Reduced Emission Reduced Emission

Completions in DJ Basin Completions in DJ Basin

and Natural Buttes and Natural Buttes

Producers Technology Transfer 

Workshop 

May 1, 2008 

Rock Springs, Wyoming 

Producers Technology Transfer 

Workshop

May 1, 2008

Rock Springs, Wyoming

Topics of Discussion Topics of Discussion

Anadarko’s areas of tight gas production 

Conventional completion emissions 

Reduced emission completions 

 Best Management Practices “BMP” 

 Breco skids 

Environmental and economic benefit 

Future plans 

Anadarko’s areas of tight gas production

Conventional completion emissions

Reduced emission completions

 Best Management Practices “BMP”

 Breco skids

Environmental and economic benefit

Future plans

1 
Anadarko Anadarko’s Areas of Tight Gas Production s Areas of Tight Gas Production

Wyoming 

Utah 

Colorado 

Wamsutter 

Granger 

Natural 

Buttes 

DJ Basin 

Conventional DJ Gas Well Completion Conventional DJ Gas Well Completion

Pressure test of well 

Perforation of well casing and cement in production 

zones 

Fracture of reservoir to enhance production 

 Fracture media and proppant dependent on reservoir 

Flow back well until well pressure safe to rig up 

 Possibility of lasting weeks 

 Gas vented to atmosphere 

Run production tubing 

Connect to production equipment and gathering 

system 

Operate well 

Pressure test of well

Perforation of well casing and cement in production 

zones

Fracture of reservoir to enhance production

 Fracture media and proppant dependent on reservoir

Flow back well until well pressure safe to rig up

 Possibility of lasting weeks

 Gas vented to atmosphere

Run production tubing

Connect to production equipment and gathering 

system

Operate well

2 
1998 

Conventional DJ Conventional DJ Completion CH4 Emissions Emissions

Year Wells Frac’d 

281

1999 374

2000 387

2001 491

2002 538

2003 447

2004 379

2005 473

Average 421

1 Based on EPA STAR $3 gas 

Avg Vent 

Time

Days

8

8

11

13

14

16

15

11

12

Estimated 

Gas Lost

MMSCF

899.2 

1196.8 

1702.8 

2553.2 

3012.8 

2860.8 

2274.0 

2081.2 

2072.6 

Revenue

Lost1

MM$ 

2.7 

3.6 

5.1 

7.7 

9.0 

8.6 

6.8 

6.2 

6.2 

Reduced DJ Emission Completions Reduced DJ Emission Completions

Pressure test of well 

Perforation of well casing and cement in production zones 

Fracture of reservoir to enhance production 

 Fracture media and proppant dependent on reservoir 

Well flows back until gas cut 

Well shut-in and tied to production equipment 

 Basin specific due to reservoir and gathering system parameters 

Flow back well to separation equipment until well pressure 

safe to rig up 

 Possibility of lasting weeks 

 Gas directed to sales 

 Liquids collected in tank 

Run production tubing 

Operate well 

Pressure test of well

Perforation of well casing and cement in production zones

Fracture of reservoir to enhance production

 Fracture media and proppant dependent on reservoir

Well flows back until gas cut

Well shut-in and tied to production equipment

 Basin specific due to reservoir and gathering system parameters

Flow back well to separation equipment until well pressure 

safe to rig up

 Possibility of lasting weeks

 Gas directed to sales

 Liquids collected in tank

Run production tubing

Operate well

3 
—

Reduced DJ Emission Completion CH4 Emissions Emissions

Average Estimated Revenue 

Year Wells Frac’d Vent Time Gas Lost Lost1 

Days MMSCF M$ 

2006 590 0.08 19.7 137.7 

2007 636 0.08 21.2 148.4 

2008 310 0.08 10.3 72.3 

Average2 613 0.08 20.5 143.1 

1 Based on EPA STAR $7 gas 

2 2006 and 2007 

Average DJ Economic Benefit Average DJ Economic Benefit

Completion Wells Frac’d Method 

Conventional 421 

Green 613 

Comparison +192 

G vs. C 

Average Vent

Time

Days/well

12 

0.08 

Estimated 

Gas Vented

MMSCF

2072.6 

20.5 

-2052.1 

Revenue

Lost

$6.2 MM 

$143.1 M 

+$6.1 MM 

4 
Natural Buttes Reduced Emission Completions Natural Buttes Reduced Emission Completions

Began using Breco skid late 2005 through

3rd quarter 2006 

Designed internal system which is currently

used 

Fracture materials separated from gas 

stream 

Gas stream directed to gathering system 

Began using Breco skid late 2005 through

3rd quarter 2006

Designed internal system which is currently

used

Fracture materials separated from gas 

stream

Gas stream directed to gathering system

Natural Buttes Completion Benefit Natural Buttes Completion Benefit

Flow Time 

Through Wells Breco Completed 

Avg. hrs 

138 80 

1 Based on traded gas price 

Cumulative

Gas

MMSCF

3.9 

Breco Cost 

$ p/well 

$6,341 

Gas Saved 

Revenue1 

$ p/well 

$25,710 

Difference 

$ p/well 

$19,369 

5 
Environmental Benefits Environmental Benefits

Reduction of vented VOCs and HAPs 

Reduction of GHG compounds 

 CH4 21 times more potent than CO2 

Possibility of recycling stimulation fluids 

Reduces combustion byproducts 

Reduction of vented VOCs and HAPs

Reduction of GHG compounds

 CH4 21 times more potent than CO2

Possibility of recycling stimulation fluids

Reduces combustion byproducts

Reduced Emission Completion Restrictions letion Restrictions

Methodology employed dependent on Methodology employed dependent on

reservoir characteristics

Areas where nitrogen or carbon dioxide are

used to enhance fracture fluid

 Sales gas specifications Sales gas specifications

 Flaring utilized

Gathering s Gathering system pressure stem pressure

 Gas compression may be required

6 
Future Plans Future Plans

Continue to utilize green completion

practices 

Evaluate new green completion techniques

and production methods 

practices

and production methods

Contact Information Contact Information

Korby Bracken, P.E. 

Anadarko Petroleum Corporation 

1099 18th Street 

Denver, CO 80202 

P: (720) 929-6623 

E: Korby.Bracken@anadarko.com 

Korby Bracken, P.E.

Anadarko Petroleum Corporation

1099 18th Street

Denver, CO 80202

P: (720) 929-6623

E: Korby.Bracken@anadarko.com

7 
Questions or Comments?

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