News & Announcements
"We can minimize negative side effects of shale drilling," Dr. Richard Haut
“Texas is geologically rich in natural gas, a clean-burning fuel that creates good jobs while providing a low-carbon source of energy that helps reduce greenhouse emissions.
But with those significant benefits, some practices used in finding and producing natural gas may bring unwanted side-effects, especially for people living nearby. When air, water and noise pollution occur, residents complain and controversy erupts.
Such environmental concerns have grown in recent years, along with the accelerating growth of natural gas activities in various parts of the country — activities triggered by technologies that were developed in the gas-bearing Barnett Shale formation of North Texas […]
Now, as yet another major gas play takes off in a different part of Texas, we have a chance to anticipate and minimize such impacts. We can do that by coupling exploration and drilling activities with tools and procedures for preventing harmful side-effects that we have developed at the Houston Advanced Research Center (HARC), a nonprofit institution in The Woodlands.” The Houston Chronicle. February 12, 2011
Read this editorial in The Houston Chronicle
TCEQ Revises Permit by Rule and Standard Permit for Oil and Gas Facilities
On January 26, 2011, the TCEQ repealed the existing Permit by Rule (PBR) for oil and gas production facilities located in the Barnett Shale region, and adopted a new PBR as well as a new non-rule standard permit for oil and gas handling and production facilities located in the 23 county area. The new PBR and Standard Permit include operating specifications, emissions limitations, and a list of best management practices. The revised authorization also requires oil and gas facilities at a site to be permitted under one authorization. The requirements are effective April 1, 2011.
The changes to the PBR and Standard Permit were influenced by the PBR Study conducted by TCEQ’s Executive Director. Although the new PBR and Standard Permit were initially proposed to apply on a statewide basis, with staggered effective dates based on location, the Commission elected to limit the applicability of the new rules only to sites within the Barnett Shale region. The Commission will monitor the implementation of these new rules and make a revised proposal that would apply on a statewide basis by January 5, 2012.
www.tceq.texas.gov/rules/adopt.html#10018
Recently Updated! Technology Integration Program-speeding commercial development of advanced technologies
The Environmentally Friendly Drilling Technology Integration Program (TIP) will accelerate safe and environmentally responsible shale gas development by providing examples of new technology to improve drilling efficiency and lower the environmental impact of oil and gas operations. The TIP will provide a “proving ground” (Eagle Ford Shale) to evaluate the latest generation of drilling rigs, advanced water management technology, reduced footprint operations, and air emission reduction strategies.
The TIP will be a coordinated effort, integrating RPSEA and NETL programs with the Environmentally Friendly Drilling program’s network of operators, service companies and suppliers, universities, and national labs to identify new and successfully applied technologies.
View the proposal here: EFD Technology Integration Program
To learn more about the Technology Integration Program, please visit http://sites.google.com/a/pe.tamu.edu/efd-tip/home
The Environmentally Friendly Drilling Systems Program has been selected by the Interstate Oil and Gas Compact Commission’s Stewardship Award Subcommittee as the winner in the Environmental Partnership category. The award was presented at the Commission’s annual meeting in Biloxi, Mississippi, on October 5, see: