The foundation of the Underground Injection Control (UIC) Program is based on the protection of Underground Sources of Drinking Water (USDWs) and two critical components of the program are the Area of Review (AOR) and the Zone of Endangering Influence (ZOEI). To assure the protection of USDWs, especially through the Class II UIC Permitting process, utilization of the ZOEI and AOR provide a critical foundation for safe injection operations. This has become especially critical as injection volumes in Class IID wells has increased in areas like the Permian Basin and elsewhere. Over the history of the UIC Program, there has been significant changes that even included Variances of even considering AOR analysis to the point today where we’ve become far more aware of the many issues that must be accounted for.
Dan Arthur discusses Class II UIC on the fourth of this series with GWPC with the history and basis of AOR and ZOEI and how these key issues have evolved to the present day.