Environmental regulations: impact on the United States petroleum exploration and production industry.

204 Pages·1993·4.9 MB·en_US

by  Hardin, James Leslie.

DUDLEY KNOX LIBRARY
NAVAL PO° GRADUATE SCHOOI
MOOTERS 93943-5101
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ENVIRONMENTAL REGULATIONS: IMPACT ON THE
UNITED STATES PETROLEUM EXPLORATION
AND PRODUCTION INDUSTRY

ACKNOWLEDGMENT
I would like to thank all those who had a part in a very rewarding experience in
writing this thesis. My wife Cera Mae deserves most ofthe credit for its completion
who spent many hours, some late at night, typing this thesis. I would also like to
thank Dr. W.C.J. Van Rensburg for his knowledgeable guidance.
Most ofall I thank my good Lord Jesus for all ofthe great things He has done
for me.
15 November 1993
IV

ABSTRACT
ENVIRONMENTAL REGULATIONS: IMPACT ON THE
PETROLEUM EXPLORATION
U.S.
AND PRODUCTION INDUSTRY
by
JAMES LESLIE HARDIN, M.S.E.
The University ofTexas at Austin, 1993
SUPERVISOR: DR. W.C.J. VAN RENSBURG
In the past 20 years environmental regulations have progressed from being
nearly nonexistent to a main concern in an oil company's activities. This thesis reviews
the more significant environmental regulations, focusing on how these regulations have
A
impacted the U.S. oil and gas exploration and production industry. briefhistory of
each environmental Act is given. Then the current regulations, stemming from these
Acts and their amendments, are reviewed. Also, a brief overview of the common
wastes generated in the oil and gas exploration and production industry and the waste
management practices used to deal with these wastes are discussed. Finally, the
economic impacts ofthese regulations are reviewed.