As operators in the Permian and elsewhere across the United States and around the world announce capex cuts of 50 percent or more, drilling rigs are stacking up like dry bones in the valley. A two-thirds (so far) reduction in drilling means a similar cut in frac’ing. Saltwater disposal wells (SWDs) and their attached pipelines […]
Industry groups dispute new EDF research on growing emissions
A new study from Environmental Defense Fund and Harvard University released April 22 said methane emitted by oil and gas companies through venting and flaring in Permian Basin continues to grow to record levels. And industry groups such as Texas Methane and Flaring Coalition and Texas Oil and Gas Association continue to criticize the EDF […]
Riding the Wave
With the proliferation of hydraulic fracturing since around 2010, the good news is that oil and gas production have exploded, reaching never-before-seen levels and practically eliminating net imports. The challenge, however is that fracturing requires millions of barrels of water—fresh or recycled—and also produces millions of barrels of water that must be reused or returned […]
Situational Awareness
Greetings and salutations! Welcome back to this month’s discussion on Safety in the Permian Basin! Let’s get right to it. As you are keenly aware, the global and stateside political climate is strained. (That’s like calling Moby Dick a guppy.) Tension in the Middle East is also high. American society is divided and in a […]
Recipe for Success:
A new breed of service companies seeks to combine efficiency and environment. The word “green” can mean different things to different people these days. To the accounting department it means money. To the public, including investors, it can mean environmentally friendly. Often those two meanings are at odds. At least two service companies with a […]
Drug and Alcohol Abuse
Greetings and salutations! Another great day in the wide world of safety, said no one ever, LOL. Not many people even like the subject of safety, but it is extremely popular among safety people. It’s kind of like when engineers get together and tell engineer jokes, when no one understands the jokes except for engineers. […]
Safety is First!
Greetings and salutations from the safety world! I hope the holidays were safe, memorable, and happy! Word has it that the oilfield is slowing down a bit. Hopefully, the slowdown is just a small correction. I’ve noticed over the years, the oilfield has changed in the sense that the calendar 4th quarter tends to slow […]
Holiday Safety
Season’s Greetings and salutations my friends! I hope this month’s message finds you safe and prosperous. Instead of the usual oilfield safety conversation, this month will be on holiday safety, which pertains to all of us, especially our family and friends. As you know, the holiday season is not necessarily a happy occasion for us […]
Railroad Commission, EPA combine to redevelop abandoned sites
Brownfields grants from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency offered through the Railroad Commission of Texas are helping redevelop abandoned oil and gas sites. The Midland Reporter Telegram said recently the commission’s Brownfields Response Program includes a previously abandoned oilfield site near Andrews that now is a bird-viewing park with a path and lagoon. Leslie Bruce, […]
Accident Investigation
Greetings and salutations! Welcome to another fun edition in the land of safety. As I mentioned in the previous edition, this month I’m going to talk about Root Cause. Root cause analysis and its process is always one of the most fun topics in the oilfield, said no one ever. The first and most important […]
