Fracking
Problem: Impoundments or Pits Open air areas used to store liquid waste produced during fracking. “Pit construction and reclamation costs can make up a significant part of a drilling budget because of increasingly stringent governmental regulations and surface owner concerns.”
Methane Capture: Uncovered pits diffuse large amounts of greenhouse gases, including Methane, due to the fact that the majority are uncovered.
Water Contamination: “The majority of these pits are near waterways, increasing the likelihood that spills and surface-to-groundwater migration will impact water resources.”
Community Relations: It is not uncommon for residents of surrounding areas …show more content…
Pits can also be equipped with leak detection instruments in the case that the lining is broken. Fences tall and strong enough to keep out wildlife, and nets or other devices installed to prevent birds from coming in contact with the wastes. Closed Loop System: A mechanical and chemical system which will allow an operator to drill a well without using a reserve pit. Instead, a “series of storage tanks that separate liquids and solids. Equipment to separate out solids and collection equipment minimize the amount of drilling waste muds and cuttings that require disposal, and maximize the amount of drilling fluid recycled and reused in the drilling process.” Closed Loop Systems dramatically reduce water consumption, drilling waste, risk of damaging pipelines, and impact on the community.
Problem: Venting of Uncaptured Gas
“is the direct release of methane gas to the atmosphere. Venting occurs at a number of points in the oil and gas development process.” During well completion, after a well is fracked, the wellbore and surrounding formation must be cleaned out. The solids and fluids from the well go into pits, while the gases are allowed to escape into the atmosphere, or they are burned …show more content…
The water is discharged to tanks to be reused, the sand is sent to a reserve pit, and the gas is either cycled back through the well bore, or sent to a pipeline to be sold rather than vented or flared. The elimination or reduction in venting or flaring of natural gas; sale of the gas and condensate provides the operator with an immediate revenue stream; there is a reduction in solid waste and water pollution; and the system enables safer operating practices. Green completions also reduce methane emissions, a potent greenhouse