62-528.603. Exploratory Well Construction and Testing Permit

(1) An exploratory well under the Underground Injection Control Program is drilled for the specific purpose of obtaining information to determine the feasibility of underground injection at the proposed site.

(2) A permit to construct an exploratory well shall be denied by the Department if the construction of the well itself will be a source of pollution as defined in Section 403.031, F.S. If the construction of the well itself is not a source of pollution, the permit shall be issued with conditions to meet the requirements of subsection (3) through (7) below.

(3) At a minimum, the exploratory well testing program shall be designed to determine the ground water quality profile, and make a preliminary assessment of the adequacy of the confining interval and injection zone potential.

(4) The information provided with the application to construct and test an exploratory well shall include:

(a) Plan of the injection project;

(b) Well inventory as described in paragraph 62-528.635(1)(d), F.A.C.;

(c) Proposed future use of the exploratory well;

(d) Drilling and testing plan for the exploratory well;

(e) Source and composition of any fluids to be used for injection testing; and

(f) Abandonment plan.

(5) Injection testing.

(a) The permittee may conduct injection tests under the exploratory well program not to exceed eight days, or such time requested by the permittee, not to endanger the underground sources of drinking water, and approved by the Department subject to the provisions of paragraph (b) below and in accordance with the process described in subsection 62-528.100(2), F.A.C.

(b) The exploratory well shall be constructed and tested so that it is in compliance with subsection 62-528.630(3), F.A.C. The use of treated or untreated municipal (domestic) or industrial effluent, or reverse osmosis concentrate is prohibited for injection testing conducted under the exploratory program.

(6) An exploratory well may be converted to a monitor well or plugged and abandoned if the permits have been obtained. An exploratory well shall be repermitted as a Class I test injection well or a Class V well if the permits have been obtained. If the applicant intends to apply for a permit to convert an exploratory well to a Class I test injection well, the exploratory well shall be constructed to meet the minimum Class I well construction standards contained in Parts II and III of this chapter. Tubing and packer or a fluid seal design shall not be required under the exploratory well permit for exploratory wells that are to be repermitted as non-municipal Class I wells.

(7) Under Section 403.091, F.S., the Department performs periodic inspections at certain stages of construction authorized by the exploratory well permit.

Specific Authority 403.061, 403.087, 403.704, 403.721 FS. Law Implemented 403.021, 403.061, 403.062, 403.087, 403.088, 403.161, 403.702, 403.721 FS. History–New 8-10-95, Amended 6-24-97.