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AOGCC sets frack regulations hearing Third proposed hydraulic fracturing regs available; notification of owners within one-half mile radius, water well testing required Kristen Nelson Petroleum News
The Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission has scheduled a hearing on proposed hydraulic fracturing regulations Jan. 15 at 9 a.m. at its Anchorage office.
This will be the third hearing the commission has held on hydraulic fracturing regulations, and the third set of proposed regulations it has issued.
The proposed regulations, governing hydraulic fracturing applications, operations and reporting, are available on the commission’s website at www.aogcc.alaska.gov.
The commission said the proposed regulations include: notification of landowners, surface owners and operators within one-half mile of wellbore trajectory; pre and post hydraulic fracturing water well water sampling and analysis; disclosure of chemical makeup of hydraulic fracturing fluids; wellbore integrity; containment of hydraulic fracturing fluids; and casing and cementing.
The commission said comments, including potential costs to private persons of complying with proposed changes, may be submitted in writing to the commission at 333 W. 7th Ave., Ste. 100, Anchorage, AK 99501; by facsimile at 907-276-7542; or by electronic mail (a link is available on the commission’s website as shown above) by 4:30 p.m. Jan. 10.
Notification The proposed regulations include required notification of all “owners, landowners, surface owners, and operators” within one-half mile of the proposed wellbore trajectory. A plat must be provided showing water wells within a one-half mile radius of the well’s surface location and wells of any type within a one-half mile of the wellbore trajectory and fracturing interval.
Freshwater aquifers within a one-half mile radius must be identified and a plan submitted for baseline water sampling of water wells prior to hydraulic fracturing.
Known and suspected faults must be identified.
Detailed information on the proposed hydraulic fracturing program must be provided, including volumes and ingredients.
A report is required by the commission within 30 days of completion of hydraulic fracturing operations.
The commission said it may require water sampling from water wells after hydraulic fracturing.
Required information which is claimed to be confidential must be filed separately and clearly marked.
Earlier hearings The commission has been working on hydraulic fracturing regulations since late last year.
It has held two hearings, one in April and the other in September, to take comments on its proposed regulations.
At the September hearing — on a revision of the regulations proposed in August — commission Chair Cathy Foerster said that if the commission made substantial changes in the proposed regulations it would issue a public notice and provide another chance for comment.
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