University of Texas at Arlington’s Collaborative Laboratories for Environmental Analysis and Remediation (C.L.E.A.R.) and Apache Corp. have extended their partnership to study surface and groundwater quality in the Alpine High region of west Texas, according to a university news release.
In order to all for the augmentation of baseline surface and groundwater quality data, and to support ongoing water quality monitoring efforts in Texas’ southern Reeves County, the study has been extended for an additional year.
According to the release, the monitoring parameters target thousands of organic, inorganic and biological elements that can be found in water.
“Throughout the exploration and early stages of development in Alpine High, Apache has taken proactive steps to protect the land, water and wildlife resources of the area,” Castlen Kennedy, vice president of Public Affairs for Apache, said in the release. “Our partnership with C.L.E.A.R. provides valuable data that helps ensure Alpine High is developed safely and responsibly.”
Zacariah Hildenbrand, scientific contributor to C.L.E.A.R, added that for those who enjoy West Texas’ natural beauty, “This is great news.” He said it’s important to monitor environmental quality in the region, something he says the partnership has “empowered” the groups to do.
According to the release, the duos partnership also provides additional support for a separate research project, which works to evaluate stimulation additives in an effort to help optimize efficiency in the completion of oil and gas wells.
The pair of organizations are evaluating the effectiveness of environmentally friendly well stimulation additives and any efficiencies that oil and gas well completions may gain from using such additives.
Kevin Schug, associate dean of UTA’s College of Science and director of C.L.E.A.R., said the study’s objective is “to demonstrate that environmentally-responsible additives can be effectively used in the well stimulation process.”
“This is an exceptional opportunity to work in collaboration with oil and gas industry experts to expand knowledge regarding the down-hole performance and stability of stimulation additives used in modern well completions,” Schug said.
For more information, please visit http://clear.uta.edu.