Table of Contents

Vol. 7, No. 2
2nd Quarter 2001

NETL has Vision to bring Carbon Sequestration Concept to Commercial Deployment by 2010

DOE’s National Energy Technology Lab (NETL) is seeking to define carbon sequestration’s role in stabilizing atmospheric carbon dioxide levels by developing a scientific understanding and environmentally acceptable technologies. 

The primary emphasis of the Carbon Sequestration Program is to develop the applied science and new technologies for cost-effective carbon management and sequestration. Program activities range in scope from laboratory and modeling studies of system phenomena through field tests. These activities are managed as a portfolio, recognizing that the knowledge about this field of science and technology is in its infancy and is rapidly evolving.

The program has established highly interactive relationships with industry, academia and other federal and state agencies. This provides the necessary foundation for cost-effective partnerships in science and technology planning, development, testing, and verification.

For more information, log on to www.netl.doe.gov/coalpower/sequestration/refshelf.html. The website is designed to answer your questions about carbon sequestration—from the basics to specific technical information.

MMS—Environmental Risk from Chemical Usage in Deepwater Offshore

A recent study (#2001-11) conducted by the U.S. Department of the Interior's Minerals Management Service (MMS) reports that only two chemicals, zinc bromide and ammonium chloride, exhibit the potential for environmental impact in the deepwater offshore.
In evaluating environmental risks, MMS developed an inventory of chemicals used in the Gulf of Mexico using data received from three major energy companies operating in the shallow and deep waters. This data was supplemented with annual reports provided in World Oil magazine, Material Safety Data Sheets, and a review of Hudgins' 1991 report on chemical usage in the North Sea. Four chemical classes were identified according to usage: (1) drilling fluid; (2) cementing; (3) completion, stimulation, and workover; and (4) production.

A searchable database was developed from the inventory. In the deepwater offshore, only eight hazardous substances were found to be stored in amounts exceeding reportable quantities. Of these, when modeling efforts were integrated with toxicity data, only zinc bromide and ammonium chloride indicated the potential for environmental impact. Findings are being used by MMS to modify reporting requirements from operators in the Gulf of Mexico.

For more information, contact the Environmental Sciences Section (MS 5430), 1201 Elmwood Park Boulevard, New Orleans, Louisiana 70123-2394, telephone (504) 736-2752 or online at http://www.gomr.mms.gov/homepg/whatsnew/techann/techann.html.

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"Quickcheck" Site Checklist for Independents

A "Quickcheck" site checklist is now available to help operators evaluate their well and lease operations for potential environmental problems, a "stay out of trouble" checklist so to speak. A video is also available. The checklist, which targets smaller independent producers, was developed by the Integrated Petroleum Environmental Consortium (IPEC), a consortium of four universities in Oklahoma and Arkansas: The University of Tulsa, The University of Oklahoma, Oklahoma State University, and The University of Arkansas at Fayetteville. 

IPEC staff worked closely with regulatory officials from Arkansas, Oklahoma, and the Osage Agency of the Bureau of Indian Affairs to develop the checklist. Thus, the checklist incorporates the perspectives of those producers must report to. To deliver the checklist to those most in need, IPEC is working with the regulatory groups to have their field inspectors deliver the checklist and other information into producers' hands. The checklist is also available on IPEC's website under technology transfer (http://ipec.utulsa.edu/Ipec/TechTran.html) as are summaries of operations-oriented environmental research projects that IPEC has been associated with.

IPEC's annual International Petroleum Environmental Conference will be held in Houston this year from November 6-9. Check the IPEC website for developing information on this oil and gas-focused environmental conference. 

For additional information, contact Ms. Pat Hall (phone 918-631-3003 or patricia-hall@utulsa.edu) or IPEC Director, Dr. Kerry Sublette (phone 918-631-3085 or kerry-sublette@utulsa.edu).