Applying Technology to Safely Maximize Value
Anadarko's application of technology is key to unlocking the tremendous resource potential of the Marcellus Shale. It begins with horizontal drilling, which enables Anadarko to efficiently maximize access to the natural gas-bearing formation, while minimizing the amount of surface space needed to develop these resources. A second essential technology is hydraulic fracturing, which must be applied in order to produce the natural gas from the dense shale formation more than 7,000 feet beneath the Earth's surface. Anadarko has been a leader in publicly sharing hydraulic fracturing ingredients through the Groundwater Protection Council's FracFocus online registry. Through www.fracfocus.org anyone can access information on the application of hydraulic fracturing by county, state or operator at any time.
Appalachian Shale Recommended Practices Group (ASRPG)
As part of its commitment to safety and protection of the environment, Anadarko played a leading role in the development of the Recommended Standards and Practices for Exploration and Production of Natural Gas and Oil from Appalachian Shales. This set of standards and practices were developed to promote the effective safety, environmental and health practices consistent with the key recommendations of the U.S. Secretary of Energy's Advisory Board's (SEAB) final report issued in November 2011 and the National Petroleum Council's (NPC) Prudent Development report issued in September 2011. You may view the document here. To learn more visit www.ASRPG.org.
Water Management
Among the best practices employed by Anadarko in its Marcellus Shale operations are the “closed-loop system,” secondary containments, a triple-pad liner, the “eyes on” two-person fluid-transfer process, and continuous contractor trainings. Additionally, Anadarko has developed and implemented water-management strategies tailored to local geology and environmental conditions to protect and conserve water resources. The water-management system implemented in the Marcellus Shale moves water from an approved source through pipelines to freshwater-containment facilities for use in the hydraulic fracturing process. We capture flowback water into steel tanks, so it can be treated using newly developed water-filtration and recycling technologies, and then reuse it in future operations. These water-management and well-completion strategies reduce truck traffic and associated emissions, plus they minimize surface disturbance and enhance safety. Additional information is available under the Safeguarding Water section of our website.
Conducting Processes Safely
Safety and protection of the environment are paramount throughout Anadarko's operating areas. In the Marcellus Shale, Anadarko works under the direction of more than 20 government agencies that regulate natural gas drilling activity in Pennsylvania. These agencies include:
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
- U.S. Department of Transportation
- U.S. Department of Interior
- U.S. Department of Labor
- Pa. Department of Environmental Protection
- Pa. Department of Conservation and Natural Resources
- Pa. Fish and Boat Commission
- Susquehanna River Basin Commission
- Pa. Game Commission