Section 240.520   Drilling Fluid Handling and Storage

a)         Cable Tool or Air Rotary Drilling

            When drilling with cable tools or air rotary equipment the permittee shall provide at least one (1) sediment pit or above ground container into which drill cuttings and drilling fluids shall be deposited.

b)         Rotary Drilling with Mud

            When drilling with rotary drilling equipment using drilling fluids, the permittee shall provide at least one (1) sediment pit or above ground portable container into which drill cuttings shall be deposited, and one (1) drilling fluid circulation pit or leak free above ground container.  Other pits, such as a reserve pit used for storage of drilling fluid waste, may be constructed as needed by the permittee.

c)         Drilling Pits

1)         Pits used for drill cuttings (sediment pits) and drilling fluids (circulation pits)  or drilling fluid wastes (reserve pits) shall be constructed with sufficient capacity to contain all drilling fluids within the pits, and maintained in a manner that reasonably prevents against overflow during drilling operations and prior to commencing pit restoration in accordance with Section 240.540 of this Part.  Discharge of drilling fluids from the pits into any surface water or water drainage way is prohibited.

2)         Sediment pits and drilling fluid circulation pits and reserve pits shall be used only for the temporary storage of drill cuttings and drilling fluids, and shall not be used for the disposal of general oilfield wastes.

(Source:  Amended at 19 Ill. Reg. 10981, effective July 14, 1995)