Gas Well Workshop
First Session
Videos
The five videos for this session introduce viewers to gas
wells. The first two videos give a brief visual overview of well
types and infrastructure found in well fields, including a compressor station. The
third video discusses state
and federal laws. The fourth video discusses the variety of online
databases available for gaining information about gas
wells in West Virginia. The fifth video begins
our examination of gas wells.
Documents
There are three documents for this session. The
Basics explains some of the terms
we'll be using. West Virginia Laws gives an overview of the laws regulating oil and gas in this state. Online Databases provides links and tips on using some of the public online databases.
Access
to sites
Access to sites in our area has been fairly easy. Most are
not posted and do not have gates. We try our best to respect
others' property rights.
In 2011 we looked at four well sites in the Kanawha State Forest near Charleston. There was no impediment to access. The sites were next to recognized trails in a state park where well roads are also open for public access. We had a pleasurable day hiking from site to site.
Some wells we've looked at were next to a state road. Access was easy by car.
One well we looked at was by invitation of the surface owner. That property was gated and posted, but the surface owner was extremely interested to have us look at the well site. This is the well featured in the video for the third session. We were able to drive onto the well pad.
Talking with surface owners and neighbors has greatly expanded our knowledge of what happened at a well site. Where the pit actually was. How the waste was buried. It's helpful to record in some manner what surface owners say; they often have a lot to tell.
Here is a lawyer's recommendation about looking at well sites.
Abandoned Wells
Abandoned is a legal term. An abandoned well is a well whose operator has not reported production for a year or has not filed an annual production report. By law an abandoned well must be plugged within a limited period of time. It’s not uncommon for old wells that are barely producing to be abandoned. What sometimes happens, though, is that recently drilled wells have not had production reports filed with the Office of Oil and Gas. Those wells are also considered abandoned. In our experience, such a well will not automatically require plugging as the Office works with the operator to acquire the reports. The large number of abandoned wells in this state is a huge problem.
Study
Documents
The Office of Oil and Gas website is an important resource with databases, staff contact information, updates on the homepage and more.
For those interested there are two MSDS for the crude petroleum component of condensate.
State regulations should be looked at. The most important for us are found in 35SCR1 and 35CSR4. The new horizontal Marcellus rule document, 35CSR8, has been sent by the DEP to the legislature.
The Office of Oil and Gas' 20-year-old Erosion and Sediment Control Field Manual has just been replaced (end of May 2012). Industry's own RAPPS is more comprehensive. The Field Manual is still difficult to understand because of its presentation. Industry's RAPPS was created following a study done for the EPA in the Barnett shale region.
The General Water Pollution Control Permit for pits and land application was last revised in 1988.
The class' focus is on gas wells other than coalbed methane. Coalbed methane requires somewhat different procedures for production. There is a special coalbed methane rule in the state code (35CSR3) and special coalbed methane General Water Pollution Control Permit for disposal of produced water by land application. Some coalbed methane wells are drilled horizontally. This report prepared for the EPA discusses such a well in West Virginia.
YouTube
Session 1
Well
equipment
Infrastructure
Laws
Databases
Looking
at a site
Documents
Session
The Basics
West Virginia Laws
Online Databases
West
Virginia Regulations
35CSR1
35CSR2
35CSR3
35CSR4
35CSR5
35CSR6
35CSR7
35CSR8 (Horizontal Well Rule for legislature's approval)
Office of Oil and Gas Website
http://www.dep.wv.gov/oil-and-gas/Pages/default.aspx
Office
of Oil and Gas Documents
General
Water Pollution Control Permit
New
Erosion and Sediment Control Field Manual
Study
Documents
Session
1
Legal right to look at well sites
West Virginia Legislature audit of state abandoned well program
West
Virginia coalbed methane well study for EPA
Condensate
MSDS
Another
condensate MSDS
Coalbed
methane General Water Pollution Control Permit
RAPPS
Manual
Study
for EPA in Barnett Shale region
Also see the special topics that came up during the 2012 Workshop first session conference calls.
2013 Gas Well Workshop
About the Workshop
Session 1
Session 2
Session 3
Materials Used for the Workshop
Reporting Wells
Gas Well Study is the examination of natural gas wells in West Virginia.
Underground Injection Control Class 2 Wells
These wells are used either for the disposal of oil and gas liquid waste or for the enhanced recovery of oil or natural gas.
Gas Well Study Site Visits
Annual reports, environmental assessments, and individual well information.
YouTube Videos
Select videos from the Gas Well Study YouTube channel.
What Happened at Fernow
An investigation into what caused the vegetation death in the land application area after landspraying hydraulic fracture flowback waste.
The Spill at Buckeye Creek
An investigation into a spill from a Marcellus well site into Buckeye Creek in Doddridge county.