Permitting considerations for oil and gas development
Once an energy company has acquired their acreage through the leasing process they must follow a comprehensive set of reguations before any drilling activities occur in order to protect human health and the environment. In Pennsylvania the Department of Environmental Protection (PaDEP) issues most of the permits necessary for oil and gas development that relate to the environment and health and safety. It is common across the U.S. to have most oil and gas regulations at the state level however in certain cases federal laws or local ordinances may require permits to be obtained. The following is a summary of the major well development phases and associated permits and approvals that are necesarry for drilling, fracturing, and production activities in Pennsylvania and would be similar in most states.
Well Drilling
- PaDEP Oil or gas well drilling permit with well location plat, casing and cementing plan, threatened or endangered species survey, and property owner notifications
Fluids Use and Storage
- PaDEP Water Management Plan describing what water sources will be used, and how water will be transported, stored, and disposed
- Water allocation permits (either from PaDEP if in the Ohio River Basin or the Susquehanna River Basin Commission, SRBC)
- Approval of an impoundment or other temporary storage for both fresh water and production fluids
- Spill prevention plan that includes appropriate storage and secondary containment for a variety of chemicals
Waste Disposal
- Solid waste management plan for disposal of drilling cuttings at a permitted landfill or processing facility and treatment sludges
- Transportation of residual waste (solid and liquid waste) by licensed haulers
- Water Quality Management Permit for treatment/recycling facilities
- Federal permits for treated waste discharges and disposal wells
Road Use
- Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) Highway Occupancy Permit for road use permit for construction of access to state roadway
- Road use approvals and bonding for oil and gas operations (PennDOT or municipality)
Stream and Wetland Impacts
- Variety of permits for scenarios where infrastructure such as pipelines may cross streams and wetlands
Air Emissions
- PaDEP air quality permits for compression and processing facilities
Erosion and Sedimentation
- Erosion and sedimentation control permits for oil and gas construction activities where land disturbance is equal to or greater than 5 acres (well pads, compressors, pipelines, roadways, impoundments, etc)
Other Approvals
- Local zoning approvals and conditional use permits
- Federal permits for disposal of
This is not an exhaustive list of the permits necessary for oil and gas development but should give you the sense that there is a significant amount of permitting activities that need to occur prior to moving one teaspoon of soil or producing a molecule of methane at a well site. See the Pennsylvania state environmental regulations for unconventional oils and gas wells. Don't worry, we aren't going to make you memorize all the regulations, we just want you to know where to look for them. The timeframe to prepare, submit, and get approval for these permits may take months or even over a year. This requires energy companies to plan ahead to make sure they have the necessary permits prior to conducting oil and gas development activities. It should also be noted that permits may expire and require renewal so activities should occur when the permits are valid. The picture below shows an active drilling rig in northern Pennsylvania. As you can see there are multiple complex components to a drilling site, which requires regulation, oversight and compliance to avoid significant environmental impacts.
