--> Abstract: The "Geologic Review Process" - A Permitting Process for Minimizing Environmental Impacts of Wetland Drilling, by C. J. John, B. J. Harder, R. Hinds, and F. Dunham; #90987 (1993).

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JOHN, CHACKO J., and BRIAN J. HARDER, Louisiana Geological Survey, Baton Rouge, LA; ROCKY HINDS, Coastal Management Division, Department of Natural Resources, Baton Rouge, LA; and FRED DUNHAM, Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, Baton Rouge, LA

The "Geologic Review Process" - A Permitting Process for Minimizing Environmental Impacts of Wetland Drilling

Most of South Louisiana's hydrocarbon resources are located in coastal wetland areas of the state. To gain access to these oil and gas reserves, well access canals are dredged through fragile wetlands resulting in substantial direct wetland loss and long-term secondary impacts. Together these impacts have been responsible for almost half of the total wetland loss that has occurred in the past and is occurring today. It has been estimated that if the current wetland loss trend (25-50 sq mi/year) continues unabated, more than one million acres of Louisiana's coastal wetlands will be lost which will reduce commercial fish and wildlife harvests and revenues by almost 70%.

The Geologic Review Program was initiated by the Coastal Management Division of the Louisiana Department of Natural Resources to minimize the environmental impact on wetlands without hindering the exploration and exploitation of the essential oil and gas reserves. This process allows all the state and federal environmental agencies as well as other agencies concerned with wetland drilling to come together and comment on a requested drilling permit at the same time. This process has helped reduce wetland loss resulting from oil and gas activities by requiring directional drilling of wells from existing waterways, slips, or other less environmentally sensitive areas when it is economically prudent and can be justified based on the company's geological and engineering analysis. In 1982, well location had an average ring levee dimension of 500' x 500' (150 m x 150 m) impacting 5.74 acres. Currently, the largest permitted ring levee can only be 400' x 350' (120 m x 105 m) which impacts only 3.21 acres of wetlands and does not hinder accessibility to the target oil and gas reservoirs.

Since its inception, the Geologic Review process has reduced the total average wetland disturbed area from 767 acres per year in 1982 to approximately 76 acres per year in 1991. Average canal lengths have also been decreased by approximately 78%. This Geologic Review process provides a successful model by creating a forum for constructive discussions and solutions of problems between agencies and drilling applicants who all have the common goal of efficient oil and gas extraction and the preservation of renewable wetland resources.

AAPG Search and Discovery Article #90987©1993 AAPG Annual Convention, New Orleans, Louisiana, April 25-28, 1993.