Evaluation of injection-well risk management in the Williston basin

Journal Article · Sat Jun 01 04:00:00 EDT 1991 · Journal of Petroleum Technology; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2118/20693-PA· OSTI ID:5890509

Michie, T W ^[1]; Koch, C A ^[2]

---

1. Michie and Associates, Inc. (US)
2. North Dakota Industrial Commission (US)

This paper reports on a study of subsurface water-injection operations in the Williston geologic basin which demonstrated the practicality of incorporating risk management procedures into the regulation of underground injection control (UIC) programs. A realistic model of a computerized data base was developed to assess the maximum quantifiable risk that water from injection wells would reach an underground source of drinking water (USDW). In the Williston basin, the upper-bound probability of injection water escaping the wellbore and reaching a USDW is seven chances in 1 million well-years where surface casings cover the drinking-water aquifers. Where surface casings do not cover the USDW's, the probability is six chances in 1,000 well-years.

• OSTI ID: 5890509
• Journal Information: Journal of Petroleum Technology; (United States), Journal Name: Journal of Petroleum Technology; (United States) Vol. 43:6; ISSN JPTJA; ISSN 0022-3522
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
020300 -- Petroleum-- Drilling & Production
020900* -- Petroleum-- Environmental Aspects
AQUIFERS
COMPUTERS
CONTROL
DATA
DATA COMPILATION
DRINKING WATER
FLUID INJECTION
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
INFORMATION
LEAKS
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
POLLUTION
PROBABILITY
RISK ASSESSMENT
WATER
WATER POLLUTION
WATERFLOODING
WILLISTON BASIN