Disappearing Roads

The impact of access roads and drilling pads has been identified by the Environmentally Friendly Drilling Program (EFD) as one of the major problems to be managed when conducting oil and gas operations in environmentally sensitive areas. Since 2005 the EFD program has been identifying technology and sponsoring research in reducing surface impact. 

Two major projects are underway specifically addressing such technology.

1. The "Disappearing Road Competion" is a yearly nation-wide scholastic competition to create a new concept of moving men and materials to and from well sites. From this program will come new ways to move across the landscape in a minimal way. http://sites.google.com/a/pe.tamu.edu/disappearing-roads-competition/ 
2. RPSEA’s Unconventional Oil & Gas Development (Environmental Issues) is funding a new project by Texas A&M University to construct and then perform demonstrations of low impact O&G lease roads designed to reduce the environmental impact of field development in sensitive new desert ecosystems. A summary of the winning projects is attached here while more information on the site is at: Low Impact Access Roads Demonstration (Pecos Research Test Center)

 For information please contact:

David Burnett at A&M
979 845 2274
burnett@pe.tamu.edu