A Chemical Risk Prioritization Scoring Process for the Oil and Gas Exploration and Production Industry

Abstract

Abstract The oil and gas industry has been under increased scrutiny for its use of chemicals during exploration and production. The popular media have raised concerns about the chemicals used for hydraulic fracturing with respect to human health and the environment, and state and federal agencies have begun issuing decisions on chemical disclosure. A chemical risk prioritization scoring process has been developed to address these issues and to also demonstrate product stewardship. Although chemical risk ranking is a recognized concept, there is no established process for its use in the oil and gas exploration and production (E&P) industry. Hundreds of products containing one or more chemical constituents are used in this industry. The Chemical Risk Prioritization System (CRPS) developed herein has been designed to identify the products with chemical constituents that pose the highest potential risks to people and the environment. The CRPS considers both chemical hazards and exposure potential in the determination of the relative risk of these products. A tiered approach is used that identifies a short list of products that may need further risk characterization and risk management. This approach ascertains the patterns of product/chemical use and exposure potential to both occupational and environmental receptors related to activities throughout the exploration and production life cycle. In addition, the potential for the chemicals in the products to persist in the environment or bioaccumulate in human or ecological receptors is factored into the CRPS. A benefit of the CRPS is that it is a consistent and transparent approach tailored to company-specific activities. It streamlines the identification of products with chemical constituents where no additional evaluation is warranted because relative risk is minimal. This allows a more detailed evaluation to occur for a smaller set of products identified as containing chemicals with higher potential risk. It also informs the company of products with chemical constituents for which little hazard information is available, aiding industry in working with the chemical manufacturers to better characterize the potential hazard.