American Oil and Gas Reporter - March 2023 - 66

SpecialReport: ESG Best Practices
Closed-Loop Systems
Provide Win-Win Benefits
In Horizontal Shale Plays
By Garrow Wessendorff
HOUSTON-The oil and gas industry
is focused like never before on maximizing
returns on every dollar in the budget
while simultaneously maximizing the
value of field assets and elevating environmental,
social and governance performance.
That is a tall order, but what if
there was a way for operating companies
to economically address ESG concerns
while also promoting long-term sustainability
and operational profitability?
Closed-loop waste management is revolutionizing
the oil and gas industry by
offering a win-win ESG solution for the
Eagle Ford and other shale plays. As the
chief executive of The Panther Companies,
I have seen firsthand the transformative
power of closed-loop waste management
systems. Indeed, these systems not only
provide ESG and sustainability solutions,
but they also benefit oil and gas operations'
bottom line.
By reducing waste and minimizing
the risk of environmental damage, closedloop
systems can help companies increase
profitability and investor interest. In addition,
they can foster goodwill with local
communities and regulators by demonstrating
a commitment to responsible resource
development.
Of course, implementing closed-loop
systems can come with its own set of
challenges and considerations. But with
the right technology and expertise, these
challenges can be overcome, and the benefits
are too significant to ignore.
I am proud to see closed-loop systems
becoming a more widely adopted solution,
including for shale operators seeking to
improve their ESG standing.
Closed-loop systems help minimize
the amount of waste that must be disposed
of by treating, recycling and reusing it,
which in turn reduces oil and gas operations'
overall environmental impact. They
also help prevent soil and water contam66
THE AMERICAN OIL & GAS REPORTER
Closed-loop waste management
is revolutionizing
the oil and gas industry
by offering a win-win ESG
solution, especially in unconventional
resource
plays such as the Eagle
Ford Shale, where oilbased
drilling fluids are
required. In the right applications,
closed-loop
waste management systems
not only provide ESG
and sustainability benefits,
but they also help optimize
the bottom line of
oil and gas operations.
ination by ensuring that drilling fluids
and any associated waste are handled
and disposed of in a responsible manner
that minimizes environmental risks.
By helping mitigate the environmental
impact of oil and gas operations, these
systems also can improve profitability. A
recent Eagle Ford project with a private
operator provides a prime example of
how closed-loop systems can benefit both
the environment and profitability.
Since its 1985 founding, the operator
has drilled more than 800 wells in the
United States and abroad. The company
currently focuses on acquiring and developing
unconventional assets in the Eagle
Ford trend, where it has implemented a
closed-loop system for two horizontal
wells in southern Fayette County, Tx.
The project's first well targeted the
Lower Eagle Ford Shale with a 9,600foot
lateral. The second was a Lower
Austin Chalk well with a 10,500-foot
lateral. Both would represent record lateral
lengths for the play area. To facilitate the
closed-loop operations, The Panther Companies
provided the mud products, stateof-the-art
solids control equipment, and
managed the haul-off and disposal for
both horizontal wells.
By implementing a closed-loop system,
the company was able to successfully drill
the longest laterals in this portion of Fayette
County, while also minimizing waste and
reducing the environmental impact. This
project is a testament to the power of innovation
and collaboration in driving sustainable
practices in our industry.
As seen in our recent partnership,
closed-loop systems can set new standards
for drilling efficiency and sustainability.
We are committed to continuing to lead
the industry toward more sustainable
practices and working with companies
to achieve their ESG goals.
Application Envelope
As more oil and gas companies look
American Oil and Gas Reporter - March 2023

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