Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Acoustics (Noise)
Primary sources of noise during the drilling/construction phase would be equipment
(bulldozers, drill rigs, and diesel engines). Other sources of noise include vehicu-
lar traffic and blasting. Blasting activities typically would be very limited, the pos-
sible exception being in areas where the terrain is hilly and bedrock shallow. With
the exception of blasting, noise would be restricted to the immediate vicinity of
the work in progress. Noise from blasting would be sporadic and of short duration
but would carry for long distances. If noise-producing activities occur near a resi-
dential area, noise levels from blasting, drilling, and other activities could exceed
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) guidelines. The movement of
heavy vehicles and drilling could result in frequent or continuous noise. Drilling
noise would occur continuously for 24 hours per day for one to two months or more
depending on the depth of the formation. Exploratory wells that end up becoming
injection wells would continue to generate noise during the sequestration phase.
Hazardous Materials and Waste Management
Solid and industrial wastes would be generated during the drilling/construction
phase. Much of the solid wastes would be expected to be nonhazardous, consider-
ing of containers and packaging materials, miscellaneous wastes from equipment
assembly and the presence of construction crews (food wrappers and scraps), and
woody vegetation. Industrial wastes would include minor amounts of paints, coat-
ings, and spent solvents. Most of these materials would likely be transported offsite
for disposal. In forested areas, commercial-grade timber could be sold, while slash
may be spread or burned near the well site. Drilling wastes include hydraulic flu-
ids, pipe dope, used oils and oil filters, rigwash, spilled fuel, drill cuttings, drums
and containers, spent and unused solvents, paint and paint washes, sandblast media,
scrap metal, solid waste, and garbage. Wastes associated with drilling fluids include
oil derivatives, such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), spilled chemicals,
suspended and dissolved solids, phenols, cadmium, chromium, copper, lead, mer-
cury, nickel, and drilling mud additives, including potentially harmful contaminants
such as chromate and barite. Adverse impacts could result if hazardous wastes are
not properly handled and are released to the environment.
G eoloGic S equeStration o perationS i mpactS
Typical activities during the operations phase include operation of wells and com-
pressor stations or pump stations, waste management, and maintenance and replace-
ment of facility components. Impacts could also result from the fact that a geologic
sequestration project could be linked to an enhanced oil recovery or enhanced coal-
bed methane recovery project.
Air Quality
The primary emission sources during the operations phase would include compres-
sor and pumping station operations, vehicle traffic, and operating wells. Venting of
carbon dioxide may occur during injection and pipeline maintenance operations.
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