Environmentally Friendly

Drilling Systems Program

Balancing

Envi l ronmental Trad ff eo s

www.efdsystems.org

www.facebook.com/EFDSystems

US Department of Energy

Secretary of Energy Advisory Board

Natural Gas Subcommittee

June 28, 2011

06/28/20111
Items to Discuss

1. The Environmentally Friendly Drilling Systems (EFD) Program

• Incentives and Objectives

• Background

o How did it start 

o who are the players

o Funding

• Issues being addressed

• Outreach and Technology Transfer

2. Complementary Programs

3. The EFD Scorecard

• Measuring Processes

• Development of the Scorecard

• Comparison of Processes

• Status

06/28/20112
Opposition to O&G Activities

Focus on technologies for

environmentally sensitive

The objective is to identify,

develop and transfer critical

EFD Program Overview

environmentally sensitive

development of

energy sources that can

be used to maintain our

standard of living and

preserve our quality of life.

develop and transfer critical,

cost effective, new technologies

that can provide policy makers

and industry with the ability to

develop reserves in a safe and

environmentally friendly

manner.

What gets measured, gets done.

What gets identified, gets dealt with.

What gets expected, gets respected.

06/28/20113
• Formed Team in 2005 (6 years)

& i i k l d b i

EFD Program History

• Texas A&M University took lead to obtain

U.S. Department of Energy Funding

• Formed Joint Industry Partnership to

guide and co‐fund program

• Engaged Environmental Organizations

• Phase 2 led by HARC with RPSEA funding

• Formed University/National Lab Alliance

• Initiated EFD‐EU 5

The EFD Team

Co‐funded by RPSEA, BOEMRE, Industry, Environmental Organizations

SPONSORS MANAGEMENT TEAM ENVIRONMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS ORGANIZATIONS

COLLABORATORS

SPONSORS

ALLIANCE MEMBERS

MANAGEMENT TEAM

06/28/20114
EFD Alliance

responding to local issues

Issues and Concerns

• Land Usage

• Water

• Air Quality

• Biodiversity

• Societal

06/28/20115
Program Highlights

Sponsor Directed Projects

Ecosystem and Biodiversity

Measurement and Assessment

Energy Production and the

Attwater’s Prairie Chicken Dope‐Free Connection

Case Study

Develop tools for

adaptive ecosystem

management to assist

Investigate the effects

of gas production

operations on the

Study the effectiveness

of the state‐of‐the‐art

and dope‐free pipe g

integrated management

of land, water and living

resources that promotes

conservation and

sustainable use.

operations on the

Attwater’s Prairie

Chicken.

and dope free pipe

connection technology,

including regulatory

issues and a field study.

06/28/20116
Outreach and Technology Transfer

From time of RPSEA Award:

25+Publications/Articles

50+ Presentations

14+ Workshops

4+ Exhibits

Environmental Assessment for 

Shale Gas Development in Ukraine

E i t l S i St t t

Complementary Programs

Coastal Impacts Technology 

Program (CITP)

T h l R dM i • Environmental Scoping Statement

• Special Studies

• Environmental Assessment

• Environmental Mitigation & 

Monitoring Plan

• Technology Road Mapping

• Environmental Impact Mitigation

• Inter-State Collaboration

• Workforce Development

06/28/20117
What Will it Take to Do Better?

Making Environmental Stewardship

a Core Value

06/28/20118
Scorecard Concepts

Energy Production

Focus Scorecard on Operation

Concept – USGBC

Energy Production

Oil and Gas Operations

Upstream Downstream

Field

LEED Program

Development

Field Operations

Exploration

Drilling

Completions

Processing

Refining

Transportation

Distribution

06/28/20119
Stakeholders are all those who are affected, interested in or 

have the capacity to influence a project.

Stakeholder Engagement is Important!

Academia

• Texas A&M University

College Station

Environmental Organizations

• Natural Resources Defense

Council

Industry

• API

B ll d E l ti

State/Federal Agencies

• US Department of Energy

College Station B f L d M t

• Texas A&M University

Kingsville

• University of New

Hampshire

• UT Medical Center

• Mississippi State University

• Sam Houston State

• University of South Alabama

• John Hopkins University

• University of Arizona

• University of Texas

• University of Houston

Council

• Environmental Defense Fund

• The Nature Conservancy

• Conservation International

• Mercer Arboretum

• Bureau of Applied

Anthropology/Arizona

• Clinton Climate Initiative

• Rocky Mountain Clean Air

• McFaddin Ranch

• Ballard Exploration

• BP

• Shell

• Chevron

• StatoilHydro

• ConocoPhillips

• Devon

• King Exploration

• Halliburton

• Huisman

• National Oil Well – Varco

• MI Swaco

• Bureau of Land Management

• US Park Service

• Texas Railroad Commission

• Texas General Land Office

• Texas Dept. of Agriculture

• Texas Dept. of

Transportation

• US Minerals Management

Services

• Texas Parks & Wildlife

• Texas Water Board

• Texas Commission on Env.

