Analysis of Potentially Catastrophic

US Oil and Gas Wells

Matthew Duprey

Professor Metts

12/8/14

The Project

• Factors incorporated in determining risk level:

• Depth of well

• Amount of oil or natural gas produced per well

• Proximity to major cities

• Proximity to water sources:

• Streams

• lakes and reservoirs

• “principal aquifers” (defined by the USGS)

• Proximity to water sources with existing levels of pollution

Rationale and Potential Use

• Financial and practical purposes for federal/ state Departments of

Environmental Protection

Step 1: Refine the Variables

Step 2: Define “Dangerous” Criterion

• Water Sources:

• Streams:

• Close to stream = < 800 Meters (about

0.5 miles) from stream

• Lakes:

• On lake = < 1 Meter from lake

• Close to Lake = < 1610 meters (about 1

mile) from lake

• Aquifers:

• Close to aquifer = 0 meters from aquifer

• Internal Well Characteristics and Proximity to Major

Cities

• Deep well

• A well that is more than 12,000 feet deep

• High Producing well

• A one-mile radius with more than 129

producing wells

• Proximity to Major Cities

• Close to major city = < 32,200 meters

(about 20 miles) from major city

Step 3: Convert the Data Into The Same Projection System

• (WGS 1984 and NAD 80 USA Contiguous Albers Equal Area Conic USGS Version)

Step 4: Select by Attribute: All Wells into Deep Wells

Step 4 (Continued) Select by Attributes: All Wells into High Producing Wells

Step 5: Merge of High Producing and Deep Wells

Step 6: Use of Near Tool

Final Results

Sources of Images

• http://a57.foxnews.com/global.fncstatic.com/static/managed/img/U.S./876/493/NDoilspill1.jpg?ve=1&tl=1

• http://setexasrecord.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/EPA_logo-150x150.jpg

• http://www.nmoga.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/bigstock-Oil-Well-And-Storage-Tanks-307094.jpg?2bcc40