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Document ID ca-bc-paddw Title Procedure for Authorizing Deepwell Disposal of Wastes URL https://www2.gov.bc.ca/assets/gov/environment/waste-management/industrial-waste/industrial-waste/oilandgas/procedure_authorizing_deepwell_disposal_wastes.pdf Jurisdiction /ca/bc Subdomain(s) Industrial water, Wastewater treatment, Water infrastructure and distribution Language en Status completed Analyzed at 2026-03-15 08:51:52.356369+00:00 Relevance Provides technical guidelines and criteria for the disposal of wastewater and oilfield fluids via deepwell injection.

Q Qualitative Requirements (16)

Req ID Category Intent Legal Status Name Subdomain(s) Context Conditions Confidence
#Q001administrativeoperationalmandatoryGeneral Authorization Requirementwastewater, otherThe Environmental Management Act requires that waste must not be discharged to the environment without authorization in the form of permits, approvals, regulations or waste management orders.high
#Q002operationaloperationalmandatoryWaste Minimization Implementationwastewater, otherwaste minimization shall be implemented prior to using the deepwell disposal option;high
#Q003operationaloperationalmandatoryResource Conservationwastewater, otherresource conservation, including surface water and the waste streams themselves, shall be pursued whenever possible;whenever possiblehigh
#Q004prohibitionoperationalmandatoryDilution Prohibitionwastewater, otherwaste fluids shall not be diluted solely for the purpose of avoiding waste fluid classification;solely for the purpose of avoiding waste fluid classificationhigh
#Q005designoperationalrecommendedSurface Facility Design and Operation Expectationswastewater, otheroperators of surface facilities that generate or process waste material that is disposed through Class 1b wells are expected to design and operate those facilities using sound waste management practices and principles of waste minimization;facilities that generate or process waste material disposed through Class 1b wellshigh
#Q006designoperationalmandatorySubsurface Facility Compliancewastewater, otherthe design, construction and operation of all subsurface facilities must comply with requirements set out by the Oil and Gas Commission.high
#Q007operationaloperationalmandatoryGenerator Responsibility for Minimization and Conservationwastewater, otherThe waste generator has the primary responsibility to ensure the aforementioned waste minimization and resource conservation principles are followed.high
#Q008operationaloperationalmandatoryGenerator Responsibility for Waste Characterization and Handlingwastewater, otherIn all cases, it is the responsibility of the waste generator to ensure that each waste stream has been properly identified, characterized, and is handled, treated, and disposed of in an acceptable manner.high
#Q009monitoringoperationalmandatoryReceiver Responsibility for Waste Verificationwastewater, otherIn addition, the waste receiver must take reasonable steps to ensure that the identification and characterization of wastes supplied by the generator is appropriate.high
#Q010prohibitionoperationalmandatoryProhibited Waste Streams for Deepwell Injectionwastewater, otherThe following is a list of waste streams that are prohibited from disposal by deepwell injection, except under exceptional circumstances as agreed to by a director or director's designate: • municipal or industrial sewage; • surface run-off water that meets surface discharge criteria, or can meet surface discharge criteria without cost-prohibitive treatment; • lube oils and spent solvents; • diesel invert drilling fluids; and • wastes where appropriate treatment technology exists (economically and technically).except under exceptional circumstances as agreed to by a director or director's designatehigh
#Q011monitoringoperationalmandatoryVerification of Standard Industry Practices for Listed Wasteswastewater, otherIt is therefore essential that both waste generators and receivers determine if these wastes are the result of standard industry practices.pertains to listed wastes in 3.5.2.1high
#Q012administrativeoperationalmandatoryClassification of Unusual Wasteswastewater, otherWhere unusual operations or circumstances occur that would result in wastes qualitatively different from the generalized waste streams listed here, the wastes shall be classified under the criteria listed in sections 3.5.1 and 3.5.2.2...Where unusual operations or circumstances occur that would result in wastes qualitatively different from generalized streamshigh
#Q013administrativeoperationalmandatoryHazardous Waste Authorization Exemption Requirementwastewater, otherGiven that Section 37 of the HWReg contained a prohibition on the underground injection of hazardous wastes, any authorization of deepwell disposal of these wastes will require an exemption from Section 37.If wastes are classified as hazardous under the BC Hazardous Waste Regulation but deemed acceptable for deepwell disposalhigh
#Q014operationaloperationalmandatoryHeavy Metals Exceedance Disposal Requirementwastewater, otherWaste fluids above these levels, when disposed by subsurface injection, must be through an approved Class 1a disposal well.Waste fluids above levels specified in Schedule 1high
#Q015operationaloperationalrecommendedWaste Minimization Assessment Scopewastewater, otherThis assessment [for waste minimization] should include a full-cycle analysis of environmental benefits, economic and technically feasible options.When performing a waste minimization assessmenthigh
#Q016administrativeoperationalguidanceDirector Discretion for Co-mingled Wasteswastewater, otherThe Director or his / her delegate may consider applying the procedure in cases where a small amount of waste from other sectors is co-mingled with wastes from the oil and gas sector.In cases where a small amount of waste from other sectors is co-mingled with wastes from the oil and gas sectorhigh

P Quantitative Requirements (18)

