RIASSUNTO
Abstract
Environmental protection has played an integral role in the development and operation of the Elk Hills field since production at the maximum efficient rate was authorized in production at the maximum efficient rate was authorized in 1976. The field is located in a non-attainment area for California and National Ambient Air Quality Standards for two criteria pollutants and their associated precursors, is home to four endangered species, and operates within the California regulatory framework. Environmental protection and regulatory compliance is a multi-faceted program carried out through a substantial commitment of resources and workforce involvement. This paper describes the actions taken and resources employed to protect the environment, specific technologies and projects implemented, and the ongoing nature of these efforts at Elk Hills.
Introduction
Exploration and production (E and P) operations have a wide range of environmental concerns, and corresponding requirements for permitting and reporting. Programs in place at Naval Petroleum Reserve No. 1 (NPR-1), known as Elk Hills, address many of the concerns confronting the E and P sector of the U.S. petroleum industry due to the field's location, size, and blend of oil and gas operations. Elk Hills consists of approximately 47,409 acres located in western Kern County, California. It is located about 25 miles southwest of Bakersfield and 100 miles north of Los Angeles, as shown in Figure 1. The field was designated a Naval Petroleum Reserve by an Executive Order in 1912, as an emergency source of liquid fuel for the military; 10,360 acres of these lands were owned by Standard Oil of California, now Chevron USA, Inc. (CUSA). Elk Hills Unit Operations was formed in 1944 according to the terms of a Unit Plan Contract between the U.S. Government and Standard Oil. The federal government's interest is approximately 78%, and CUSA's interest is approximately 22%.
Prior to 1976, operations at Elk Hills were limited to Prior to 1976, operations at Elk Hills were limited to production in the 1920s, relatively intensive wartime activity production in the 1920s, relatively intensive wartime activity in 1944-45, and minimal CUSA operations during the period 1945-1976. In response to the Arab oil embargo, Congress passed the Naval Petroleum Reserves Production Act of 1976 passed the Naval Petroleum Reserves Production Act of 1976 (Public Law 94-258). This authorized exploration and development to achieve maximum efficient rate (MER) production of Elk Hills and Naval Petroleum Reserve No. 3, production of Elk Hills and Naval Petroleum Reserve No. 3, Teapot Dome, for an initial six year period. The Act provided the President discretion to extend production subsequently in three-year increments; each President has exercised this authority, most recently for a three-year period which began in April 1991.
Management of the Naval Petroleum Reserves was transferred from the U.S. Navy to the Department of Energy (DOE) when the DOE was formed in 1977. The DOE is the operator of Elk Hills, sharing management with CUSA through an Operating Committee.
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