Managing Risk: The Case of Wastewater Storage in Shale Gas Development
Experts discussed new research on the risks associated with storage pits versus tanks, and the choices states have made to regulate storage options.
Event Details
The nation's oil and gas wells generate billions of gallons of wastewater each year—and with the increase in reuse and recycling of this wastewater, more of it is being stored at the surface for longer periods of time. While practices and technologies continue to evolve, states have taken a variety of approaches toward regulating wastewater storage in order to minimize the risk of leaks and spills to surface water, groundwater, and land.
Researchers at Resources for the Future (RFF) have examined several wastewater storage options in detail. RFF’s Yusuke Kuwayama opened the webinar by discussing his new research on the risks associated with storage pits versus tanks, and the choices states have made to regulate storage options.
During the second half of the webinar, Adam Peltz from Environmental Defense Fund discussed public priorities for oil and gas wastewater storage, and Dan Yates from the Ground Water Protection Council introduced the State Oil and Gas Regulatory Exchange, a peer-review program designed to help state regulators examine and improve their rule-making across a range of unconventional oil and gas development activities.
