Spills & Their Causes

STEPs of PA Meeting

March 27, 2013

Total Number of Confirmed Spills: 788

2011 – 345 2012 – 365 2013 – 78

NC – 228 NC – 292 NC – 64

NW – 69 NW – 63 NW – 11

SW – 48 SW – 10 SW – 3

Totals by Region

NC – 584 NW – 143 SW – 61

Spills: 2011 - 2012

Equipment Failure 35%

Human Error 26%

Inadvertent Return

17%

Lack of Maintenance

10%

Vehicle Accident 6%

Intentional Discharge

3%

Vandalism 2%

Other 1%

Explosion 0%

2011 - 2013 Data

Equipment Failure

44%

15%

10%

8%

6%

5%

3% 3% 2% 2%

1%

1%

0% 0%

0% Line Failure

Faulty Valve

Gasket/Seal Failure

Tank Leak or Failure

Failed Pressure Test

Secondary Containment Failure

Fluids Through Flare Stack

Pumpjack Failure

Pump Failure

Leaking Separator

Wash Out

Leaking Pit

Leaking Packer

Rig Fire

Storm Damage

Equipment Failure – 35%

Human Error

29%

22% 18%

11%

6%

4% 3% 1% 1%

1%

1%

1% 1%

1%

Tank Overflow

Valve Left Open or Closed

Unsecured Transfer Line

Connection Not Secured

Tank Hatch/Cap Unsecured

Well Unloaded

Container Knocked Over

Improper Discharge of Top-Hole

Melted Tank

Overspray

Pit Overflow

Inadequate SecondaryContainmentLine Over Pressurized

Liner Puncture

Human Error – 26%

Inadvertent Returns

HDD 98%

Well Drilling 2%

Inadvertent Returns – 17%

Lack of Maintenance

Line Leak, Failure or Corrosion

50% Abandoned Well

Discharge 27%

Tank Corrosion 23%

Lack of Maintenance – 10%

Vehicle Accident

Tanks/Pipelines Damaged

85%

Truck Rollover 15%

Vehicle Accident – 6%

Intentional Discharge

Tank drainage 28%

Equipment Washing

17% Line Blowdown

17%

Truck Dumping 17%

Separator to Ground

11%

Brine Injection 5%

Tank Overflow 5%

Intentional Discharge – 3%

Vandalism

Bullet Holes 30%

Theft 30%

Valve Opened 30%

Line Cut 10%

Vandalism – 2%

Other

Stray Gas 60%

Frac Communication

30%

Annular Discharge 10%

Other – 1%

Explosion

Unknown Ignition Source 100%

Explosion – 0.15%

Most common Spill Sub Categories:

1. HDD (inadvertent return) – 17%

2. Line Failure (equipment failure) – 16%

3. Tank Overflow (human error) – 8%

4. Valve left open or closed (human error) – 6%

5. Damaged Equipment (vehicle accident) – 5%

5. Faulty Valve (equipment failure) – 5%

What Can be Learned?

Most common Substances Spilled:

1. Brine – 14%

2. Bentonite – 12%

3. Drilling Mud – 11%

4. Crude – 9%

5. Frac Flowback – 8%

What Can be Learned?

What Can be Learned?

< 5gal – 17%

< 1bbl – 49%

≥ 5bbl – 28%

≥ 10bbl – 20%

≥ 25bbl – 12%

≥ 50bbl – 8%

≥ 100bbl – 5%

≥ 150bbl – 2%

≥ 500bbl – 1%

Quantity Spilled:

1. Drilling deeper on stream bores rather than the minimum depth.

2. Routine maintenance plans and inspections for all equipment.

3. Better training of field staff and oversight on location.

4. Slow down & take your time!

What can be done to reduce spills!

Is your spill a reportable spill?

17% of all spills that have been discussed today fall in the less than 5 gallon range.

25 PA Code §78.66(a) & 25 PA Code §91.33(a) – require immediate notification of all spills regardless of quantity that cause or threaten pollution to the waters of the Commonwealth.

25 PA Code §78.66(b) – requires a reportable release of brine to be reported within 2 hours.

What type of cleanup is required?

Small Spills: • Less than 42 gallons

• At the well site

• No threat of pollution to waters of Commonwealth

• Visual cleanup

As per the Draft Spill Policy: Act 2: • Any spill may be cleaned up

via the Act 2 process.

Alternative Process: • Where the Responsible Party

does not elect to utilize the Act 2 process.

Questions ?

Chad Meyer Water Quality Specialist Supervisor Office of Oil and Gas Management

814.797.1191 cmeyer@pa.gov