Conducting Processes Safely

We work cooperatively with regulatory and other agencies to ensure that our drilling, fracture-stimulation, production and water-handling processes are conducted safely and in accordance with all applicable laws and regulations. These regulations are in place to ensure that produced water and all additives used in the fracture-stimulation process are properly handled, stored, recycled and/or disposed. Additionally, the laws require that personnel and first responders be made aware of all materials present at each well location.

Diagram of Well Construction and Casing Structure

As a producer, we are required by state and federal law (set forth in 29 C.F.R. §1910.1200) to keep Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS), which are prepared and provided by the third-party supplier. The MSDS describe the additives used in fracture stimulation in detail at each well location. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) regulations govern the content of the MSDS. Please note that OSHA sets the criteria for the disclosure of this information including protecting “trade secret” and "confidential” business information and how this information is reported on the MSDS. As such, any questions regarding the content of the MSDS should be directed to the supplier that provided it. Anadarko is not responsible for inaccurate and/or incomplete information in the MSDS. Information that is provided from the MSDS including the identity of product constituents are provided on the Ground Water Protection Council's public registry at FracFocus.org.

In addition to OSHA, other governmental agencies that provide regulatory oversight directly addressing various aspects of fracture stimulation, water management, well integrity and underground injection include:

• Bureau of Land Management (BLM),
  under the U.S. Department of the Interior;
• U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT);
• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA);
• State oil and natural gas regulatory agencies; and
• State environmental regulatory agencies.

Notably, EPA has previously studied hydraulic fracturing as it pertains to coalbed methane operations, which tend to occur in shallower formations that are in closer proximity to underground aquifers than opportunities in shale formations. The study, which was issued in 2004, determined that the hydraulic-fracturing process poses little to no risk to underground sources of drinking water. Recently, the EPA began another comprehensive review of the process with a broader scope that includes shale plays. We support a science-based examination of hydraulic fracturing and are committed to cooperating with the EPA throughout this process.