Leak Detection and Repair
Oil and Gas Permitting Guidance requires operators to install low or no-bleed controllers at all new facilities and for any modification of facilities and Wyoming, like all western Oil and Gas states surveyed, has adopted New Source Performance Standard regulations for Leak Detection and Repair (LDAR) at gas plants. Moreover, Wyoming requires quarterly instrument-based LDAR for new and modified facilities in the Upper Green River Basin nonattainment area.
Venting and/or Flaring
Venting or flaring under the following circumstances does not constitute waste and is authorized by the Commission: emergencies or upset conditions; well purging and evaluation tests; production tests.
Low rate casing head gas. Unless it is determined by the Commission that waste is occurring, up to 60 MCF of gas per day is authorized to be vented or flared from individual oil wells.
Unless flaring or venting is authorized, an operator must apply for retroactive or prospective venting or flaring authoriza¬tion. Authorization may be granted upon review of an application, provided that the venting or flaring does not constitute waste. An appli¬cation to vent or flare shall contain the following items as a minimum: A statement of reason for venting or flaring; the estimated duration of venting or flaring; the estimated daily volume of gas in thousands of standard cubic feet per day (MCFD); the estimated daily volume and type of fluids, gas or plant products; a compositional analysis of the gas if H2S is present or if the gas stream has a low BTU content; a description of the well(s), plant or facility and distance to the nearest potential sales point or pipeline(s); and a discussion of applicable safety factors and plans.
The Supervisor may grant temporary authorization of verbal requests, including plant start-up/shut-down. Follow-up documentation of the request may be requested of the applicant within 15 days of the initial request.
All operations shall be conducted in a safe and workman¬like manner. If venting would pres¬ent a safety hazard, a constant flare igniter system or other Commission approved method to safely manage gas may be required.
Venting of gas containing a H2S content in excess of 50 ppm is not allowed. Venting does not include emissions associated with fugitive losses from valves and other production equipment. Supervisor approval is required for venting of gas containing a H2S content in excess of 50 ppm for specific tasks in controlled environments, such as well repairs, pipeline purging, etc., or where necessary as a safety measure where flaring would be dangerous due to the introduction of an ignition source at the work site or when the operation is conducted under the authority and regulations of the Department of Environmental Quality.