Req ID Category Intent Legal Status Name Subdomain(s) Limit Type Limit Value Context Conditions Confidence
#P001physicaloperationalmandatorypHwastewaterrequirement6.0 - 9.0 pHCriteria for waste fluid suitable for disposal in a Class 1b wellLimitation to avoid significant corrosion and possible wellbore integrity problemshigh
#P002physicaloperationalmandatoryflash pointwastewaterrequirement> 61 deg CCriteria for waste fluid suitable for disposal in a Class 1b wellidentifies non-flammable liquidshigh
#P003chemicaltreatmentmandatorynon-halogenated organic fractionwastewaterrequirement< 10 per cent by massCriteria for waste fluid suitable for disposal in a Class 1b wellunless it is an untreatable sand or crude oil/water emulsion, or an antifreeze/dehydration fluid containing > 60% water by masshigh
#P004physicaloperationalmandatorywaterwastewaterrequirement> 60 % by massException to non-halogenated organic fraction limit for antifreeze or dehydration fluidRecycling is considered economically feasible up to a water content of 60 per cent by masshigh
#P005chemicaloperationalmandatorytotal combined concentration of halogenated organic compoundswastewaterrequirement< 100 mg/kgCriteria for waste fluid suitable for disposal in a Class 1b wellhigh
#P006chemicalunknownmandatorypolychlorinated biphenyl (PCB)wastewaterrequirement< 50 mg/kgCriteria for waste fluid suitable for disposal in a Class 1b wellLimitation based on federal environmental regulationshigh
#P007chemicalunknownmandatoryArsenicwastewaterrequirement<= 500 mg/kgHeavy Metals Criteria for acceptable Class 1b well subsurface injectionWaste fluids above these levels must be disposed of through an approved Class 1a disposal wellhigh
#P008chemicalunknownmandatoryBerylliumwastewaterrequirement<= 100 mg/kgHeavy Metals Criteria for acceptable Class 1b well subsurface injectionWaste fluids above these levels must be disposed of through an approved Class 1a disposal wellhigh
#P009chemicalunknownmandatoryCadmiumwastewaterrequirement<= 500 mg/kgHeavy Metals Criteria for acceptable Class 1b well subsurface injectionWaste fluids above these levels must be disposed of through an approved Class 1a disposal wellhigh
#P010chemicalunknownmandatoryChromiumwastewaterrequirement<= 500 mg/kgHeavy Metals Criteria for acceptable Class 1b well subsurface injectionWaste fluids above these levels must be disposed of through an approved Class 1a disposal wellhigh
#P011chemicalunknownmandatoryLeadwastewaterrequirement<= 500 mg/kgHeavy Metals Criteria for acceptable Class 1b well subsurface injectionWaste fluids above these levels must be disposed of through an approved Class 1a disposal wellhigh
#P012chemicalunknownmandatoryMercurywastewaterrequirement<= 20 mg/kgHeavy Metals Criteria for acceptable Class 1b well subsurface injectionWaste fluids above these levels must be disposed of through an approved Class 1a disposal wellhigh
#P013chemicalunknownmandatoryNickelwastewaterrequirement<= 500 mg/kgHeavy Metals Criteria for acceptable Class 1b well subsurface injectionWaste fluids above these levels must be disposed of through an approved Class 1a disposal wellhigh
#P014chemicalunknownmandatorySeleniumwastewaterrequirement<= 200 mg/kgHeavy Metals Criteria for acceptable Class 1b well subsurface injectionWaste fluids above these levels must be disposed of through an approved Class 1a disposal wellhigh
#P015chemicalunknownmandatorySilverwastewaterrequirement<= 100 mg/kgHeavy Metals Criteria for acceptable Class 1b well subsurface injectionWaste fluids above these levels must be disposed of through an approved Class 1a disposal wellhigh
#P016chemicalunknownmandatoryThalliumwastewaterrequirement<= 200 mg/kgHeavy Metals Criteria for acceptable Class 1b well subsurface injectionWaste fluids above these levels must be disposed of through an approved Class 1a disposal wellhigh
#P017chemicalunknownmandatoryUraniumwastewaterrequirement<= 100 mg/kgHeavy Metals Criteria for acceptable Class 1b well subsurface injectionWaste fluids above these levels must be disposed of through an approved Class 1a disposal wellhigh
#P018physicaloperationalmandatorypHwastewaterrequirement6.0 - 9.0 pHDefinition of 'neutralized' for listed wastes suitable for Class 1b wellsApplicable to aqueous fluids originating from standard industry practices such as sweetening agents or sulphur block run-offhigh

D Definitions (10)

Req ID Category Name Context Confidence
#D001Class 1b Wellsdeepwell disposal wells used for the disposal of produced water, specific common oilfield waste streams, and waste streams meeting specific criteria; and constructed and operated in accordance with the requirements for class 1b wells as specified by the Oil and Gas Commission.high
#D002Deepwell Disposalthe technology of placing fluids deep underground, in porous formations of rocks, through wells or other similar conveyance systems. The fluids may be water, wastewater or water mixed with chemicals.high
#D003Waste Minimizationthe reduction of a waste stream to be disposed of by assessment of the following parameters: source reduction, potential for reuse, potential to recycle, or potential to recover useful components. This assessment should include a full-cycle analysis of environmental benefits, economic and technically feasible options.high
#D004neutralizedrefers to a pH between 6.0 and 9.0high
#D005HWRegBC Hazardous Waste Regulationhigh
#D006PCBpolychlorinated biphenylhigh
#D007non-flammable liquidsliquids with a Flash point greater than 61 deg Chigh
#D008undergroundUsed synonymously with deepwell disposal.high
#D009deep wellUsed synonymously with deepwell disposal.high
#D010sub-surface injection / disposalUsed synonymously with deepwell disposal.high