Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Act, 2002 (Act No. 28 of 2002)RegulationsAmendment Regulations to the Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Regulations, 2020Chapter 9 : Operations and ManagementManagement of operations118. Fluids storage |
| (1) | An area where hydraulic fracturing additives, chemicals, oils, fuels are to be stored must have sufficient containment capacity to hold the volume of the largest container stored on site plus 10% to allow for precipitation, unless the container is equipped with individual secondary containment. |
| (2) | For the purposes of storage at the well site, hydraulic fracturing additives, hydraulic fracturing fluids, hydraulic fracturing flowback, and produced water must be stored in above-ground tanks during the phases of drilling, hydraulic fracturing and production operations until removed for proper disposal. |
| (3) | For the purposes of centralised storage off site for potential re-use prior to disposal, hydraulic fracturing additives, hydraulic fracturing fluids, hydraulic fracturing flowback, and produced water must be stored in above-ground tanks with lined bund walls. |
| (4) | Untreated hydraulic fracturing fluids and hydraulic fracturing flowback must be removed from the well site within 60 days after the completion of hydraulic fracturing operations. |
| (5) | Tanks, piping, and conveyances, including valves of sufficient pressure rating, must be constructed and be able to resist corrosion and be maintained in a leak-free condition. |
| (6) | Fluids transfer operations from tanks to tanker trucks must be supervised at both ends and along interconnecting piping. |
(7)
| (a) | A sample from every tank that contains hydraulic fracturing flowback or produced water must be tested for volatile organic compounds, semi-volatile organic chemicals, inorganic chemicals, heavy metals, and naturally occurring radioactive material, prior to removal from the site. |
| (b) | The results of the test must be— |
| (i) | submitted to the waste transportation and disposal operators and the designated agency; and |
| (ii) | included in the quarterly waste management report. |
(8)
| (a) | The background level of radioactivity in the ground adjacent to the storage tanks must be measured prior to drilling and prior to site restoration to establish whether there has been any change that may require particular remediation measures. |
| (b) | The results of the measurements must be included in the quarterly report to be submitted to the designated agency. |
| (9) | A holder must make use of tanks to store flow-back fluids on site. |
| (10) | Storage tanks must comply with applicable corrosion control requirements in accordance with applicable South African National Standards in terms of the Standards Act, 2008 (Act No. 8 of 2008). |
| (11) | Storage site locations must be secured at all times. |
| (12) | Information relating to tank maintenance records, tank cleaning records and off-take waste disposal records must be included in the quarterly report, submitted to the designated agency and included in the EMPr. |
[Regulation 118 inserted by section 2 of Notice No. R. 466 dated 3 June 2015]