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Missing Well Locations: An Environmental Risk Assessment and Regulatory Problem for Louisiana

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The focus of this project was to examine 48,953 well permits and create a digital database of the locations from various public records. The Basin Research Institute(BRI), Louisiana State University, in cooperation with the Louisiana Department of Natural Resources, Office of Conservation, obtained paper records of each well permit. Using various purchased commercial oil and gas, mapping and surveying software and data management programs, (GeoGraphix, Arcview, AutoCAD Map and ProCogo) a digital latitude and longitude for each of the missing wells was obtained. Through careful examination we were able to obtain locations for 48,577 permits of the 48,953 that were missing coordinates. In our study it was determined that 89 permits were erroneously listed in the existing database and therefore should be removed from the database. As a result of incomplete and illegible information coordinates could not be determined for 193 permits, and no permit records were found for 94 wells. Each permit was placed in one of the following databases as determined by the well status code (Appendix A): Active Producing Wells (11,450,1706 ); completed 11,444 permits, 4 permits could not be found, and no determination could be made for 2 permits. Shut-in Productive Wells (2,305,1706 ); completed 2,300 permits, 4 permits could not be found, and no determination could be made for 1 permit. Abandoned Wells- Active Producer (17,513,1706 ); completed 17,432 permits, 40 permits could not be found, no determination could be made for 41 permits. Wells- Dry Hole (9,029,1706 ); completed 8,893 permits, 9 permits could not be found, no determination could be made for 127 permits. Wells- Permit Expired (7,083,1706 ); completed 7,036 permits, 29 permits could not be found, no determination could be made for 18 permits. Wells- No Status (1,573,1706 ); completed 1,561 permits, 8 permits could not be found, no determination could be made for 4 permits. The newly created databases which are now available in both digital and hard copy format will help Louisiana implement risk-based regulatory policies, streamline existing policies, and provide industry and the public with access to information for all phases of the oil and gas business.

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Last Updated September 29, 2016, 15:02 (LMT)
Created September 29, 2016, 15:02 (LMT)
Citation Brian Harder, Chacko John ---- Roy Long, Missing Well Locations: An Environmental Risk Assessment and Regulatory Problem for Louisiana, 2016-09-29, https://edx.netl.doe.gov/dataset/missing-well-locations-an-environmental-risk-assessment-and-regulatory-problem-for-louisiana
Netl Product yes
Poc Email Roy.long@netl.doe.gov
Point Of Contact Roy Long
Program Or Project KMD
Publication Date 2003-4-1