Houston-based Apache Corp. is accepting applications until Aug. 21 in its 2020-21 tree grant program. Now in its 15th year, the program has provided more than 4.7 million trees in 17 states. Last year Apache donated 61,000 trees to 54 nonprofit agencies, including Keep Odessa Beautiful and Texas Department of Parks and Wildlife. The program […]
RSEG: Flaring increases in June after decline in May in Permian Basin
RS Energy Group said June 26 that flaring intensity increased in June in Permian Basin after declining in May. RSEG estimated (with satellite data) flaring in June at 400 MMcfd for an increase of 54 percent over May. Driven by shut-ins, flaring had declined 136 MMcfd from April to May. “We believe the June increase […]
ExxonMobil, New Mexico State study wastewater from oil, gas industry
New Mexico State University and ExxonMobil said this week they are collaborating on a research project on wastewater produced by the oil and gas industry. Chancellor Dan Arvizu said Monday the agreement “illustrates NMSU’s strength in water and environmental engineering research.” Professor Pei Xu is leading NMSU’s participation “to develop cutting-edge technologies for produced water […]
H2S: Subtle But Deadly
Greetings and salutations my fellow safety enthusiasts. Another day and another dollar, if the oil price goes back up, lol. We’ve been through downturns before, and in all likelihood we will go through it again. I think this is the 7th downturn that I’ve experienced in my short 49 years in the Patch—give or take […]
Texas LNG receives TCEQ permit for export terminal
Houston-based Texas LNG received a state permit last week for its proposed export terminal at Port of Brownsville. Houston Chronicle said the permit received May 6 from Texas Commission on Environmental Quality had “stricter air pollution standards than the company had previously proposed.” The permit authorizes Texas LNG to produce up to four million metric […]
Commission allows temporary storage of oil in other underground places
Railroad Commission of Texas voted at its meeting this week to allow companies to store crude oil underground in places other than salt caverns. “This order does not suspend any rule that protects public safety, health or the prevention of pollution,” chairman Wayne Christian said Tuesday. Associated Press said the new rule, proposed by the […]
Where Will All the Water Go?
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 […]