Quality

Source:Connor Development Services Ltd

• University of Houston • TerraPlatform

• T. Baker Smith

• Weatherford

• Derrick Equipment

• Composite Mats

• Ecology and Environmental

Inc.

• PTTC

• IADC

Quality

• US Environmental Protection

Agency

• US Fish and Wildlife

• Argonne National Laboratory

• Big Thicket Preserve

• Idaho National Laboratory

Tradeoff Scorecard Development

06/28/201110
Comparison of IPIECA and EFD Scorecard Indicators

Note: the highlighted colors indicate potentially comparable indicators/data points 

BLUE   = air quality/GHG emissions 

PURPLE = energy/power use 

YELLOW = wildlife/plant life/biodiversity 

GREEN = water 

RED = waste 

GREY = spill prevention 

GOLD = community engagement 

*Indicators not color‐coded do not share a category with indicators in the other reporting system 

IPIECA Indicators

Environmental 

Indicators 

‐ Climate change and energy 

o Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions 

o Energy use 

o Alternative energy sources 

o Flared gas 

‐ Ecosystem services 

o Biodiversity and ecosystem services 

o Fresh water 

‐ Local environmental impact 

o Other air emissions 

o Spills to the environment 

o Discharges to water 

o Waste 

Health and safety 

indicators 

‐ Workforce protection 

o Workforce participation 

o Workforce health 

o Occupational injury and illness incidents 

‐ Product health, safety and environmental risks 

o Product stewardship 

‐ Process safety and asset integrity 

o Process safety 

Social and 

economic 

indicators 

‐ Community and society 

o Local community impacts and engagement 

o Indigenous peoples 

o Involuntary resettlement 

o Social investment 

‐ Local content 

o Local content practices 

o Local hiring practices 

o Local procurement and supplier development 

‐ Human rights 

o Human rights due diligence 

o Human rights and suppliers 

o Security and human rights 

‐ Business ethics and transparency 

o Preventing corruption 

o Preventing corruption involving business partners 

o Transparency of payments to host governments 

o Public advocacy and lobbying 

‐ Labor practices 

o Workforce diversity and inclusion 

o Workforce engagement 

o Workforce training and development 

o Non-retaliation and grievance system 

06/28/201111
EFD Scorecard Indicators

Air  Prerequisites 

o Regulatory compliance 

 Credits 

o Contractual obligations for logistics 

 1 point: require all contractors and subcontractors associated with any logistical support or well site 

operations to use retrofit technology on all on-road vehicles that have Tier I or lower engines 

 1 point: require all contractors and subcontractors associated with any logistical support to use clean Tier 

II (or higher) engines for on-road vehicles 

o Site emissions 

 1 point: use clean Tier III/Type III engines for all non-road vehicles or ensuring application of retrofit 

technology to non-road vehicles that are Tier II or lower 

 1 point: use Tier IV engines for all applications 

o Dust suppression 

 2 points: submit a dust suppression plan and implementing/documenting the plan 

o Clean power 

 1 point: use tier IV diesel engines or natural gas from the field to power electric motors to run the drill rig 

 1 point: connect the drill rig to the electric grid 

 1 point: connect the drill rig to the electric grid and certify that the electricity is generated by solar or wind 

o Green completions 

 1 point: submit and implement a plan to use green completion practices 

Water  Prerequisites 

o Develop and implement a stormwater management plan that prevents or mitigates discharge of stormwater 

runoff. Use acceptable best management practices to reduce sources of contaminants from stormwater runoff. 

o Integrity testing of surface casing 

 Credits 

o Water cycle management plan 

 3 points: develop and implement a water management plan 

 2 points: develop and implement the segregation of liquid effluents principally along industrial, utility, 

sanitary, and storm water categories 

 2 points: identify opportunities and implementing a program to prevent or reduce wastewater pollution 

through such measures as recycle/reuse within the development area 

 1 point: assess the possibility of treating wastewater discharges for reuse 

 1 point: perform baseline hydrology studies, mapping and hydrochemistry studies and documenting water 

quality in the nearby area prior to operations. 

o Setbacks from streams/sources 

 2 points: contact all stakeholders that have water wells, streams, wetlands, or other water sources within 

