API recently completed a Summary of Carbon Dioxide Enhanced Oil Recovery (CO2EOR) Injection Well Technology. This important Background Report identifies the technologies and operating practices that have been developed by the oil and gas industry for injecting carbon dioxide (CO2) for enhanced oil recovery (EOR). These technologies and practices have been developed specifically for use in CO2 EOR; however, the oil and gas industry's experiences and learnings may be of value in considering the injection of carbon dioxide for the purpose of geologic storage.
State Review of Oil and Natural Gas Environmental Regulations
STRONGER is a non-profit, multi-stakeholder organization whose purpose is to assist states in documenting the environmental regulations associated with the exploration, development and production of crude oil and natural gas. The name, STRONGER, is an acronym for State Review of Oil and Natural Gas Environmental Regulations. STRONGER was formed in 1999 to reinvigorate and carry forward the state review process begun cooperatively in 1988 by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Interstate Oil and Gas Compact Commission (IOGCC).
Managing Produced Water Releases
The exploration and production (E&P) industry uses great care during the handling and disposal of the produced water that is generated as a normal part of oil and gas production. However, unintentional releases can occur. Depending on the chemical composition of the produced water and the nature of the local environment, salts associated with such releases have the potential to impact soils, vegetation, and water resources.
Protecting Livestock
API has published 2 technical resources for assessing the significance of livestock exposure to crude oil in oilfield operations. These documents describe the development of toxicity values and screening guidelines for evaluating risks to livestock. More...
EPA Grants Extension To SPCC Compliance Dates
The EPA Administrator signed, on Thursday, August 5, 2004, a final rule granting an extension of the SPCC compliance deadlines by an additional 18 months. The new deadlines are February 17, 2006 for amending plans and August 18, 2006 for implementing plans.
Meeting the Environmental Challenge: Oil and Natural Gas Operations in the Gulf of Mexico
The Gulf of Mexico is an incredibly rich resource. It provides food, energy, jobs, transportation, recreation and government revenue. The earth beneath its waters is the source of over one-fourth of domestic oil and natural gas production. That makes the Gulf an essential source of the fuel that gives us the freedom to drive where we want when we want, to keep our homes comfortable and well lit and to run our offices and factories. Over 200 separate studies of the impact of oil and gas operations on the Gulf of Mexico have been conducted. These studies conclude that the offshore oil and natural gas industry is a good steward of the Gulf of Mexico. Most of the industry’s operations have little adverse impact on the Gulf, on marine life, on endangered species, or on the quality of the water and air. The studies also reported that wherever petroleum industry operations had been found to be causing a problem, the industry, in conjunction with government, had taken the extra steps necessary to limit any damage.
Meeting the Environmental Challenge: Domestic Oil and Natural Gas Operations, Onshore
Industry’s story is one of interwoven themes – a commitment to improve its environmental performance, its technological and scientific sophistication, and its endeavor to form partnerships with governments and communities.
Environmental Regulation of the Exploration and Production Industry
Oil and natural gas exploration and production occur at over 860,000 sites in 33 states. Federal and state governments have imposed regulations on exploration and production industry activity in the United States to protect the environment. While, numerous environmental agencies have regulations that affect these processes, the oil and natural gas exploration and production industry is committed to operate in an environmentally sound manner while protecting the health and safety of its employees and the public
Rigs to Reef Programs Create Valuable Fish Habitat
Recycling retired oil and natural gas platforms as artificial reefs has proven to be an effective tool for fisheries management. As offshore platforms reach the end of their useful lives, fishermen and marine biologists expressed concern about the loss of the enhanced fish habitat they create. Following up on the concerns expressed, the Minerals Management Service (MMS) adopted a rigs-to-reefs policy that supports and encourages the reuse of these structures in the development of artificial reefs. Sometimes platforms are toppled in place, and sometimes they are towed to an alternate location and sunk there to create an artificial reef. To date, 151 platforms have been recycled as artificial reefs in the Gulf of Mexico. The rigs-to-reefs program provides all around benefits: for the marine environment, by enhancing fish habitat; for the State, by enhancing recreational and commercial fishing; and for producing companies, through cost savings and beneficial reuse of platforms that otherwise would become scrap metal and material.
E&P Companies Voluntarily Reduce Emissions Through EPA Natural Gas STAR Program
Since 1994, the American Petroleum Institute has been an official endorser of the Natural Gas STAR Program, a voluntary partnership between EPA and the oil and gas industry designed to cost-effectively reduce methane emissions. Together, API and Natural Gas STAR are working to promote a common goal of profitably reducing methane emissions in the oil and gas industry.
Resource Center for Risk-Based Methodologies for Evaluating Petroleum Hydrocarbon Impacts at Oil and Natural Gas Exploration and Production Sites
This site contains useful reports, presentations, software tools and links for developing risk-based screening levels for crude oil (TPH) affected soil at E&P sites.
Exploration and Production Waste
The total volume of waste generated annually by the oil and gas industry decreased substantially over the decade between 1985 and 1995, from 21.4 million barrels to 18.1 million barrels. This decrease results from a combination of reduced industry activity and industry efforts at waste reduction. Around 99% of total waste volumes are made up of the saline water brought to the surface with oil and natural gas. The majority of exploration and production wastes continue to be injected to the subsurface for enhanced recovery or disposal. Between 1985 and 1995, discharges of waste were reduced and the use of recycling and beneficial reuse of waste streams grew substantially. These changes reflect company efforts to find environmentally beneficial alternatives to traditional disposal practices.
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