Cumulative Environmental Effects of Oil and Gas Activities on Alaska's North Slope (2003) / Chapter Skim
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Appendix D: Oil-Field Technology and the Environment
Appendix D: Oil-Field Technology and the Environment
Pages 183-189
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From page 183... ...
Phillips Alaska, Inc., and Anadarko Petroleum Corporation's recent exploration success in the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska was an astonishing five successful wells of six drilled (Petroleum News Alaska 2001~. About 25 years ago, 3-D seismic technology was introduced.
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From page 184... ...
The 3-D seismic-data acquisition and 4-D visualization technologies provide a number of environmental benefits (DOE 1999~. They include more accurate exploration well siting that reduces the number of dry holes and the number and length of ice roads and the number of ice pads that have to be built; generation of less drilling waste and decreased volumes of materials that are thereby lessening the possibil ity of a spill or other accident; better understanding of flow mechanics so that less water is produced relative to oil or gas; and increased ability to tailor operations to protect sen sitive environments.
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From page 185... ...
Wells may be much more closely spaced, far larger areas can be developed from a single small pad, the mud systems are less toxic, and reserve pits have been eliminated. Coilecl Tubing The use of coiled tubing is particularly valuable in sensitive environments such as the North Slope.
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From page 186... ...
Multilateral drilling is most effective in reservoirs that have isolated accumulations in multiple zones, have oil above the highest perforations, have lens-shaped pay zones, are strongly directional, contain distinct sets of natural fractures, and are vertically segregated with low transmissibility. The environmental benefits are similar to those achieved with horizontal drilling and include fewer drilling sites and smaller footprints, less drilling fluids and cuttings, and protection of sensitive habitats and wildlife.
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From page 187... ...
The life of major oil fields on the North Slope is expected to be on the order of 30 to 40 years, occasionally as much as 50 years. During this time pipelines, production facilities, waste disposal systems, water treatment plants, injection facilities, road systems, and other specialized units continue to operate.
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From page 188... ...
Annular injection is an environmentally safe method of disposing of drilling muds and cuttings, and the injection of Class I and Class II materials into discrete disposal zones has provided a mechanism for the handling of produced formation waters and other associated wastes (API 1996~. APPENDIX D However, a large number of unclosed reserve pits remain at remote exploration well-sites.
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From page 189... ...
However, the placement of a pipeline at depth beneath a river could make detection and cleanup of a spill in the buried segment difficult. The preexisting and predominant North Slope pipeline technology presents impediments to caribou movement when in close proximity to roads, and river crossings are sites of potential severe environmental consequences if a spill occurs.
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