Balancing environmental, societal and energy production issues*
R. Haut A , T. Williams B , G. Theodori C and J. Slutz DA Houston Advanced Research Center.
B Nautilus.
C Sam Houston State University.
D Global Energy Strategies.
The APPEA Journal 51(2) 675-675 https://doi.org/10.1071/AJ10055
Published: 2011
Abstract
Clean burning natural gas begins with environmentally-friendly drilling and production. The industry has made great strides in protecting the environment while increasing production, yet producers still face challenges in relation to effectively operating in environmentally-sensitive areas. The Environmentally Friendly Drilling Program integrates technologies—including: rig designs, drilling fluid systems, waste management, roads and pads—into systems that reduce the impact in environmentally-sensitive areas.
The objective is to identify, develop and transfer critical, cost effective, new technologies, which provide policy makers and industry with the ability to develop US domestic reserves in a safe and environmentally-friendly manner. The program was honoured with the Environmental Partnership Chairman’s Stewardship Award from the Interstate Oil and Gas Compact Commission at its 2009 annual meeting. The program, funded by industry and government, provides a comprehensive technology transfer effort, which includes outreach to industry, government and the general public.
In addition, a scorecard system is being developed to recognise companies that use the most appropriate technologies and systems to minimise the environmental tradeoffs of operations in sensitive ecosystems. The scorecard assesses drilling operations and technologies with respect to: air, site, water, waste management, biodiversity and societal issues. The goal of the scorecard is to develop a mindset in the industry that environmental stewardship is a core value.
In addition, the scorecard enables all stakeholders to understand the balance between energy development and the impact on the environment. The program has made significant advances in reducing environmental tradeoffs and in addressing societal issues associated with natural gas production.
Dr Richard Haut is a senior research scientist at the Houston Advanced Research Center (HARC). He serves as the principal investigator (PI) for various projects associated with securing energy for the future. A major effort is acting as PI for the Environmentally Friendly Drilling program in partnership with Texas A&M University, Sam Houston State University, Argonne National Laboratory, other universities, industry and environmental organisations with the objective of integrating advanced technologies into systems that significantly reduce the environmental tradeoffs of petroleum drilling and production. The effort was recognised by the Interstate Oil and Gas Compact Commission, receiving their Chairman’s Environmental Partnership award in 2009. Dr Haut’s technical background includes a master’s degree and a PhD in engineering. He has more than 25 years of industry technical and management experience prior to joining HARC in June 2002, having been responsible for analysing offerings for key technologies or niche capabilities and developing synergistic, strategic relationships in the energy industry. In 1999, he received Hart Publication’s Meritorious Award for Engineering Innovation and in 2002 received the Natural Gas Innovator of the Year Award from the Department of Energy. He has given testimony to Congress concerning research and technology developments needed to produce energy in an environmentally sound and safe manner and served on a five-member work group to assist the National BP Deepwater Horizon Gulf Spill and Offshore Drilling Commission. In addition, he is a board member of the Research Partnership to Secure Energy for America (RPSEA) where he also chairs the environmental advisory group. |
Thomas Williams is managing director of Nautilus International LLC, and serves on the board of directors and the executive committee of the Research Partnership to Secure Energy for America (RPSEA). He has been in the energy business for more than 20 years. In 2007, he retired as vice president, research and business development of Noble Corporation Technology Services Division. He held senior executive positions at the US Departments of Energy and Interior during the Bush Administration from 1989 to 93. From 1993 to 2000, he was business director at Westport Technology Center in Houston, an upstream oil and gas research company. He has authored numerous energy publications, presentations and articles and serves on a number of oil and gas organisations, associations, energy advisory boards and corporate boards including Far East Energy Corporation and Petris Technology. Mr Williams has served in a consulting and advisory capacity for the Environmentally Friendly Drilling Project since its inception and is now managed by the Houston Advanced Research Center (HARC), Texas A&M, and is co-funded by RPSEA and industry. |
Dr Gene Theodori is professor of sociology and director of the Center for Rural Studies: Research and Outreach at Sam Houston State University. Dr Theodori earned a PhD in rural sociology from The Pennsylvania State University in 1999. He teaches, conducts basic and applied research, and writes professional and popular articles on rural and community development issues, energy and natural resource concerns, and related topics. A central feature of his work is the development of outreach educational and technical assistance programs that address important issues relating to community and economic development. He has served as president of the Southern Rural Sociological Association (2008–9) and is co-editor of the Journal of Rural Social Sciences. He received the Excellence in Extension and Public Service Award from the Southern Rural Sociological Association in 2007 and the Award for Excellence in Extension and Public Outreach from the Rural Sociological Society in 2010. |
Jim Slutz is the president and managing director of Global Energy Strategies LLC, focusing on energy project development, carbon capture and storage business strategy, and technology commercialisation. He serves as an adviser to Environmentally Friendly Drilling Systems. Prior to founding Global Energy Strategies, he served as assistant secretary of Energy in the United States. He holds an MBA from The Ohio State University, Fisher College of Business, and a BSc from The Ohio State University, School of Natural Resources. Jim serves on the Advisory Boards of Hart Energy Publishing and the Canada Institute of the Woodrow Wilson International Centre for Scholars. He is a distinguished associate of FACTS Global Energy. |
