The leadership at Waste Analytics has more than 25 years of waste management and environmental experience in the oil and gas industry. We gather and provide information regarding upstream oil and gas wastes that can be used to assess risks. Call now to learn more about our products and data offerings, which includes the type and volume of wastes generated by each company, the disposal methods used, the Estimated Environmental Liability (EEL) and our FEER Rating™.
The Waste Analytics FEER Rating™ provides an easy way to compare and contrast the waste management performance of oil and gas companies. We developed the rating system to take into account both the economic and environmental aspects of drilling wastes so that you can glean insight into how each company is managing their wastes. To learn how you can use this information to assess risks for oil and gas companies, email us today at info@wasteanalyticsllc.com.
Most oil and gas companies disclose in their annual reports and filings that changes to regulations surrounding drilling wastes could have a material adverse effect on their business and prospects. When evaluating a company's risks, it's important to understand what impacts such changes would have, as well as the likelihood of those changes occurring. Utilizing our extensive experience in managing drilling wastes, along with standard methods for calculating monetary costs and liabilities for environmental matters, we have calculated the Estimated Environmental Liability (EEL) for each company’s drilling wastes, based on the amount of wastes generated and the disposal methods utilized. Contact us today to learn more.
The Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) recommends that companies report on their wastes by type and disposal method; yet most oil and gas companies do not currently include this information in their ESG/Sustainability reports. Waste Analytics compiles information through various sources and derives this information for our clients. Give us a call today to learn more about our unique data offerings.
Waste Analytics' President Blake Scott discusses oil and gas wastes and SDG 12 in this article for Impakter.com.
"One major waste stream that warrants sustainability due diligence is oil and gas drilling waste (sometimes referred to as fracking waste). This waste is comprised of the rock cuttings (created when drilling an oil or gas well) and the associated drilling mud used in drilling operations. Drilling waste is comprised of a solids-laden liquid portion (drilling fluids) and a solid portion (drilled cuttings) and is generally classified according to the type of drilling mud used to drill each section of the wellbore..."
We have often compared drilling waste (e.g. fracking waste) to coal ash. In the U.S., the oil & gas sector and the utilities (coal) sector produce similar volumes of solid waste each year, and both industries received exemptions from RCRA Subtitle C regulations, which governs how they manage their wastes. However, these regulatory exemptions do not mitigate all risks associated with the wastes, and as time progressed, it became evident that coal ash, while not "hazardous" by definition, can cause costly contamination if not properly managed. Over the past several years, the utilities sector has had to address how it manages its wastes, and is facing billions of dollars in cleanup and remediation expenses from past practices. Does the oil & gas sector face similar regulatory risks? How much will it cost to clean up oil and gas wastes? Call us today to learn more about what lessons we can learn by comparing these two industries.
Read more about the issues the coal sector is facing by clicking the link below.
This case study by Jeff Tyson, our Head of Environmental Research and Analytics, outlines our findings after reviewing ESG/Sustainability disclosures of 46 public oil and gas companies in the U.S. Overall, these companies are not disclosing information about the wastes they generate. This paper explains why, and provides information on potential use cases of waste data for risk assessment and ESG/SRI investing.
Drilling wastes often contain various chemicals of potential concern, and can be a significant component of an operator's well cost and liability. How a company manages their wastes should be an integral part of your risk assessment. Contact Waste Analytics today to learn more about our oil and gas waste data and product offerings.
Click below to download Evaluating Drivers of Liability, Risk, and Cost while Enhancing Sustainability for Drilling Waste presented at the 2017 American Association of Drilling Engineers Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition.
E&P wastes are exempt from federal hazardous waste rules, and there are currently no minimum national standards for the disposal of E&P wastes in the U.S. Most oil and gas companies admit that changes to these regulations could have a material impact on their bottom line, and the USEPA has been receiving increasing pressure to update these regulations. What does that mean for the companies affected? How will changes to these rules and regulations effect their profitability and value, or their ability to service their debt? We can help you understand these risks. Give us a call today to learn how.
Click the link below to read a complaint filed in federal court against the USEPA regarding oil and gas wastes.
Drilling wastes are commonly disposed of by simply burying the wastes on-site, or spreading it onto fields or up and down county roads, often without appropriate testing prior to disposal. Drilling wastes are often comprised of complex mixtures of chemicals, including salts, heavy metals, and hydrocarbons, and can sometimes contain Naturally Occurring Radioactive Materials (NORM). While legal, these waste practices can pose significant environmental risks, such as groundwater pollution. Email Waste Analytics today to learn more.
An example of groundwater contamination from drilling wastes is in Pavillion, Wyoming, where experts state that unlined disposal pits definitely polluted groundwater. Follow the link below to read the full story at the Caspar Star Tribune.