Ind. Admin. Code tit. 312, r. 29-21-3 – Drilling and completion fluid disposal and pit closure requirements

Sec. 3. (a) Within one hundred twenty (120) days after the conclusion of well drilling operations or sixty (60) days after well completion activities, whichever occurs first, the owner or operator shall remove all pumpable liquids contained in well drilling pits or completion pits to the maximum extent practical, and manage or dispose of the liquids by any of the following methods:

(1) Reuse or recycle the liquid at another drilling location.
(2) For water-based well drilling pits and completion pits, land apply the liquid in accordance with the requirements of section 4 of this rule.
(3) Treat and discharge the liquid at an approved national pollutant discharge elimination system (NPDES) facility permitted in accordance with IC 13-18.
(4) Dispose of the liquid by injection into a Class II disposal well.
(5) Pump the liquid into the well bore for use as a bottom hole plug if the well is a dry hole and is plugged pursuant to the requirements of 312 IAC 29-33.

(b) After removal of all pumpable liquids from a drilling or completion pit, an owner or operator may bury the remaining contents of a pit used in conjunction with fresh water drilling or completion activities as follows:

(1) The material shall be solidified or stabilized to ensure the physical characteristics of the solidified or stabilized solids closely resemble the stability of adjacent soil materials by combining the material with:
1. (A) available native soils;
2. (B) Class A cement; or
3. (C) kiln dust.
(2) The burial site shall be:
1. (A) stable;
2. (B) not prone to settling; and
3. (C) restored to conditions that will not interfere with the normal operation of farm equipment.

(c) After removal of all pumpable liquids from a drilling or completion pit used in conjunction with saltwater-based or oil-based drilling or completion activities, an owner or operator may transport the waste to a permitted landfill authorized to accept the waste or bury the remaining contents of a pit provided the following requirements are met:

(1) A plan for on-site burial has been submitted to and approved by the division director.
(2) Written authorization for on-site burial is obtained from the surface owner.
(3) The pit location is not within three hundred (300) feet of any stream, pond, lake, or other body of water or closer than one hundred (100) feet to a property boundary line.
(4) The bottom of the drilling or completion pit is at least three (3) feet above the seasonally high water table.
(5) The material is solidified or stabilized to ensure the physical characteristics of the solidified or stabilized solids closely resemble adjacent soil materials by combining with:
1. (A) available native soils;
2. (B) Class A cement; or
3. (C) kiln dust.
(6) The burial site shall be:
1. (A) stable;
2. (B) not prone to settling; and
3. (C) restored to conditions that will not interfere with the normal operation of farm equipment.
(7) The waste is completely encapsulated in the synthetic liner with the top of the waste buried at least five (5) feet below the ground surface.
(8) Within thirty (30) days after drilling or completion pit closure, the owner or operator shall submit a report of pit closure to the division of reclamation on a form prescribed by the division of reclamation showing the:
1. (A) location;
2. (B) type; and
3. (C) approximate dimensions;
of the on-site burial area.

(d) Except as provided in subsection (c)(7), any synthetic liner used shall be removed to the fullest extent practicable and properly disposed of or recycled.

(e) Within one hundred twenty (120) days after conclusion of well drilling operations or sixty (60) days of well completion operations, whichever occurs first, the owner or operator shall close drilling and completion pits by:

(1) except as authorized in subsection (c), filling the pit with native material sufficient to ensure that the site is stable and not prone to settling or other subsidence;
(2) covering the filled area with any stockpiled soil materials at a uniform thickness; and
(3) restoring the surface as close as possible to the original land contour.

(Natural Resources Commission; 312 IAC 29-21-3; filed Dec 1, 2017, 10:35 a.m.: 20171227-IR-312160230FRA; readopted filed Jan 17, 2023, 1:53 p.m.: 20230215-IR-312220328RFA; errata filed Mar 18, 2026, 9:59 a.m.: 20260325-IR-312260094ACA)