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Categorical Exclusion Determinations: B3.7

Existing Regulations

B3.7: New terrestrial infill exploratory and experimental wells
Siting, construction, and operation of new terrestrial infill exploratory and experimental (test) wells, for either extraction or injection use, in a locally characterized geological formation in a field that contains existing operating wells, properly abandoned wells, or unminable coal seams containing natural gas, provided that the site characterization has verified a low potential for seismicity, subsidence, and contamination of freshwater aquifers, and the actions are otherwise consistent with applicable best practices and DOE protocols, including those that protect against uncontrolled releases of harmful materials. Such wells may include those for brine, carbon dioxide, coalbed methane, gas hydrate, geothermal, natural gas, and oil. Uses for carbon sequestration wells include, but are not limited to, the study of saline formations, enhanced oil recovery, and enhanced coalbed methane extraction.

Previous Regulations

Categorical Exclusion Determinations dated before November 14th, 2011 were issued under previous DOE NEPA regulations. See the Notice of Final Rulemaking (76 FR 63763, 10/13/2011) for information changes to this categorical exclusion.

DOCUMENTS AVAILABLE FOR DOWNLOAD

  • January 14, 2013

    Seismic Stimulation for Enhanced Oil Recovery
    CX(s) Applied: A9, A11, B3.6, B3.7
    Date: 01/14/2013
    Location(s): California
    Offices(s): National Energy Technology Laboratory

  • January 14, 2013

    Seismic Stimulation for Enhanced Oil Recovery
    CX(s) Applied: A9, A11, B3.6, B3.7
    Date: 01/14/2013
    Location(s): Texas
    Offices(s): National Energy Technology Laboratory

  • September 21, 2012

    Cost-Effective Treatment of Produced Water Using Co-Produced Energy Sources Phase II: Field Scale Demonstration and Commercialization
    CX(s) Applied: B3.6, B3.7, B5.16
    Date: 09/21/2012
    Location(s): New Mexico
    Offices(s): National Energy Technology Laboratory

  • June 26, 2012

    Modeling Carbon Dioxide Sequestration in Saline Aquifer and Depleted Oil Reservoir (Task 17 - Borehole)
    CX(s) Applied: A9, B1.13, B3.1, B3.7
    Date: 06/26/2012
    Location(s): Kansas
    Offices(s): National Energy Technology Laboratory

  • June 4, 2012

    Small Scale Field Test Demonstrating Carbon Dioxide Sequestration in the Arbuckle Saline Aquifer
    CX(s) Applied: A9, B3.1, B3.7, B5.3, B5.13
    Date: 06/04/2012
    Location(s): Kansas
    Offices(s): National Energy Technology Laboratory

  • June 4, 2012

    Small Scale Field Test Demonstrating Carbon Dioxide Sequestration in the Arbuckle Saline Aquifer
    CX(s) Applied: A9, B1.15, B3.1, B3.7, B5.3, B5.13
    Date: 06/04/2012
    Location(s): Kansas
    Offices(s): National Energy Technology Laboratory

  • June 4, 2012

    Small Scale Field Test Demonstrating Carbon Dioxide Sequestration in the Arbuckle Saline Aquifer
    CX(s) Applied: A9, B3.1, B3.7, B5.3
    Date: 06/04/2012
    Location(s): Kansas
    Offices(s): National Energy Technology Laboratory

  • May 22, 2012

    New River Geothermal Research Project
    CX(s) Applied: B3.1, B3.7
    Date: 05/22/2012
    Location(s): California
    Offices(s): Golden Field Office

  • April 25, 2012

    Characterization of the Triassic Newark Basin of New York and New Jersey for Geologic Storage
    CX(s) Applied: B3.1, B3.7
    Date: 04/25/2012
    Location(s): New York
    Offices(s): National Energy Technology Laboratory

  • November 28, 2011

    ThruBit OH Logging
    CX(s) Applied: B2.6, B3.1, B3.7
    Date: 11/28/2011
    Location(s): Wyoming
    Offices(s): RMOTC

