The Division of Oil and Gas (DOG) in the Office of Mines and Minerals (OMM) of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) protects Illinois land and water resources and promotes orderly resource development during exploration and production of oil and gas. Otherwise, the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA) administers the major environmental protection laws. The Illinois Pollution Control Board (IPCB) is an independent state agency charged with promulgating environmental regulations and adjudicating a variety of environmental cases in Illinois.

Contact

Illinois Department of Natural Resources
Office of Mines and Minerals
Division of Oil and Gas
524 South Second Street
Springfield, IL 62701
(217) 782-7756 (phone)

Illinois Environmental Protection Agency
1021 North Grand Avenue East
Springfield, IL 62702
217-782-3397 (phone)

Illinois Pollution Control Board
600 South Second Street, Suite 402
Springfield, IL 62704
(217) 524-8500 (phone)
(217) 524-8508 (fax)

Illinois Pollution Control Board
600 South Second Street, Suite 402
Springfield, IL 62704
(217) 524-8500 (phone)
(217) 524-8508 (fax)

Produced Water Management Practices and Applicable Regulations

Oil and gas rules are contained in Part 240 of Title 62 of the Illinois Administrative Code. The Division of Oil and Gas (DOG) regulates injection of fluids, including produced water into underground injection wells (Class II UIC wells) for purposes of onsite and commercial disposal as well as enhanced recovery of oil or natural gas. The rules also contain other management requirements for produced water. The environmental protection regulations are contained in Title 35 of the Illinois Administrative Code.

• Injection into Class II UIC wells — The regulations require that anyone who wants to construct and operate a Class II injection well must first meet technical requirements and obtain a permit for that activity.
  • Permit Application Procedures for Class II Wells (Subpart C: Sections 240.300 et seq.):
• The application must provide detailed information with respect to the well project.
• Freshwater aquifer exemptions must have been secured.
• The submission of the proposed well construction and operating parameters must offer information relative to the injection rate, injection fluid, and proposed maximum injection pressure.
• Proof of notice to the public, surface owner, and any permittee located within (1/4) mile must be submitted.
• Well Construction, Operating, and Reporting Requirements for Class II Wells (Subpart F: Sections 240.600 et seq.; Subpart G: Sections 240.700 et seq.):
• Surface casing and production casing requirements apply to newly drilled, conversion, and existing wells.
• Internal and external mechanical integrity must be established.
• Reporting must include the (OG-17) Secondary/Tertiary Oil Recovery Project Annual Report and the (OG-18) Annual Class II Well Report.
   
• Lease Operating Requirements — Produced Water Spill Remediation Requirements (Subpart H: Section 240.895):
  • Spills of produced water from wells, flow lines, pits, concrete storage structures, tanks, or containment dikes shall, as soon as practicable, be contained using earthen dikes and other containment measures to minimize the amount of area affected by the spill.
  • All impounded produced water shall be picked up and removed from the site for disposal into a Class II UIC well.
  • The affected area shall be limed with at least 50 lbs. of agricultural grade lime per 100 square feet of affected area and tilled to a depth of at least four inches.
  • Additional remediation action to be taken by the permittee may include flushing of the area with freshwater, the addition of organic material, additional chemical treatment, additional disking of the soil, or soil removal.
  • The permittee shall be required to submit information within 90 days after the spill date concerning quantity and areal extent of the spill; nature of the soil; flow capacity of affected surface waters; public safety; proximity of freshwaters, surface waters and surface drainage features; explanation of spill cause; and planned efforts to prevent and minimize the effects of future spills.
  • Additional reports are required each 90 days until the spill remediation is completed and approved.

• Liquid Oilfield Waste Handling and Disposal — Produced Water (Subpart I: Section 240.930):
  • All produced water collected for temporary storage shall be placed in tanks or permitted concrete storage structures. Containment dikes around tanks shall not be used for storage of produced water.
  • All produced water shall be transported by flowlines or a licensed liquid oilfield waste hauler to a permitted Class II UIC well for disposal.
  • Produced water shall not be disposed of into any surface water or water drainage way or onto the land surface unless a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) or surface discharge application permit has been obtained from the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency.