GAS EMISSIONS – WHAT ARE WE DOING AND WHAT CAN WE DO ABOUT IT?

Gas emissions have always been a problem when drilling for oil and gas and when operating gas pipelines.  With the increase in government regulation and our environmental concerns, we continue to look for ways to reduce these emissions.  Join us to discuss these subjects with pipeline operators, pipeline integrity management, and others during this presentation.
WHO SHOULD ATTEND:  Pipeline Operators, Pipeline Integrity Management, oil and gas personnel interested in learning about gas emissions from pipelines.

Larry Payne
President of LP Services, LLC
Bus. Development Consultant for Pipeline Equipment
Tulsa, Oklahoma

NATIONAL TRENDS IN PRODUCED WATER TREATMENT AND REUSE
The presentation will provide information on national trends in produced water treatment and reuse based on state updates and coordination efforts conducted by the NM Produced Water Research Consortium in support of the US EPA’s National Water Reuse Program Plan. Since 2022, significant changes in produced water treatment and reuse data, legislation, and applications has taken place. The presentation will discuss major directions and highlight state acknowledgement of the environmental, economic, and water stewardship benefits of fit-for-purpose treatment and reuse of produced water. The presentation will help all stakeholders increase their awareness of the advantages of produced water treatment and reuse from both local and regional economic development opportunities and from the standpoint of public and environmental health and safety. Efforts at EPA will bring a national level change in how waste waters, including produced water, are considered, managed, and reused to support national water stewardship initiatives.

Mike Hightower
Associate Director
New Mexico Produced Water Research Consortium
Las Cruces, New Mexico

SUSTAINABLE IN-SITU PFAS MASS REMOVAL FROM SOIL, BEDROCK, AQUIFERS VIA SURFACTANT COLUMN FLUSHING STUDY
Surfactant enhanced extraction (SEE) of PFAS contaminants from source-zone areas has been demonstrated to be more cost-effective than P&T alone. This collaborative multi-year university column study work represents the first attempt to understand the potential of specialized surfactants to increase the mass removal rates of PFAS, at a scale using reagent concentrations that are environmentally applicable. Large diameter column tests were designed to measure the effectiveness of a specialized surfactant formulation to increase the concentration of PFAS (C4 to C12) compounds in aqueous phase, in simulated enhanced recovery experiments. Testing included mineral sands with 10% of activated carbon, showing effect of organics on PFAS sorption. The columns were saturated from the base, spiked with 250 mg PFOA and PFOS. Flush tests were undertaken. These experiments represented an effective novel approach for in-situ PFAS mass removal.

George (Bud) Ivey
President & Sr. Remediation Specialist
Ivey International, Inc.
Surrey, BC, Canada

KEY STRATEGIES FOR SUBPART RR MRV PLANS FOR CARBON SEQUESTRATION PROJECTS
To qualify for IRS 45Q tax credits for geologic carbon sequestration, operators must submit a Monitoring, Reporting, and Verification (MRV) Plan to the USEPA, as specified in Subpart RR of the USEPA Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program. MRV Plans include many of the same components as UIC injection well permit applications; however, there are a number of key differences that are important for developing an MRV Plan that will ensure regulatory approval and compliance and support incentive qualification. This presentation will provide insight on how to best navigate regulatory and incentive requirements for MRV Plans to ensure carbon sequestration project approval and compliance, and support incentive qualification. Proper application of MRV Plan regulations and guidance, along with appropriate utilization of UIC Class VI and Class II injection permit applications, will expediate the development of robust, practical, and cost-effective MRV Plans that streamline the permitting process, achieve maximum flexibility for future operations, and ensure qualification for financial incentives.

Danny Kingham
Sr. Associate Hydrogeologist
GSI Environmental, Inc.
Houston, Texas

A PROCESS FOR USING MULTIPLE LINES OF EVIDENCE FOR MORE RELIABLE CORROSION FAILURE ANALYSIS
There is an imperative need for a systematic and comprehensive process to analyze and integrate multiple lines of evidence (MLOE) for determining the causes of corrosion damage, particularly in the case of Microbiologically Influenced Corrosion (MIC). The correct diagnosis of corrosion/MIC causes is essential, not only for identifying effective mitigation and prevention, but also as a pivotal step towards advancing materials sustainability and reducing carbon emissions. A structured methodology for corrosion failure analysis guided by the latest research findings, consensus standards, guidelines, models, and advanced analytical techniques will be presented in this talk. The primary categories of evidence employed in diagnosing corrosion include, 1) operation and design, 2) the chemical environment, 3) the microbiological environment, and 4) materials and corrosion products. Advances in molecular microbiological methods (MMM) have also improved the availability of diagnostic data. The relationships between data in these categories and their interconnectedness for characterizing corrosion mechanisms is also discussed. The outcome of this process yields a list of objective, science-based observations supporting specific abiotic and/or biotic corrosion mechanisms. Learn about the latest methods and strategies for determining the cause of corrosion related damage and failures. The talk with cover abiotic corrosion and MIC assessments. Accurate corrosion failure analysis is essential for identifying effective mitigation and prevention measures and preventing future failures, reducing operating risks and costs.

Rick Eckert
Microbial Corrosion Consulting
Commerce, Michigan

Torben L. Skovhus
VIA Univ. College
Denmark