The Houston
Advanced Research Center (HARC) is seeking participants for the testing phase
of a new initiative to promote advanced technologies for low-impact oil and gas
drilling.
The
Environmentally Friendly Drilling Systems – Scorecard, established as part of
HARC's Environmentally Friendly Drilling (EFD) program begun two years ago,
will measure environmental tradeoffs associated with implementing low-impact
drilling technologies in sensitive areas.
The
scorecard will assess drilling operations and technologies with respect to air,
site, water, waste management, biodiversity and societal issues. The objective
is to ensure the development of reserves in a safe and environmentally friendly
manner.
According
to Rich Haut, manager of the EFD program and senior research scientist at HARC,
the goal is to have a common methodology that can be used across the United States
to document the environmental and societal tradeoffs associated with energy
development. Landowners, regulators and the general public can use the
scorecard to objectively assess operators’ environmental performance. Operators
can evaluate their own operations to compare to industry best-management
practices.
“The
scorecard is similar to the successful U.S. Green Building Council’s scorecard
used in the built environment arena,” Dr. Haut says. “We started this effort
over two years ago with a workshop that brought together over 100 individuals
representing industry, environmental organizations, academia, government and
the local community. Through this effort, we have identified key attributes
that can be measured. After reaching a consensus on the measurements, we are
ready to test the prototype scorecard before finalizing the process.”
The
scorecard is an environmental management tool that can assist operating
companies in planning and implementing practices to manage operational risks.
Operators that use new generation rigs, low-emissions power packages, advanced
rig site water management systems, and small surface footprints can potentially
earn the highest – five-star – ratings. Operating companies interested in
becoming part of the scorecard testing are asked to contact Dr. Haut.
Created in
2005 by HARC and the Global Petroleum Research Institute at Texas A&M
University, EFD now is supported
by the Research Partnership to Secure Energy for America (RPSEA), industry and
environmental organizations. The growing EFD partnership consists of
universities, national laboratories, energy producers and service companies,
environmental organizations, and government agencies. To learn more, visitwww.efdsystems.org.
Created in
1982, HARC is a not-for-profit organization based in The Woodlands, Texas, dedicated to
improving human and ecosystem well-being through the application of
sustainability science and principles of sustainable development. Visit HARC atwww.harc.edu.
For more
information on the Environmentally Friendly Drilling Systems Program, or to
participate as a test site in its Scorecard program, contact Rich Haut at
281-364-6093 or rhaut@harc.edu.