Public Resources Code § 3190

For purposes of this article, the following definitions apply:

(a) “Federal agency” means the United States Environmental Protection Agency, including Region 9 of that agency.

(b) (1) “Gravity-based energy storage well” means a well that meets all of the following:

(A) The well is plugged with all perforations sealed, including by the use of permanent bridge plug.

(B) The well is isolated from a hydrocarbon reservoir.

(C) The well has mechanical integrity.

(D) The well is not a conduit for fluid migration into a beneficial use aquifer.

(E) The well is exclusively used to store or generate energy by raising or lowering a weight within the well casing.

(2) A well that has been fully plugged and abandoned pursuant to Section 3208 is not eligible to be a gravity-based energy storage well.

(3) A well listed as an orphan well pursuant to subparagraph (C) of paragraph (1) of subdivision (a) of Section 3206.3 or an idle-deserted well, as defined in Section 3251, is eligible to be converted for use as a gravity-based energy storage well if all applicable and necessary rights to do so have been obtained.