Examples of Cutting-Edge Environmental Technology Utilized at Williams Piceance Basin Operations, Parachute, Colorado

Dave Cesark
Williams Production RMT Company, Parachute, CO

Williams Production RMT Company (Williams) is currently developing the natural gas resources of the southern Piceance Basin located in northwestern Colorado on 10-acre bottom hole spacing, among the tightest spacing in the world. In order to minimize impact to the environment, Williams has taken a lead role in developing and implementing Best Management Practices (BMPs).

A BMP that has probably had one of the greatest positive impacts to date was the design and implementation of a heavy duty flow back unit that could handle the abrasive sand and high volume of water that have to be recovered from a well after it is hydraulically frac'ed. Flaring of natural gas immediately after frac'ing was a common practice to flow back this abrasive water/gas mixture. This state of the art unit has allowed Williams to essentially eliminate flaring of gas wells and thus allowed the capture of > 4 BCF of gas to date.

Williams recently ordered two new automated drilling rigs that represent a step change in technology compared to how wells are drilled today. These hydraulic, top-drive rigs are designed to be safer, with minimal environmental impact, and are more efficient than the conventional rigs used today. Williams will be among the first to put this new technology to a test here in North America.

AAPG Search and Discovery Article #90039©2005 AAPG Calgary, Alberta, June 16-19, 2005