DEP Circulates Concept Paper On
Changes To Oil And Gas Drilling Regulations
|
On Wednesday the
Department of Environmental Protection issued a
concept
paper
to the agency’s Oil
and
Gas
Technical
Advisory
Board
on proposed changes to Pennsylvania’s Chapter 78 Oil and Gas Regulations
required by the Marcellus Shale drilling law adopted in February as Act
13.
The bulleted list of
proposed changes cover application requirements, well location restrictions,
proposed protection of water supplies, predrilling or prealteration survey
requirements, erosion and sedimentation controls, wastewater control and
disposal planning, standards for pit and tank containment and much
more.
DEP said proposed
language to implement these changes should be available online on or about
September 14.
DEP has scheduled two
additional Oil and Gas Board meetings to review these proposals on September 17
and October 15. The proposals will also be shared with DEP’s Small
Business
Compliance
Assistance
Advisory
Committee
on October 24.
DEP anticipates
finalizing proposed language at the November 15 Oil and Gas Board meeting and
then send it to the Environmental Quality Board on December 12 for their
consideration.
The Concept Paper
Key Parts of Interest
1.Propose adding a requirement that a well operator identify on the well permit application the location of abandoned gas or oil wells within 1000 feet of the entire well bore length.
2. Propose adding regulations to this section to ensure compliance with the 2012 Oil and Gas Act 58 Pa.C.S.§ 3218(a).
3. Propose adding language to the requirement of notifying the Department within 24 hours of any water supply complaints a well operator receives, that it be by electronic means.
4.Propose to require the submission of chain-of-custody documentation with the results of the laboratory analysis.
5.Propose requiring the development of a site-specific PPC plan. Also add the 2012 Oil and Gas Act requirement for unconventional wells to also have a site-specific containment plan noting which containment systems and equipment will be utilized to contain, control and prevent spills from leaving the well site.
6.Propose that the operator conduct continuous inspections of the drilling operations(including drilling pressures and fluid returns), all water bodies in close proximity, and the surrounding area for any signs an inadvertent return during horizontal drilling operations. Documentation of such inspections shall be made available to the Department upon request.
7. § 78.70. Roadspreading of Brine for Dust Control and Road Stabilization
Conventional Energy Related Systems
The conventional energy related systems program targets individuals that are working in the field of oil, coal, natural gas, and petrochemical processing. Courses timely topic that include natural gas development, carbon sequestering, and deep well injection.
Advanced Oil and Gas Exploration Technologies
Advanced Oil & Gas Drilling and Completion Technologies Building Envelope Air-tightness (New Course) Carbon Sequestration (New - Featured Program) Electrostatic Treating of Emulsions Fundamentals of Petroleum Refining Gas Pipeline Hydraulics Introduction to Underground Natural Gas Storage Land-Based Produced Water Re-injection Treatment Natural Gas Plant Operations Program (New - Featured Program) Liquid Pipeline Hydraulics Process Vessel Design for FPS Motion Underground Storage Tank Sump Maintenance
Natural Gas - Petroleum Engineer Training Program (New - Featured Program)
|
Showing posts with label oil and gas regulations. Show all posts
Showing posts with label oil and gas regulations. Show all posts
Friday, August 31, 2012
DEP Circulates Concept Paper On Changes To Oil And Gas Drilling Regulations
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Marcellus Shale and Radiation Fracking Mobilizes Uranium UB Research Tracy Bank
Is it more hype ? Based on a review of article posted on http://www.buffalo.edu/news/11885
The article - Actually a Press Release
"'Fracking' Mobilizes Uranium in Marcellus Shale, UB Research Finds
Release Date: October 25, 2010
BUFFALO, N.Y. -- Scientific and political disputes over drilling Marcellus shale for natural gas have focused primarily on the environmental effects of pumping millions of gallons of water and chemicals deep underground to blast through rocks to release the natural gas.
But University at Buffalo researchers have now found that that process -- called hydraulic fracturing or "fracking"-- also causes uranium that is naturally trapped inside Marcellus shale to be released, raising additional environmental concerns.
The research will be presented at the annual meeting of the Geological Society of America in Denver on Nov. 2.
Marcellus shale is a massive rock formation that stretches from New York through Pennsylvania, Ohio and West Virginia, and which is often described as the nation's largest source of natural gas.
