BLM, Devon team up to increase efficiency in drilling operations

Pre-planning prior to drilling an oil or gas well and working closely with the Bureau of Land Management Carlsbad Field Office in the planning efforts is saving one energy company with holdings in Eddy County time and money.

For the past year, Devon Energy Corporation, headquartered in Oklahoma City, Okla., has been working in concert with the Carlsbad BLM office to streamline the permitting process and avoid problems on the ground in the areas the company plans to develop wells.

An important aspect of the pre-planning is the mapping of the areas by the BLM's geographic information system staff and Devon's GIS personnel.

Jerry Mathews, Devon Energy foreman for the company's operations in Eddy County, said the GIS information includes a map of the terrain, sensitive environmental and ecosystem areas and important wildlife habitat, water sources and proposed roads to the proposed drilling sites. He said being able to see all those things on the GIS maps, there are no surprises when it comes time to drill on BLM managed land.

"We (Devon) go out and look at the terrain. What we see may not be what the BLM sees. The BLM also goes out to look," Mathews explained. "Then BLM and our GIS people come together and draw the maps that include everything we need to know. By doing that, we don't have high-priced equipment out there on standby because we have been stopped from drilling because an issue was not addressed beforehand. In our business, a delay in drilling because of permitting delays and environmental issues causes a chain reaction. By working with the BLM on the pre-planning, it makes it so much more efficient for us. There are no surprises when we get ready drill."

Wyatt Abbitt, Devon's Western Division District operations engineering supervisor, said working with the BLM helps both entities meet their goals.

"We have a lease that we want to develop on BLM managed land and the BLM's objective is to manage the lands to the best of its ability," Abbitt said. "Working together on the pre-planning is a very efficient process for Devon and BLM to meet their goals."

While the energy company and the BLM are on good terms with each other, Devon officials said there was a time when Devon and other energy companies in the area dreaded dealing with the BLM.

"I have been with Devon since 1988 and I remember the years when the relationship between the BLM and our industry was very strained — sometimes even hostile," Mathews said. "In the mid 1990s, it often took weeks to get the BLM to approve one well. That's all changed. In one day, we (Devon) recently got nine wells approved because of the pre-planning. Pre-planning is a time-saving tool for us."

Giving an example of how pre-planning recently saved his company time and money, Mathews said Devon was preparing to build a road to a proposed well site. However, during a pre-planning session, Devon learned from the BLM that the area in Eddy County where Devon proposed to build an oilfield road was home to some Great Horn owls.

"We don't know what brought them there, but working with the BLM prior to drilling and permitting, we were able to develop a plan that gave us access to the proposed well site and protected the owls' habitat. It was a win-win situation for the BLM and Devon," Mathews said.

Jim Stovall, Carlsbad BLM Field Office manager, said his agency is working hard in building strong relationships with the oil and gas industry.

"Building relationships with the industry and sharing information is important to us. Devon, in particular, has demonstrated the benefits of working together," Stovall said. "Pre-planning for the development of wells is working well for us, as well as Devon. There are a lot of things that have to be looked at and addressed before a well can be drilled on BLM managed lands. We have an excellent staff that works in developing our GIS maps. The neat thing is that Devon also has a GIS department. Their GIS maps can be overlaid on ours and it gives us, and them, a better picture of what is out there. As a result, there are no surprises or delays when they are ready to drill."

Stovall said that once the areas are mapped out, they are made available on computer disk — minus the company's pertinent information — to others in the industry.

"Some companies may have leases in the same area and it gives them another pre-planning tool. It gives them a clear picture of what is out there and what they need to do in applying for a drilling permit in the area that has been mapped," he said.

The BLM's GIS department is not only serving the oil and gas industry, it is also giving students at New Mexico State University at Carlsbad some hands-on experience in the development of the maps, Stovall said.

He said the BLM has six NMSU-C students working part-time with Marcos Molinar, GIS specialist.

"It's a win-win situation for the students and our GIS guys," Stovall said. "They are earning a little money to help them with school expenses and we are getting the extra help we need in the huge undertaking in developing the maps."

Molinar said he would not be able to accomplish what has been done to date without the student help.

"Most of them came in without any GIS experience. They are working on a variety of degrees not related to what they are doing in this office. Who knows, some may change their direction and go into this field," he said. "But one thing I know for sure. I couldn't get it all done without their help."

Stovall said the partnerships the BLM has fostered with the oil and gas industry has demonstrated that his agency is more than just about protecting lizards and prairie chickens.

"We have come a long way from the days when there was a lot of animosity between the oil and gas industry and the BLM," Stovall said. "We are accomplishing things together today that no one thought would be possible several years ago."

Source : www.currentargus.com