Meeting Our Commitments

Preserving Air Quality

Preserving air quality in the PAPA is a priority for Ultra, Shell and QEP Energy. We have implemented aggressive, and in many cases voluntary, measures that significantly reduce our emissions. We have also actively supported area air quality monitoring and studies.

Measures designed to reduce nitrogen oxide (NOx) and volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions field wide include:

• Investing in Liquids Gathering Systems (LGSs) to reduce VOC emissions associated with tanks as well as NOx emissions associated with regular tanker truck trips.
• Using Selective Catalyst Reduction (SCR) technology on the field’s drilling rig engines. This catalyst technology can reduce NOx emissions by more than 90 percent.
• Implementing controls on exhaust from heat trace pumps and change out separator controllers to low or no-bleed devices.
• Working with the BLM and WGFD and use a Wildlife Monitoring and Mitigation Matrix that utilizes performance based measures to aggressively monitor for emerging wildlife and habitat trends.
• Applying current control requirements to older locations that were grandfathered under less stringent emissions regulations.
• Expanding remote and automatic well monitoring and computer assisted operations to further reduce emissions from truck trips.
• Increasing our inspection of emissions control equipment to reduce fugitive emissions within our operations, including the use of FLIR optical gas camera inspections or other technologies.
• Developing annual ozone contingency plans for short-term emission reductions to be implemented if the Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality (WDEQ) determines conditions are favorable for the formation of ozone. Learn more about winter ozone in Sublette County.
• Continuing to review feasibility of electrification of facilities in the field to further reduce NOx as infrastructure becomes available.

Ultra, Shell and QEP Energy were part of a group of natural gas operators (including Encana and BP) that funded a reference guide to provide general facts about air quality management in Sublette County. Access the guide here »

Installing Selective Catalyst Reduction technology (SCR), pictured above, on drilling rigs can reduce NOx emissions
by more than 90 percent.

A Liquids Gathering System is one example of the technology the operators are using to help reduce emissions. Shown above is a pipeline Right of Way (ROW) where some of the liquids gathering system pipelines were laid and then immediately reclaimed.

These emission reduction efforts are working. We have reduced NOx emissions to below 2005 levels and were awarded the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM’s) 2009 Environmental Best Management Practices Award for Responsible Stewardship of Air Resources in the PAPA.

Fact sheet: Air Quality in the PAPA
Presentation: Protecting Air Quality in the PAPA
Pinedale Air Toxics Study

Conserving and Protecting Water

Water is a precious resource and Ultra, Shell and QEP Energy are committed to conserving and protecting it. We implement water supply well Best Management Practices (BMPs) in the PAPA, and set a high standard for, and continually work to improve our water conservation and protection efforts. This includes:

• Reducing the use of fresh water during our operations by recycling and reuse.
• Supporting the Interim Groundwater/ Aquifer Pollution Prevention, Mitigation and Monitoring Plan established in December 2008, which includes funding for a groundwater characterization study and to augment existing monitoring programs.
• Taking precautions to provide that the natural gas development process does not impact underground drinking water sources. Read about hydraulic fracturing here.

BMPs for water supply wells include:

• Installing back flow prevention devices on all active water supply wells
• Locking all inactive water wells to prevent unauthorized use or access
• Conducting baseline sampling of new water wells
• Using hydrocarbon free lubricants in water supply well construction

Fact Sheet: Water in the PAPA
Presentation: Protecting Water Resources in the PAPA

In the PAPA, operators develop gas that is located more than 7000 feet below the surface, locked in place by an impermeable rock barrier.

Preserving Wildlife and Habitat

Ultra, Shell and QEP Energy are balancing Wyoming’s resources in the PAPA by efficiently developing natural gas while minimizing the potential for impacts to wildlife and surrounding wildlife habitat. Our teams are staffed with biologists and environmental specialists that work cooperatively with the BLM and Wyoming Game and Fish Department (WGFD) to conserve the world-class resources of this diverse region while meeting our nation’s energy demands. We have:

• Voluntarily established the Pinedale Anticline Livestock & Agriculture Mitigation fund to provide compensation for demonstrated direct impacts to ranching and livestock operations that may occur as a result of development activities in the PAPA.
• Implemented the Pinedale Anticline Operators’ Monitoring and Mitigation Fund to provide financial support for monitoring and mitigating impacts directly related to our development activities. We’ve committed to a total contribution of up to $36 million.
• Work with the BLM and WGFD and use a Wildlife Monitoring and Mitigation Matrix that utilizes performance based measures to aggressively monitor for emerging wildlife and habitat trends.
• Contributed more than $4.9 million to study habitat and behaviors of mule deer (study completed), pronghorn antelope and sage grouse:
  a. Mule Deer Study
  c. Pronghorn Study
  d. Sage-Grouse Study

Pronghorn on the Pinedale Anticline. Our teams are staffed with biologists and environmental specialists who work to conserve the world-class resources of the diverse region while meeting the nation’s energy demand.

With predictable development via the SEIS ROD, we are concentrating our activity to minimize the potential for habitat disturbance, deploying world-class drilling technology, utilizing Liquids Gathering Systems, and initiating reclamation efforts earlier to minimize the potential for impact our operations may have on the surrounding environment and wildlife.

Fact Sheet: Preserving Wildlife and Habitat in the PAPA
Fact Sheet: Funding Important Research
Presentation: Wildlife and Habitat in the PAPA