  • October 3, 2011

    Predicting Log Porosity and Saturations from Mud Logs and Drilling Rates Using Artificial Intelligence
    CX(s) Applied: B3.7
    Date: 10/03/2011
    Location(s): Lea County, New Mexico
    Office(s): Fossil Energy, National Energy Technology Laboratory

  • September 13, 2011

    Evaluating and Commercializing a Solvent Based Enhanced Oil Recovery Technology
    CX(s) Applied: B3.7
    Date: 09/13/2011
    Location(s): Smiley, Texas
    Office(s): Fossil Energy, National Energy Technology Laboratory

  • September 13, 2011

    Evaluating and Commercializing a Solvent Based Enhanced Oil Recovery Technology
    CX(s) Applied: B3.7
    Date: 09/13/2011
    Location(s): Stairtown, Texas
    Office(s): Fossil Energy, National Energy Technology Laboratory

  • September 13, 2011

    Evaluating and Commercializing a Solvent Based Enhanced Oil Recovery Technology
    CX(s) Applied: B3.7
    Date: 09/13/2011
    Location(s): Bastrop County, Texas
    Office(s): Fossil Energy, National Energy Technology Laboratory

  • September 11, 2011

    Advanced Formation Evaluator Tools (Haliburton)
    CX(s) Applied: B3.7
    Date: 09/11/2011
    Location(s): Wyoming
    Offices(s): RMOTC

  • September 8, 2011

    Down Hole Hammer
    CX(s) Applied: B3.7
    Date: 09/08/2011
    Location(s): Wyoming
    Offices(s): RMOTC

  • August 24, 2011

    Recovery Act: A 3D-3C Reflection Seismic Survey and Data Integration to Identify the Seismic Response of Fractures and Permeable Zones Over a Known Geothermal Resource: Soda Lake, Churchill County, Nevada
    CX(s) Applied: A9, B3.1, B3.7
    Date: 08/24/2011
    Location(s): Churchill County, Nevada
    Office(s): Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Golden Field Office

  • August 22, 2011

    Evaluating and Commercializing a Solvent-Based Enhanced Oil Recovery Technology
    CX(s) Applied: B3.7
    Date: 08/22/2011
    Location(s): Lockhart, Texas
    Office(s): Fossil Energy, National Energy Technology Laboratory

  • August 8, 2011

    Validation of Innovative Exploration Techniques, Pilgrim Hot Springs, Alaska
    CX(s) Applied: A9, B3.1, B3.7
    Date: 08/08/2011
    Location(s): Pilgrim Hot Springs, Alaska
    Office(s): Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Golden Field Office

  • July 1, 2011

    Recovery Act: Conducting a 3D Converted Shear Wave Project to Reduce Exploration Risk at Wister, California
    CX(s) Applied: A9, B3.1, B3.7
    Date: 07/01/2011
    Location(s): Wister, California
    Office(s): Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Golden Field Office

  • June 15, 2011

    Crump Geyser - High Precision Geophysics and Detailed Structural Exploration and Slim Well Drilling
    CX(s) Applied: A9, B3.1, B3.7
    Date: 06/15/2011
    Location(s): Oregon
    Office(s): Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Golden Field Office

  • June 15, 2011

    Field Testing of Low Impact Oil Field Roads
    CX(s) Applied: B3.7
    Date: 06/15/2011
    Location(s): Webb County, Texas
    Office(s): Fossil Energy, National Energy Technology Laboratory

  • May 17, 2011

    Casing Drilling Test
    CX(s) Applied: B1.3, B3.7, B5.12
    Date: 05/17/2011
    Location(s): Casper, Wyoming
    Office(s): RMOTC

  • April 29, 2011

    The Use of Scrap Tires for Oil Well Stimulation
    CX(s) Applied: B3.7
    Date: 04/29/2011
    Location(s): Upper Falls, West Virginia
    Office(s): Fossil Energy, National Energy Technology Laboratory

  • April 27, 2011

    Soil Amendment Product for Oilfield Brine Contaminated Soil ? Field Testing Part II
    CX(s) Applied: B3.7
    Date: 04/27/2011
    Location(s): Choctaw, Oklahoma
    Office(s): Fossil Energy, National Energy Technology Laboratory