There are a number of emerging technologies found in certain areas that offer low impact solutions to protect the environment. The industry has developed small footprint rigs, for example the Huisman LOC 250, LOC 400 and the National Oilwell VARCO Rapid Rig. The DOE funded effort microhole drilling program identified a number of technologies is the prospect of greatly reducing the cost of drilling shallow- and moderate-depth holes for exploration, field development, long-term subsurface monitoring, and to a limited degree, actual oil and gas production. The EFD program developed the concept of alternative power solutions for unconventional natural gas activities, including rig and production activities. TAMU and M-I SWACO have formed a partnership to integrate membrane water desalination technology into rig site waste management practices.

 

All of these programs are at the tipping point of profitability and acceptance by the industry. If the costs of these processes can be reduced, and their benefit to low impact drilling realized by the public and policy makers, then many unconventional natural gas developments that are uneconomic today could become economically viable in the future. The goal is to demonstrate the viability of the technology as a lower-cost, lower-environmental impact technology that can benefit domestic exploration and production.

 

Huisman has agreed to provide a LOC 400 rig at substantially reduced rates for demonstrating its ability to drill with minimal environmental impact for less cost and with safer operations. M-I SWACO has provided engineering time and cash to integrate waste minimization technology stat the rig site. The various projects making up the microhole project are to be integrated into the Systems Engineering Model and the alternate power project will be developed so that the entire rig operations can powered at lower cost with less emissions than conventional operations.

 

During 2008, the EFD team proved the feasibility of adopting technology to reduce the size of the power generating equipment and to provide “peak loading” energy through the use of new energy generating and energy storage devices. Energy storage issues have kept this technology undeveloped until now, when the RPSEA program will combine it with the other emerging technologies into a prototype small footprint rig system ready to deploy in field operations.