Oil and Gas Drilling/Development Impacts

Abstract

Activities that may cause environmental impacts include ground clearing, grading, drilling, waste management, vehicular and pedestrian traffic, and construction and installation of facilities. Impacts would be similar to those addressed for exploration; but would be more extensive due to an increased number of wells, access roads, pipelines, and other ancillary facilities (e.g., compressor stations or pumping stations) that would be required. Typical activities during the drilling and development of an oil or gas well include ground clearing and removal of vegetative cover, grading, drilling, waste management, vehicular and pedestrian traffic, and construction and installation of facilities. Activities conducted in locations other than at the oil and gas well pad site may include excavation/blasting for construction materials (sands, gravels), access road and storage area construction, and construction of gathering pipelines and compressor or pumping stations. Potential impacts from these activities are presented below, by the type of affected resource.