As part of this program, a student competition concerning logistics, entitled the Disappearing Roads Competition, has been established. [ More Information]
A Research Collaboration
Texas A&M University is working together with Noble Drilling, Anadarko Petroleum, & the Houston Advanced Research Center (HARC) in a research collaboration to test and adapt technologies designed for exploiting natural gas resources with a reduced environmental footprint. The collaboration is designed to reduce environmental concerns for ecologically sensitive areas currently open for extraction activities. GPRI and Noble, through its subsidiary Maurer Technology, will direct the environmental resource project, addressing not only the engineering challenges facing the energy industry but also the considerable environmental concerns facing preserves and protected areas with mineral extraction activities.
Participants
Texas A&M University System, Noble Technology, Anadarko Petroleum, HARC, Chevron, Halliburton, bp, MI Swaco, National Oil Well, Shell, Statoil U. S. Department of Energy
Modular, mobile drilling platform for the permafrost
The objective of the program is to integrate advanced technologies into a drilling rig system that significantly reduces the environmental impact of petroleum drilling and production.
Background
Environmental issues are a significant part of every energy industry endeavor whether exploiting new natural gas resources in Western US or extending field development in coastal areas of the US. Texas A&M University, Anadarko Petroleum, Noble Technology Inc. and the Houston Advanced Research Center (HARC) have formed an integrated petroleum resource environmental program incorporating dual engineering and environmental research programs specifically to reduce the environmental impacts on ecologically sensitive areas from extraction activities.
Goals
The Environmental Drilling Systems program will:
- identify commercial off the shelf technology that can reduce the impact of drilling operations on ecologically sensitive areas
- develop key new technology that may eliminate the impact of drilling and production operations on ecologically sensitive areas.
Phase One
The first phase of the project is identifying low impact technology in two extremes of environmental conditions, desert-like ecology environments and a coastal margin ecosystem. Environmental studies include compilation of the existing impacts within two environmentally sensitive areas already subject to extraction activities. Balancing the value of energy production with the social and environmental costs provides a perspective on the true cost of resource development.
Phase Two
The second phase includes testing at sites in Texas to simulate actual operations and to measure reductions in the environmental footprint. Phase 2 will include preliminary social research on public perceptions towards reducing impacts of oil and gas production and will identify key metrics to measure the effectiveness of new low-impact drilling activity in ecologically sensitive areas.
Publications
Collaborative Team Researches Best Management Practices For Drilling Wastes ( 224 KB)
The American Oil & Gas Reporter - August 2007 - Richard C. Haut, John D. Rogers, Bruce W. McDole, David B. Burnett, Thomas E. Williams and Oluwaseun Olatubi
Minimizing Waste during Drilling Operations ( 293 KB)
Richard C. Haut, Ph.D., John D. Rogers, Ph.D., Bruce W. McDole, David Burnett, & Oluwaseun Olatubi
Environmentally friendly drilling targets responsible operations in sensitive locations ( 676 KB)
John D Rogers, Tom Williams, Richard Haut, & David Burnet
Assessments of Technologies for Environmentally Friendly Drilling Project: Land-Based Operations ( 3.39 MB)
John D. Rogers, Ph.D., PMP, P.E.
For additional information about this project visit http://www.gpri.org/ or please contact Rich Haut.
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