided into two administrative regions–north and south. The Board has broad authority in Alabama's oil and gas conservation statutes to promulgate and enforce rules and regulations to ensure the conservation and proper development of Alabama's petroleum resources. A major duty of the Board is to prevent pollution of fresh water supplies by oil, gas, salt water, or other contaminants resulting from oil and gas operations. The Alabama Department of Environmental Management (ADEM) administers the major federal environmental protection laws through regulations governing air pollution, water quality and supply, solid and hazardous waste management.

State Oil and Gas Board of Alabama
420 Hackberry Lane
P.O. Box 869999
Tuscaloosa, AL 35486-6999
(205) 349-2852 (phone)

Alabama Department of Environmental Management
Post Office Box 301463
Montgomery, Alabama 36130-1463 (mailing address)

1400 Coliseum Blvd.
Montgomery, AL 36110 (street address)
(334) 271-7700 (phone)

Produced Water Management Practices and Applicable Regulations

The State Oil and Gas Board of Alabama offers online access to its Rules and Regulations. The window directs the viewer through a combination of pull-down menus.

• Class II Underground Injection Control (UIC) Operations (Rule 400-4) - Injection of brines for disposal and enhanced recovery is subject to Rule 400-4 Underground Injection Control Rules. To access this rule: (1) in top pull-down menu, click on 400-4 Underground Injection Control Rules; then, (2) in bottom pull-down menu, click on 400-4-1 General or 400-4-2 Class II Underground Injection Control Operations to view specific sections.
• Fluids injected into a Class II injection well shall be stored, transported, and injected in such a manner as may be approved by the Supervisor.
• Any injection activity that results or may result in the pollution of any Underground Sources of Drinking Water (USDW) or in damage to oil, gas, or other minerals is prohibited.
• Immediately following the initiation of production in any field or pool, all salt water shall be disposed of into an approved underground formation or otherwise disposed of as approved by the Supervisor where such salt water cannot damage or pollute any USDW, oil, gas, or other minerals.
• The UIC Class II injection well regulations cover permitting, operations, monitoring, and public participation.

• In addition, the following rules and regulations apply to produced water management-related operations.
  • Onshore Operations (Rule 400-1) - To access this rule: (1) in top pull-down menu, click on 400-1 Onshore Rules; then, (2) in bottom pull-down menu, click on 400-1-4 Drilling and 400-1-6 Production to view specific sections.
    • Recycling or Disposal of Pit Fluids and Pit Closure (Rule 400 1 4 11) - The Board allows the injection of all fluids from reserve pits down the surface casing/production casing annulus of a newly completed well and into the open-hole well bore of a newly drilled dry hole prior to plugging. Approval must be obtained prior to subsurface disposal. Pits are to be backfilled and compacted within 90 days. After all fluids in the pits have been disposed of, the operator may leave the pit for use by the landowner, if the surface owner makes a written statement to the State Oil and Gas Board.
    • Dikes (Rule 400-1-6-08) - All permanent tanks, tank outlets, treaters, or other facilities used to store salt water must be surrounded by a dike which is constructed and maintained in a manner that is capable of retaining fluids.
    • Berms (Rule 400-1-6-09) - The Supervisor may require that a containment berm at least two feet high on the inside wall be constructed on the downslope side of a well location or other location used to store salt water.
  • Offshore Operations (Rule 400-2) - To access this rule: (1) in top pull-down menu, click on 400-2 Offshore Rules; then, (2) in bottom pull-down menu, click on 400-2-4 Drilling to view specific sections.
  • Recycling or Disposal of Tank Fluids (Rule 400-2-4-10) - The Board allows the injection of all fluids that remain in tank down the surface casing/production casing annulus of a newly completed well and into the open-hole well bore of a newly drilled dry hole prior to plugging. Prior to subsurface disposal, approval must be obtained.
  • Coalbed Methane Operations - To access this rule: (1) in top pull-down menu, click on 400-3 Coalbed Methane Rules; then, (2) in bottom pull-down menu, click on 400-3-4 Drilling to view specific sections.
  • Recycling or Disposal of Pit Fluids and Pit Closure (Rule 400 3 4 11) - All pit fluids must be recycled or disposed of in a manner acceptable to the Supervisor. Pits are to be backfilled and compacted within 90 days. After all fluids in the pit have been removed, the operator may leave the pit for use by the landowner, if the surface owner makes a written statement to the State Oil and Gas Board.
  • Salt Cavern Disposal - Alabama hosts the large McIntosh dome, which is used to store natural gas in salt cavities at three project locations. However, no request has been made by an operator to develop salt cavern disposal facilities for oil and gas waste.

• Offsite Transportation - The State Oil and Gas Board of Alabama regulates the offsite transportation of wastes associated with oil and gas operations. The rules of the State Oil and Gas Board of Alabama require operators to use transporters approved by the board, and they require operators, transporters, and disposers to adhere to a manifest system (onshore: Rule 400-1-9-.03; offshore: Rule 400-2-8-.05; and coal bed methane: Rule 400-3-8-.02).

• Offsite Disposal - Offsite disposal operations have to comply with all applicable regulations administered by the Alabama Department of Environmental Management.

• Outer Continental Shelf Discharge Operations - Region 4, Final National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) General Permit for Existing and New Source Discharges in the Eastern Portion of the Outer Continental Shelf of the Gulf of Mexico, GMG460000.

• OGB-1. Application for Permit to Drill, Deepen, Convert, or Amend
• OGB-1C. Application for Permit to Inject Fluids
• OGB-2C. Affidavit of Ownership, Underground Injection Control
• OGB-5. Organization Report
• OGB-17. Monthly Report of Fluids Injected
• OGB-21. Authorization to Clean Tank
• OGB-25. Transporter's Certificate of Eligibility to Transport Wastes
• OGB-26. Wastes Manifest
• OGB-27. Notification of Fire, Spill, Leak, or Blowout (Incident Report)