The Indiana Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Division of Oil and Gas regulates petroleum exploration, production, and site abandonment activities, underground injection control, test hole drilling, and geophysical surveying operations. Otherwise, the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) administers the major environmental protection laws.

Contact

Division of Oil and Gas
(Indianapolis Central Office)
402 West Washington Street, Room 293
Indianapolis, IN 46204
(317) 232-4055 (phone)
(317) 232-1550 (fax)
(Division Contacts)

Indiana Department of Environmental Management
P.O. Box 6015
Indianapolis, IN 46206-6015
(317) 232-8603 (phone)
(317) 233-6647 (fax)

Produced Water Management Practices and Applicable Regulations

The oil and gas rules administered by the Division of Oil and Gas are contained in Rules 1 through 5 of Article 16 of Title 312 of the Indiana Administrative Code (IAC). Saltwater is defined as water that is brought to the surface in connection with conventional oil or gas production or wastewater (other than wastewaters classified as hazardous waste) from gas plants that are an integral part of production operations, including fluids contaminated with saltwater (312 IAC 16-1-43.5). The environmental protection rules of the Indiana Department of Environmental Management have been promulgated in Titles 326 through 329 of the Indiana Administrative Code (IAC).

• Disposal (312 IAC 16-5-27)
  • Saltwater or fluid contaminated with saltwater must be:
• (1) Injected into an authorized Class II well, or
• (2) Discharged under a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit issued by the Indiana Department of Environmental Management.
• Fluid contaminated with oil must be managed using one of the following methods:
• Application onto lease roads for the purpose of dust suppression in a manner designed to ensure that the materials do not leave the roadbed,
• Placement in a leak-free tank and return to crude oil production,
• Disposal in an approved solid waste land disposal facility if such disposal is approved, or
• Soil contaminated with saltwater may be disposed of as alternate daily cover in a properly permitted municipal solid waste landfill.

• Class II Well Program. Class II wells include wells that inject fluids that are brought to the surface in connection with conventional oil or gas production and can be commingled with wastewaters (other than wastewaters classified as hazardous waste at the time of injection) from gas plants that are an integral part of production operations; and for the enhanced recovery of oil or gas (312 IAC 16-1-7). The regulations establish Class II well permitting requirements and performance standards, including special rules for disposal of saltwater and other waste liquids.
  • As part of the permit application (312 IAC 16-3-2), the survey for Class II wells must show all existing and plugged wells within 1/4 mile of the proposed injection well.
  • The proposal must meet the well construction requirements, including surface and production casing standards (312 IAC 16-5-9).
  • Disposal of Saltwater and Waste Liquids (312 IAC 16-5-13):
• All fluid disposal operations must be approved by the Division of Oil and Gas.
• Evaporation pits are prohibited.
• Pits in connection with Class II wells may be authorized if they meet certain design, location, and operating requirements.
• Fluids shall be removed from an emergency pit as soon as the emergency can be abated.
• Any pipe that conveys water or a fluid from or to a well for oil and gas purposes shall be kept in good repair and free from leaks. No discharge of water or a fluid shall occur between the place of origin and the authorized place of disposal.

• Form
• Application for Well Permit