1,000 feed of the proposed operation 

 1 point: contact all stakeholders within 500 feet of 5,000 feet downstream of the operation of any stream 

that is within 1,000 feed of the proposed operation 

 1 point: hold a stakeholder meeting to discuss the operation, any risk to the fresh water sources and all risk 

mitigation efforts that are planned 

o Mitigation measures to protect ground water 

 2 points: develop and implement a detailed monitoring program to ensure that mitigation measures are in 

place, functional and adequate 

 2 points: include monitoring the non-contact runoff to ensure contamination does not occur 

o Reduce water usage 

 1 point: develop and implement a water use efficiency program 

 1 point: develop and implement a process to reduce the use of hazardous materials that could increase 

water treatment requirements 

o Reuse of water/fluids 

 1 point: develop and implement a plan to use water/fluids from nonpotable sources that are located within 

50 miles of the sites 

06/28/201112
Site  Prerequisites 

o Regulatory compliance 

o Erosion and sedimentation control 

 Credits 

o Pre-existing site 

 2 points: fully evaluate the possibility of the reuse of an existing drill site, determine the financial impact 

on the drilling budget, and select/use a pre-existing drill site 

o Pad drilling 

 1 point: employ pad drilling to more than a single well from the drill site 

 1 point: have a minimum of eight wells on the drill site 

o Protect and restore habitat 

 1 point: perform a site survey to identify site elements and adopting a plan concerning use and restoration 

of the site 

 1 point: use a spill control system and mats to limit surface disturbance 

o Contractor guidelines 

 1 point: publish an illustrated document that provides contractors with information on how to reduce their 

environmental footprint related to the drill site 

 1 point: hold training sessions with all contractors to review the document and the strategies listed in the 

document. Provide supervision on-site to ensure implementation 

o Site restoration 

 1 point: reclaim the site to its original elevations using the stockpiled topsoil and replanting the entire area 

with native grasses or other vegetation as directed 

 1 point: use topography to hide structure locations and using low profile structures 

o Well design considerations 

 1 point: document how the environmental sensitivities were taken into consideration when developing the 

well design 

 1 point: review the reservoir development plan to maximize production from each well and minimize the 

number of wells that need to be drilled 

o Living quarters and people 

 2 points: develop and implement a recycling program to minimize household waste 

o Organic materials 

 1 point: harvest organic materials during site preparation, mulch organic materials to be used on-site 

during site restoration, and bury remaining organic materials 

o Preplan and production 

 2 points: pre-plan for production by including the layout of flowlines, planning for stock tanks and other 

production equipment during the well site preparation 

o Match site/access to topography 

 1 point: use, whenever possible, previously impacted terrain for access routes and build irregularly shaped 

drill pads to conform to natural topography 

o Logistics plan—offsite storage 

 1 point: develop and implement a logistics plan that considers a centralized location for storage of 

equipment and supplies for various frill pads 

o Planting of native vegetation 

 1 point: develop and implement a plan that includes planting of native vegetation at the appropriate time of 

year for the plants to become established 

06/28/201113
Waste 

management 

 Prerequisites 

o Waste management plan 

o Pit design pre-site assessment 

 Credits 

o Drilling fluid handling system 

 2 points: use cuttings management plan 

 2 points: use environmentally friendly drilling fluids 

 1 point: use a modified closed loop system by using additional drilling fluids handling equipment in 

addition to what is supplied by the rig 

 1 point: use a full closed loop system in addition to rig system that includes a cuttings dryer 

o Handling of rig wastes 

 2 points: use biodegradable lubricants and including a recycle/salvage plan for disposal 

 1 point: use environmentally friendly pipe dope for both drill pipe and casing 

 1 point: use an electric top drive system to minimize use of hydraulic fluids 

 1 point: maximize the use of bulk materials 

o Spill prevention system 

 1 point: to minimize the risk of any spillage, including drilling fluids, oil/fuel, lubricants, drip pans and 

other devices/systems should be used 

 1 point: ensure that all equipment installed on the site is designed so that any effluent is caught and not 

discharged directly into the environment 

 1 point: develop and implement plan for bioremediation of spills and use of landfarming 

o Cuttings reuse 

 3 points: develop and implement a drill cutting recovery and reuse plan 

o Cuttings reinjection 

 3 points: develop and implement a cuttings reinjection plan 

Biodiversity/ 

habitat 

 Prerequisites 

o Species protection 

o Habitat protection/enhancement 

o Regulatory requirements 

 Credits 

o Restoration/interim reclamation 

 4 points: develop a well abandonment plan before the well is drilled to ensure that the plan is updated 

during the well’s life whenever the well’s configuration is changed 

o Reduction of surface disturbance 

 1 point: during construction and drilling, shuttle workers to site 

 1 point: establish centralized location for hydraulic fracturing and water delivery 

