EPA seeks comments on significant changes to oil and gas industry production facilities

Submitted by Scott Smith, Smith Management Group

On Aug. 23, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published notification of significant changes and expansion of coverage regarding air emissions from various oil and natural gas industry production facilities. 

The proposed new air standards will cover emissions from:

• Approximately 25,000 wells that are fractured and refractured each year;
• Gathering and booster stations;
• Compression stations; and
• Processing plants.

One idea proposed would require “green completions” for wells to reduce VOC emissions. Green completions require special equipment to be used to separate gas and liquid hydrocarbons from the flowback from the well as it is being prepared for production. Comments on these proposed regulations must be received on or before Oct. 24.