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Business and Industry, Energy, Water, United States, North America, Poland, Europe, Environment
Between a Rock and a Resource
Pioneering the Responsible Extraction of Shale Gas
September 27, 2011
Natural gas is one of the world’s fastest growing energy sources. Efficient and clean burning, with a carbon footprint smaller than coal, natural gas is a central component of greenhouse gas reduction strategies. It is also abundant and can help level supply variability of renewable energy sources.
The development of unconventional sources, such as coal bed methane and shale gas, is projected to grow dramatically due to vast, unexploited basins in the United States, Europe and around the world. These reserves are being tapped with new horizontal drilling techniques, hydraulic stimulation and hydraulic fracturing―hydrofracking―that inject fluid and sand deep into oil- and gas-bearing rock, creating fissures to release hydrocarbons from shale formations.
Shale gas is part of our energy future, so we must apply our knowledge, current best practices and protective approaches for innovative solutions that power our future, enhance our local economy and preserve the environment.
Leveraging any natural resource requires environmental management, and proper shale gas development includes many protective measures, with special concern for water resources and water quality. “Natural gas is an important part of the energy equation, with the potential to replace inefficient coal power plants, create energy-efficient vehicle fleets, help chemical companies reduce energy costs and provide some nations with energy independence,” explains Kevin Molloy, CDM Smith vice president. “However, there is a lot of debate about environmental concerns, specifically related to hydrofracking. Our role is to identify and apply the leading scientific and engineering methods to help our clients protect water supplies.”
Respecting the Environment
Global energy companies repositioning their operations to access new resources are meeting a changing regulatory, political and business environment. Recognizing the burgeoning interest from oil and gas (O&G) companies to pursue gas plays—smaller areas within basins targeted for exploration activities—across Europe, CDM Smith assembled its U.S.- and Poland-based staff to assist Marathon Oil Corporation’s entry into Poland’s promising market.
Our technical and regulatory experts evaluated the rapidly evolving U.S. best practices for shale gas development and water treatment options, and thoroughly analyzed Poland’s compliance requirements. According to Witold Domek, CDM Smith associate, the resulting country-specific report and workshop conducted for Marathon staff will help guide their development activities. “For Marathon, one of the largest concession holders in Poland, it is necessary to understand the local regulations, industry culture and administrative requirements during resource development. We were able to fulfill Marathon’s expectations to confidently develop their operational strategy,” notes Domek. CDM Smith continues to support Marathon with completion of environmental, geotechnical, design and construction management services for its first proposed exploration well pad development in Poland.
Managing Produced Water
Water management is often one of the biggest operating issues for developers. Drilling and hydrofracking require millions of gallons of water and produce “flowback” water that must be managed. More liquid is produced with the gas throughout the well’s lifecycle—all of which requires management through treatment or reuse. To protect fresh water supplies and control treatment costs, more firms are seeking innovative water planning, sourcing, handling, treatment and reuse options.
At a gas field in the Powder River Basin (Wyoming, USA), CDM Smith designed and constructed a unique high-recovery filtration, ion exchange and reverse osmosis process that treats 35,000 barrels of produced water per day to reduce sodium and total dissolved solids to meet stringent effluent quality limits. “This leading-edge approach—one of the first of its kind in the O&G industry—enhances plant efficiency, safety and reliability, and has a recovery rate of more than 99 percent,” emphasizes Bob Kimball, CDM Smith vice president and chemical engineer. Because the effluent quality is better than drinking water standards, it can be discharged to a local stream or used for irrigation.
The integrated process, developed by CDM Smith, requires very little chemical addition and produces only a small amount of brine that can be managed onsite. Kimball continues, “The result is a safer, lower cost operation that significantly reduces hauling hazardous chemicals and brine across rural public roadways—major benefits for the client, landowner and community.” Adds Randy Huffsmith, CDM Smith vice president, “Combined with our client’s environmental commitment, Bob’s dedication and integrated, robust solution set a new industry standard for environmental protection. This project demonstrates our ability to develop a vital energy resource, while beneficially reusing high-quality water and minimizing hard-to-handle byproducts. Achieving these multiple benefits in a single facility is what many people would define as sustainability.”
Building Infrastructure and the Future
Energy exploration and production (E&P) activities also require substantial supporting infrastructure. In Texas, USA, CDM Smith is assisting a leading E&P waste company with the design of a 100-acre facility to receive, process and recycle oil field drilling waste, including drilling materials, muds and produced water. “The facility will provide energy producers a means to recycle or reuse their drilling and production wastes to the greatest extent practical,” describes Tom Beck, CDM Smith associate. In addition, CDM Smith has implemented substantial upgrades to an existing permitted waste management facility to improve water and solids management.
While challenges exist, Molloy believes development opportunities can be made environmentally acceptable. “Shale gas is part of our energy future. We must apply our knowledge, current best practices and protective approaches for innovative solutions that power our future, enhance our local economy and preserve the environment.”