"Marcellus shale naturally traps metals such as uranium and at levels higher than usually found naturally, but lower than manmade contamination levels," says Tracy Bank, PhD, assistant professor of geology in UB's College of Arts and Sciences and lead researcher. "My question was, if they start drilling and pumping millions of gallons of water into these underground rocks, will that force the uranium into the soluble phase and mobilize it? Will uranium then show up in groundwater?"
To find out, Bank and her colleagues at UB scanned the surfaces of Marcellus shale samples from Western New York and Pennsylvania. Using sensitive chemical instruments, they created a chemical map of the surfaces to determine the precise location in the shale of the hydrocarbons, the organic compounds containing natural gas.
"We found that the uranium and the hydrocarbons are in the same physical space," says Bank. "We found that they are not just physically -- but also chemically -- bound.
"That led me to believe that uranium in solution could be more of an issue because the process of drilling to extract the hydrocarbons could start mobilizing the metals as well, forcing them into the soluble phase and causing them to move around."
When Bank and her colleagues reacted samples in the lab with surrogate drilling fluids, they found that the uranium was indeed, being solubilized.
In addition, she says, when the millions of gallons of water used in hydraulic fracturing come back to the surface, it could contain uranium contaminants, potentially polluting streams and other ecosystems and generating hazardous waste.
The research required the use of very sophisticated methods of analysis, including one called Time-of-Flight Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry, or ToF-SIMS, in the laboratory of Joseph A. Gardella Jr., Larkin Professor of Chemistry at UB.
The UB research is the first to map samples using this technique, which identified the precise location of the uranium.
"Even though at these levels, uranium is not a radioactive risk, it is still a toxic, deadly metal," Bank concludes. "We need a fundamental understanding of how uranium exists in shale. The more we understand about how it exists, the more we can better predict how it will react to 'fracking.'"
Bank conducted the experiments with UB Department of Geology graduate students Thomas Malizia and Lauren Fortson, and Lisa Andresky, an undergraduate student from Slippery Rock University in Pennsylvania. Andresky worked in Bank's lab during the summer while on a National Science Foundation-funded Research Experience for Undergraduates in UB's Ecosystem Restoration through Interdisciplinary Exchange (ERIE) program.
The University at Buffalo is a premier research-intensive public university, a flagship institution in the State University of New York system and its largest and most comprehensive campus. UB's more than 28,000 students pursue their academic interests through more than 300 undergraduate, graduate and professional degree programs. Founded in 1846, the University at Buffalo is a member of the Association of American Universities."
My thoughts
1. We already know that Marcellus Shale and the flowback water and production water may contain radionuclieds and that it is highly variable.
2. This does not appear to be anything new or something that is not being told. I do not believe it is fair to state a concern about the migration of radiation in the water. If the water migrates - the biggest concern is not radiation.
3. Drilling and the drill cuttings are most likely the biggest issue and not fracking - this goes to show the importance of best management practices included closed loop driling and proper regulatory disposal or management of cuttings and fluids.
4. Radiation and treatment plants - it is likely at wastewater treatment plants - radiation will be follow a number of routes - airborne loss during aeration, coprecipitation/ settling of radionuclieds in the sludge along with other bioslimes and charged particles. Therefore - it may not be advisable to monitoring just the effluent but some air monitoring and checking of the sludges.
Note: Looking for funding of independent research related to radionuclide management in production and brine water and tracking.
.http://www.bfenvironmental.com/pdfs/naturalgaschallenges.pdf
http://www.bfenvironmental.com/pdfs/naturallyoccuringradiationoilfield.pdf
http://www.bfenvironmental.com/pdfs/PADEP_Frac_Flow_Back_Water_Study__Presence_of_Radioisotopes.pdf
Links to good reports- by EPA on radiation and Marcellus Shale or Oil/Gas Development
Other Website Articles
Radon In Water and Air
Announcement
Online Training Courses in
Radon Inspection and Testing
Radiation the Silent Killer
Household Hazardous Wastes
The article - Actually a Press Release
"'Fracking' Mobilizes Uranium in Marcellus Shale, UB Research Finds
Release Date: October 25, 2010
BUFFALO, N.Y. -- Scientific and political disputes over drilling Marcellus shale for natural gas have focused primarily on the environmental effects of pumping millions of gallons of water and chemicals deep underground to blast through rocks to release the natural gas.