 1 point: install systems to enable remote monitoring 

o Erosion prevention 

 1 point: plan and install access roads to avoid erosion 

 1 point: armor roadway ditches and leadoff ditches with rock riprap 

o Voluntary offsite mitigation 

 1 point: establish and implement a plan that includes passive techniques that encourage biodiversity and 

ecosystem health 

o Invasive species prevention 

 1 point: perform three (3) of the following: site restoration, identify and establish no impact zones, clean 

equipment that is moved between sites to prevent transport of invasive species, ensure that materials (soils, 

mulch, etc.) brought in to site are certified to be invasive free, identify and remove invasive species on site 

o Reintroduction of species, habitat 

 1 point: ensure that a botanical expert is on-site when clearing vegetation occurs. The expert should 

develop a pre-disturbance species composition list. Then, a restoration/revegetation plan should be 

developed and implemented based on the pre-disturbance species composition list. Also, ensure that a 

wildlife expert is consulted and on-site, if necessary, when site construction activities occur. The expert 

should document various topographical and other features that are conducive to wildlife habitat(s). Then, a 

restoration plan should be developed and implemented that would encourage the return of native wildlife 

o Avoidance of high value areas 

 1 point: include input from on-site land manager(s) to preserve agricultural land when selecting locations 

for facilities 

o Wildlife and habitat: 

 1 point: Scout the sensitive areas and plan routes likely to cause least disruption, stay clear of wildlife 

areas marked on the planning map to avoid sensitive areas, ban hunting and fishing at all times, instruct 

crews not to intentionally harass or feed wildlife, ban pets on all crew facilities, report incidents and any 

significant problems with wildlife, train crews to identify wildlife 

 1 point: develop and implement a habitat mitigation plan that includes enhancements to the area that 

encourages biodiversity and improves wildlife mortality rates 

06/28/201114
Societal  Prerequisites 

o Regulatory compliance 

o Communication plan (an agreement in writing from land managers and landowners concerning plans to 

construct new facilities. Also develop and implement a transparent process concerning making decisions about) 

 Credits 

o Public outreach 

 1 point: engage community early and often in discussions concerning energy development, reach a 

consensus with community leaders concerning location of facilities that may potentially be visible from 

public places, work with local law enforcement to develop and implement measures to reduce traffic safety 

hazards, engage local and regional officials to advise on health and safety concerns associated with 

operations 

 1 point: develop and implement a logistics plan to transport all consumables for the project to and from the 

location in the least disruptive way and how to store and use them on location in the safest possible 

manner 

 1 point: develop and implement a public interaction plan, including a communication process that keeps 

the public informed of planned activities and progress 

o Noise and lighting control 

 1 point: work with community leaders to identify noise management guidelines 

 1 point: minimize residual lighting effects 

o Training of local first responders 

 1 point: develop and implement a plan to train local emergency medical service personnel on issues that 

may arise during operations 

 1 point: provide support to local public health service providers that could address key public health issues 

o Air quality monitors 

 1 point: install air quality monitors to ensure the following values are not exceeded: VOCs (including 

benzene): 20 milligrams per normal cubic meter, hydrogen sulfide: 30 milligrams per normal cubic meter, 

odor: not offensive at the receptor end 

 1 point: provide website that has links to data from sensors 

o Emergency response plan 

 2 points: develop and implement an Emergency Response Plan that goes beyond requirements and engages 

the community. The plan should be a set of scenario-based procedures to assist emergency responders 

during real life emergencies as well as training exercises. The plan should include an assessment of local 

support capabilities 

o Dispute resolution plan 

 1 point: develop a dispute resolution plan that is agreed to with landowners. Include in the plan a process 

that would handle any dispute and agree on how the costs would be split among the affected parties 

o Surface use plan 

 1 point: develop and implement a Surface Use Plan that ensures environmental expectations exceed 

regulatory requirements concerning exploration and production activities 

 1 point: (1) organize and hold a workshop to inform all landowners and the surrounding community about 

the operational commitment to environmental stewardship and (2) routinely (suggested weekly, but at least 

monthly) inform landowners and community about environmental stewardship related to surface use. This 

may be done through a website, electronic newsletters, mailings, or other means 

o Unintended consequences program 

 1 point: develop and implement a company polity that addresses unintended consequences that may arise 

during development. Communicate the company policy to all stakeholders. In addition, ensure that all 

stakeholders are aware of whom to contact if/when an issue arises 

06/28/201115
Summary

1. The Environmentally Friendly Drilling Systems (EFD) Program

• Brings all stakeholders together

• Broad program that takes a systems approach to issues

• Strong, worldwide program

2. Complementary Programs

• Coastal Impacts Technology Program

• Ukraine efforts 

3. The EFD Scorecard

• Comprehensive review of operations

• Consensus of stakeholders developed scorecard

• Currently testing ‘alpha prototype’ 

06/28/201116
It’s not so hard to be green

Questions?

www.efdsystems.org

www.facebook.com/EFDSystems

Thank you

Richard C. Haut, Ph.D.

Houston Advanced Research Center

4800 Research Forest Drive

The Woodlands, TX 77382

281‐364‐6093

rhaut@harc.edu

06/28/201117