ESG Poster ESG2: Quantifying the reduction of rehabilitation needs and safety risks in the use of innovative well and flowline decommissioning tools
Geoff Lindsay A B *A SLS Environmental Pty Ltd (Summit), Level 6 200 Adelaide Street, Brisbane, Qld 4000, Australia.
B Powered, Brisbane, Qld, Australia.
The APPEA Journal 62 - https://doi.org/10.1071/AJ21427
Published: 3 June 2022
Abstract
Poster ESG2
This paper identifies, measures and demonstrates both the reduction in safety risk and in Environmental Social and Governance (ESG) factors, associated with the traditional cut and cap methods for gas/oil wells and flowlines compared to new innovative internal cutting methods. In 2017 Summit Canada recognised the need to improve the safety of personnel in the oil and gas fields of Canada, during decommisioning of both wellheads and flowlines. The traditionally established method was to excavate a bellhole around the infrastructure and to subsequently cut the wellhead or flowline at 1.5 m below ground level using an oxy-torch. This usually involved an individual standing on a step ladder under a suspended load in an excavation which was often a confined space, not adequately benched or sloped. Comparative data from 5 years of North American and 2 years of Australian experience in decommissioning old wells using internal cuts as opposed to the excavation method are used in the study. The safety risk associated with each method can generally be quantified and given a Hazard Ranking established from crew sizes, kilometres driven and work methods undertaken. Similarly, the ESG factors associated with each method can be quantified in terms of area of disturbance, as well as landholder inconvenience and emissions resulting from number of trucks and personnel movements. A significant reduction in safety risk was the key finding, with the silver lining of also reducing the ESG impacts of gas well and flowline decommissioning activities.
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Keywords: Abrasive Water Jet, environmental social governance, GHG emissions, ground disturbance, Hazard Rankings, internal cutting tool, landholders, risk reduction.
Geoff Lindsay is responsible for the growth and operational management of Summit’s Australian region. Over his 23+ year career, Geoff has held management, technical and operational focused leadership roles within the mining, oil and gas and environmental consulting sector. In addition to his leadership role, Geoff’s background is in providing a full range of environmental services from spill response, pre-construction assessment services, drilling by-product management to surface abandonment and restoration application. Geoff has extensive experience coordinating environmental regulatory applications and approvals, environmental management systems and asset retirement obligations. Geoff ensures that Summit’s operations are executed to the highest standards considering both regulatory, and customer requirements. Geoff earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Environmental Sciences from the University of Alberta his major area of study was Environmental Economics and Policy with a minor in Land Reclamation. |
