EFD Research

The long term goal of the program is to reduce the footprint of operations in environmentally sensitive ecosystems through integration of low-impact site access and operations. Technology from this project will also address potential long-term reduction of the environmental footprint associated with operations and reduce drilling and operations expenses. The overall key objectives of the program are to:

1. Identify new technology that can reduce the environmental tradeoffs of E&P operations.
2. Integrate current/emerging technologies into systems with no or very limited environmental tradeoffs.
3. Define viable systems (including transportation, testing, and completion) that could be used for exploration and exploitation of natural gas primarily in the lower 48 states in environmentally sensitive areas and to test key enabling technology in the field. Utilize a systems engineering approach to help decision-makers select an optimal drilling system for a given site in order to minimize environmental impact, reduce costs and maximize profit at specific sites.
4. Express the attributes of an optimized system by use of environmental scorecards for various ecosystems that can measure tradeoffs associated with unconventional natural gas production.
5. Develop case studies of applying technologies at environmentally sensitive ecosystems, capturing best practices and lessons learned that will enable replication at other locations.
6. Create and manage a joint project of industry, academic, government and environmental organizations partners to assess methods to mitigate individual costs and develop industry acceptance of an entire viable system to accomplish this task.
7. Through a technology transfer effort, educate industry, public, government, environmental organizations and others about practices, technologies and systems that enable the production of natural resources in environmentally sensitive areas. Hold various workshops to ensure that the overall program is appropriately focused.
8. Document findings to ensure that the technologies, methodologies and systems developed, reviewed and evaluated are available to all interested parties.