But University at Buffalo researchers have now found that that process -- called hydraulic fracturing or "fracking"-- also causes uranium that is naturally trapped inside Marcellus shale to be released, raising additional environmental concerns.
The research will be presented at the annual meeting of the Geological Society of America in Denver on Nov. 2.
Marcellus shale is a massive rock formation that stretches from New York through Pennsylvania, Ohio and West Virginia, and which is often described as the nation's largest source of natural gas.
"Marcellus shale naturally traps metals such as uranium and at levels higher than usually found naturally, but lower than manmade contamination levels," says Tracy Bank, PhD, assistant professor of geology in UB's College of Arts and Sciences and lead researcher. "My question was, if they start drilling and pumping millions of gallons of water into these underground rocks, will that force the uranium into the soluble phase and mobilize it? Will uranium then show up in groundwater?"
To find out, Bank and her colleagues at UB scanned the surfaces of Marcellus shale samples from Western New York and Pennsylvania. Using sensitive chemical instruments, they created a chemical map of the surfaces to determine the precise location in the shale of the hydrocarbons, the organic compounds containing natural gas.
"We found that the uranium and the hydrocarbons are in the same physical space," says Bank. "We found that they are not just physically -- but also chemically -- bound.
"That led me to believe that uranium in solution could be more of an issue because the process of drilling to extract the hydrocarbons could start mobilizing the metals as well, forcing them into the soluble phase and causing them to move around."
When Bank and her colleagues reacted samples in the lab with surrogate drilling fluids, they found that the uranium was indeed, being solubilized.
In addition, she says, when the millions of gallons of water used in hydraulic fracturing come back to the surface, it could contain uranium contaminants, potentially polluting streams and other ecosystems and generating hazardous waste.
The research required the use of very sophisticated methods of analysis, including one called Time-of-Flight Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry, or ToF-SIMS, in the laboratory of Joseph A. Gardella Jr., Larkin Professor of Chemistry at UB.
The UB research is the first to map samples using this technique, which identified the precise location of the uranium.
"Even though at these levels, uranium is not a radioactive risk, it is still a toxic, deadly metal," Bank concludes. "We need a fundamental understanding of how uranium exists in shale. The more we understand about how it exists, the more we can better predict how it will react to 'fracking.'"
Bank conducted the experiments with UB Department of Geology graduate students Thomas Malizia and Lauren Fortson, and Lisa Andresky, an undergraduate student from Slippery Rock University in Pennsylvania. Andresky worked in Bank's lab during the summer while on a National Science Foundation-funded Research Experience for Undergraduates in UB's Ecosystem Restoration through Interdisciplinary Exchange (ERIE) program.
The University at Buffalo is a premier research-intensive public university, a flagship institution in the State University of New York system and its largest and most comprehensive campus. UB's more than 28,000 students pursue their academic interests through more than 300 undergraduate, graduate and professional degree programs. Founded in 1846, the University at Buffalo is a member of the Association of American Universities."
My thoughts
1. We already know that Marcellus Shale and the flowback water and production water may contain radionuclieds and that it is highly variable.
2. This does not appear to be anything new or something that is not being told. I do not believe it is fair to state a concern about the migration of radiation in the water. If the water migrates - the biggest concern is not radiation.
3. Drilling and the drill cuttings are most likely the biggest issue and not fracking - this goes to show the importance of best management practices included closed loop driling and proper regulatory disposal or management of cuttings and fluids.
4. Radiation and treatment plants - it is likely at wastewater treatment plants - radiation will be follow a number of routes - airborne loss during aeration, coprecipitation/ settling of radionuclieds in the sludge along with other bioslimes and charged particles. Therefore - it may not be advisable to monitoring just the effluent but some air monitoring and checking of the sludges.
Note: Looking for funding of independent research related to radionuclide management in production and brine water and tracking.
