Marginal Wells

Marginal Well Pump Jack

Objectives:

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a final rule on June 3, 2016 to amend the New Source Performance Standards (NSPS, 40 CFR Part 60, Subpart OOOOa) to reduce methane emissions from new and modified oil and natural gas facilities. The rule removes Leak Detection and Repair (LDAR) exemptions for “marginal” wells; oil wells which produce <15 barrel (bbl) per day or gas wells that produce <90 thousand cubic feet (MCF) per day. The cost of compliance may disproportionally impact small oil and gas operators of the almost 760,000 marginal wells located throughout the United States.

The objective of this research is to measure methane emissions and draw quantifiable conclusions on the extent of emissions from marginal wells across oil and gas producing regions of the U.S. Results will be compared to published data available on emissions from non-marginal wells.

Summary:

  • Literature and operator surveys
    • Received responses representing 86,700 wells in 29 basins in 23 states
  • Database compilation and statistical analysis
    • Activity and operations data
    • Major equipment inventory

  • Region one measurements are complete
  • Currently planning region two measurements for fall 2020

  • Project Reporting
  • Stakeholder engagement and communication
    • Operators, Regulators, EPA, etc.

Opportunities to Participate:

Interested in participating?  There are several ways to engage in this project:

Funding Provided by:

DOE NETL Award DE-FE0031702

CSU is a subcontract to GSI Environmental Inc.

Collaborators:

GSI Environmental Inc.