Microsoft Office Outlook - Memo Style - Montana Board of Oil and Gas
Microsoft Office Outlook - Memo Style - Montana Board of Oil and Gas
Microsoft Office Outlook - Memo Style - Montana Board of Oil and Gas
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June23,2011<br />
Submittedviaemail:FracComments@mt.gov<br />
<br />
ThomasRichmond<br />
Administrator<br />
<strong>Montana</strong><strong>Board</strong><strong>of</strong><strong>Oil</strong><strong>and</strong><strong>Gas</strong>Conservation<br />
2535St.JohnsAvenue<br />
Billings,MT59102<br />
<br />
Re:NewRulesIthroughVregardingoil<strong>and</strong>gaswellstimulation<br />
<br />
DearMr.Richmond:<br />
<br />
Western Energy Alliance represents over 400 companies engaged in environmentally<br />
responsibleexploration<strong>and</strong>production<strong>of</strong>naturalgas<strong>and</strong>oilintheIntermountainWest,<br />
whereweestimatethat95%<strong>of</strong>allwellsarestimulatedviahydraulicfracturing(HF).We<br />
submit the following comments to the <strong>Montana</strong> <strong>Board</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Oil</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>Gas</strong> Conservation<br />
(“<strong>Board</strong>”)onNewRulesIthroughVregardingoil<strong>and</strong>gaswellstimulation.<br />
<br />
Onbehalfourmembercompanies,weappreciatetheopportunityto<strong>of</strong>ferourthoughts<br />
<strong>and</strong>reactiontothe<strong>Board</strong>’sdraftrulesregardingHF.Werecognizetheimportance<strong>of</strong>HF<br />
inthedevelopment<strong>of</strong>domesticenergyresources.Unfortunately,HFisamajorsubject<strong>of</strong><br />
contentionwiththosewhowouldliketopreventdomesticoil<strong>and</strong>gasdevelopment.<br />
<br />
Western Energy Alliance members are concerned that notice <strong>of</strong> an HF technique in<br />
advance<strong>of</strong>thetreatmentcouldbeusedbythosethatopposethepracticeasameansto<br />
contestthepermit.Webelievethe<strong>Board</strong>sharesthisconcern<strong>and</strong>appreciatetheeffortin<br />
this rulemaking to provide flexibility in the event <strong>of</strong> lastminute changes. We also<br />
appreciate the effort in the rulemaking to eliminate redundant <strong>and</strong> timeconsuming<br />
permittingprocesses.<br />
<br />
SpecificComments<br />
<br />
NewRuleI<br />
<br />
WesternEnergyAllianceunderst<strong>and</strong>sthatthemechanismthatthe<strong>Board</strong>haschosenfor<br />
advancedchemicaldisclosureistotiethefracturingtreatmentnoticetothepermittodrill.<br />
Weappreciatethe<strong>Board</strong>’sthoughtthatsuchanactionwouldnotcreateanotherprocess<br />
for a stimulation activity. Given that with the permit to drill can be submitted several<br />
monthsinadvance<strong>of</strong>thetreatment,WesternEnergyAlliancebelievesthereneedstobe<br />
more flexibility or a reduction in the amount <strong>of</strong> information required in the rule.<br />
Stimulation designs <strong>of</strong>ten change based on data from the well drilling process, even in<br />
knownfields.WesternEnergyAlliancesuggeststhefollowingforNewRuleI:
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