.http://www.bfenvironmental.com/pdfs/naturalgaschallenges.pdf
http://www.bfenvironmental.com/pdfs/naturallyoccuringradiationoilfield.pdf
http://www.bfenvironmental.com/pdfs/PADEP_Frac_Flow_Back_Water_Study__Presence_of_Radioisotopes.pdf
Links to good reports- by EPA on radiation and Marcellus Shale or Oil/Gas Development
Other Website Articles
Radon In Water and Air
Announcement
Online Training Courses in
Radon Inspection and Testing
Radiation the Silent Killer
Household Hazardous Wastes
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
Chapter 78 Oil & Gas Regs Pennsylvania aim to increase drinking water protection attend a meeting
4 DEP Public Comment Meetings about Proposed Chapter 78 changes to provide stronger regulations for Oil and Gas Wells (including Marcellus wells): please review the proposed regs (see link below) and offer comments, as the intention of these regs according to the first paragraph, is to offer increased protection for public and private drinking water supplies in Pennsylvania.
LEGAL NOTICE The PA Department of Environmental Protection will hold four meetings during the month of July 2010 to receive comments on the proposed changes to 25 Pa. Code Chapter 78. The new and amended sections are §§78.1, .51, .71 - 73, .81 - .85, .88, .89, .91 - .96, .121 and .122.
The meetings will begin at 7:00 p.m. at each location.
They will be held July 19 at the Tunkhannock Area High School Auditorium in Tunkhannock, PA;
July 21 at Lycoming College Heim Science Center Building, Room G-11 at Williamsport, PA;
July 22 at DEPs Northwest Regional Office, 1st Floor Conference Room in Meadville, PA; and
July 22 at DEPs Southwest Regional Office, Waterfront Conference Room A and B, in Pittsburgh, PA.
If you need an accommodation due to a disability and want to attend the meeting, please contact Millie Raudabaugh directly at 717-772-2199, or through the Pennsylvania AT&T Relay Service at 1-800-654-5984 at least 24 hours in advance so arrangements can be made.
ADVANCED NOTICE OF PROPOSED RULEMAKING dealing with Oil and Gas Wells:
http://www.dep.state.pa.us/dep/deputate/minres/oilgas/Oil%20&%20Gas%20Documents/CHAPTER%2078%20Revisions%20January%2027%202010.pdf
From DEP Website:
Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking: Oil and Gas Wells
Published PA Bulletin Notice http://www.pabulletin.com/secure/data/vol40/40-5/183.html
Proposal
http://www.dep.state.pa.us/dep/deputate/minres/oilgas/Oil%20&%20Gas%20Documents/CHAPTER%2078%20Revisions%20January%2027%202010.pdf
Things you can do
1. Review Proposal.
2. Comment
3. Attend Public Meeting
LEGAL NOTICE The PA Department of Environmental Protection will hold four meetings during the month of July 2010 to receive comments on the proposed changes to 25 Pa. Code Chapter 78. The new and amended sections are §§78.1, .51, .71 - 73, .81 - .85, .88, .89, .91 - .96, .121 and .122.
The meetings will begin at 7:00 p.m. at each location.
They will be held July 19 at the Tunkhannock Area High School Auditorium in Tunkhannock, PA;
July 21 at Lycoming College Heim Science Center Building, Room G-11 at Williamsport, PA;
July 22 at DEPs Northwest Regional Office, 1st Floor Conference Room in Meadville, PA; and
July 22 at DEPs Southwest Regional Office, Waterfront Conference Room A and B, in Pittsburgh, PA.
If you need an accommodation due to a disability and want to attend the meeting, please contact Millie Raudabaugh directly at 717-772-2199, or through the Pennsylvania AT&T Relay Service at 1-800-654-5984 at least 24 hours in advance so arrangements can be made.
ADVANCED NOTICE OF PROPOSED RULEMAKING dealing with Oil and Gas Wells:
http://www.dep.state.pa.us/dep/deputate/minres/oilgas/Oil%20&%20Gas%20Documents/CHAPTER%2078%20Revisions%20January%2027%202010.pdf
From DEP Website:
Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking: Oil and Gas Wells
Published PA Bulletin Notice http://www.pabulletin.com/secure/data/vol40/40-5/183.html
Proposal
http://www.dep.state.pa.us/dep/deputate/minres/oilgas/Oil%20&%20Gas%20Documents/CHAPTER%2078%20Revisions%20January%2027%202010.pdf
Things you can do
1. Review Proposal.
2. Comment
3. Attend Public Meeting
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)