Paper: Oil And Gas Reclamation In Arid Soils

EOG Resources, Inc., in cooperation with surface management agencies, has pursued numerous methods to help minimize potential adverse environmental impacts and to improve reclamation of well locations, access roads, and pipeline routes. Among the primary issues when considering the location of well pads, roads, and pipelines are slopes, drainage patterns, and vegetation. An attempt is made to utilize existing pads, roads, and pipeline corridors whenever possible to minimize additional disturbance and also to provide the opportunity for improved reclamation of old, inadequately reclaimed disturbances. Location sites with slopes greater than 24% and access roads that would require slopes greater than 10% are avoided. Every effort is made to eliminate the need for severe cuts, which inevitably leave unsightly topographic scars and potentially result in severe erosion on the slope face. It was not unusual in the past to lose significant amounts of soil from these cut areas. In addition, areas that would create unmanageable watershed issues or create excessive damage to critical winter range vegetation are also avoided.