The Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission (AOGCC) regulates the drilling for and production of oil and gas resources, the principles of oil and gas conservation, and the underground injection for both waste management and enhanced recovery. The AOGCC is an independent, quasi-judicial agency of the State of Alaska. The Alaska Department of Natural Resources (ADNR), Oil and Gas Division, is responsible for leasing state lands for oil and gas exploration. The agency implements programs that encourage exploration and development activities on state and private lands. The Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation (ADEC) administers a wide array of programs to protect human health and safeguard the natural environment.

Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission
333 West 7th Avenue, #100
Anchorage, AK 99501-3539
(907) 279-1433 (phone)
(907) 276-7542 (fax)

Alaska Department of Natural Resources
Oil and Gas Division
550 West 7th Avenue, Suite 800
Anchorage, AK 99501
(907) 269-8800 (phone)

Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation
410 Willoughby Avenue, Suite 303
Juneau, AK 99801-1795
(907) 465-5065 (phone)

Produced Water Management Practices and Applicable Regulations

The Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission (AOGCC) regulates underground injection and enhanced recovery operations. The AOGCC's regulations can be found on the AOGCC Statutes and Regulations webpage. Other waste management activities, from the state perspective, are regulated by the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation (ADEC) under Title 18 (various Chapters) of the AAC.

• Underground Injection Operations. The regulations of the AOGCC are found at 20 AAC 25.252. The operator must:
• File a letter of application with the AOGCC;
• Demonstrate that the proposed disposal will not allow the movement of oil field wastes into sources of freshwater 20 AAC 25.990(27) (water that has a total dissolved solids concentration of less than 10,000 mg/L, and occurs in a stratum not exempted, or water that occurs in a stratum that serves as a source of drinking water for human consumption);
• Case the disposal wells and cement the casing to isolate the disposal zone and protect oil, gas, and freshwater;
• Conduct mechanical integrity testing (MIT) of the well prior to disposal and conduct retesting at least once every four years (and more frequent testing if well integrity concerns are identified);
• Monitor the injection pressure and rate, as well as the pressure in the casing-tubing annulus during actual disposal operations; and
• Notify the AOGCC of an indication of pressure communication or leakage, and implement corrective action or increased surveillance at the discretion of the AOGCC.
  
• Enhanced Recovery Operations. The regulations of the AOGC are found at 20 AAC 25.402 et seq. The operator must:
• File a letter of application with the AOGCC;
• Demonstrate that the proposed disposal will not allow the movement of oil field wastes into sources of freshwater 20 AAC 25.990(27) (water that has a total dissolved solids concentration of less than 10,000 mg/l, and occurs in a stratum not exempted, or water that occurs in a stratum that serves as a source of drinking water for human consumption);
• Case the injection wells and cement the casing to prevent leakage into oil, gas, and freshwater sources;
• Equip the injection well with tubing and packer, or similar equipment;
• Conduct pressure-testing to demonstrate mechanical integrity testing (MIT) of the tubing and packer and of the casing;
• Notify the AOGCC of commencement and discontinuance of injection operations;
• Keep records showing volumes of fluids produced, injected volumes, reservoir pressures, and injection pressures; and
• Report injection operations.


• Freshwater Aquifer Exemption. The regulations of the AOGCC are found at 20 AAC 25.440. The operator must file a letter of application requesting the exemption. The AOGCC will issue the exemption if:
  • The aquifer does not currently serve as a source of drinking water;
  • The aquifer will not serve as a source of drinking water in the future; and
  • Sufficient data are provided to substantiate the water quality and use.
    
• Annular Disposal of Produced Water. This practice, which is regulated under 20 AAC 25.080, is not common for produced water.
• For one case, see Disposal Injection Order No. 13


• ADEC Regulations.
  • Title 18 (various Chapters) of the AAC.
    
• Offshore Surface Disposal. If surface disposal is proposed offshore, the operator has to secure a permit from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) through the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES). Existing permits include the following:
• EPA Region 10, General NPDES Permit for Cook Inlet
• Discharge is allowed for produced water subject to the limits for oil and grease of 29 mg/L average and 42 mg/L maximum.
• Region 10, General NPDES for Discharges from Oil and Gas Extraction Facilities in Federal and State Waters in Cook Inlet, AKG-31-5000
• U.S. EPA Region 10, Arctic General Permit (AK 280000)
  • Does not authorize produced water discharge.
• U.S. EPA Region 10 List of Current Individual NPDES Permits in Alaska