Environmental Assessment (Trustwell) Scoring

TrustWell Scoring overview

TrustWell utilizes a 3-axis scoring model comprising local factors, operator control measures, and potential threats. Below you'll find overview content, a detailed video, and a score simulator.

Score variables: Inherent risks, controls, and threats

  • Local factors are risks inherent to the given operation
  • Control measures are operator protocols designed to mitigate those risks
  • Local factors and control measures are mapped to potential threats
    • Annular Migration
    • Automotive
    • Chemical Release
    • Chemical Waste
    • Drilling Fluid Contamination
    • Equipment Release
    • Exhaust
    • Flare
    • Flowback Fluids
    • Fluid Transfer Release
    • Frac to Aquifer
    • Impoundment Release
    • Induced Seismic
    • Industrial Health
    • Loss of Subsurface Well Integrity
    • Operations Disturbance
    • Out of Zone Injection
    • Overpressure
    • Personnel Safety
    • Produced Water
    • Storage Vessel Release
    • Storm Water Run-off
    • Subsurface Well Control
    • Surface Well Control
    • Uncontrolled Fracture
    • Vessel Corrosion
    • VOC Emissions
    • Water Resources
    • Well Intersection
    • Wellhead Loss of Primary Containment LOPC
         to assess the likelihood of a negative environmental impact brought on by a given threat
Score Simulator

How Trustwell is scored

How to use the score simulator

  1. To designate the Risk Profile of an operation, drag the slider left (lower inherent risk profile) or right (higher inherent risk profile) considering things like weather severity and geographic location. See Local Factors for more detail.
  2. For each Control Measure (see here for more detail), designate the strength of the given control measure your operation has in place to mitigate potential risks. Slide left where there are minimal controls in place and slide right where there are comprehensive controls in place.
  • Scoring
    Examples

  • Surface Casing

    Lower Performance
    The operator adheres to regulations but relies mostly on general knowledge/experience for operations.
    Moderate Performance
    The operator performed surface casing stress checks validating collapse and burst competency using programs such as Excel, but does not account for triaxial stress or temperature gradients
    Higher Performance
    Operator utilizes a basis of design which incorporates surface casing stress checks using tri-axial adjustments and temperature gradients.

  • Intermediate Casing

    Lower Performance
    The operator adheres to regulations but relies mostly on general knowledge/experience for operations.
    Moderate Performance
    The operator performed intermediate casing stress checks validating collapse and burst competency using programs such as Excel, but does not account for triaxial stress or temperature gradients
    Higher Performance
    Operator utilizes a basis of design which incorporates intermediate casing stress checks using tri-axial adjustments and temperature gradients.

  • Production Casing

    Lower Performance
    The operator adheres to regulations but relies mostly on general knowledge/experience for operations.
    Moderate Performance
    The operator performed production casing stress checks validating collapse and burst competency using programs such as Excel, but does not account for triaxial stress or temperature gradients
    Higher Performance
    Operator utilizes a basis of design which incorporates production casing stress checks using tri-axial adjustments and temperature gradients.

  • Surface Cement

    Lower Performance
    The operator adheres to regulations but relies mostly on general knowledge/experience for operations.
    Moderate Performance
    The operator utilizes operational indicators usch as floats holding, returns, lift pressures, etc. to determine a successful production cement job and has cement lab testing.
    Higher Performance
    The surface casing cement designed is informed from a Basis of Design including lab testing, centralization, and remedial plans if sufficient top of cement is not acheived

  • Intermediate Cement

    Lower Performance
    The operator adheres to regulations but relies mostly on general knowledge/experience for operations.
    Moderate Performance
    The operator utilizes operational indicators usch as floats holding, returns, lift pressures, etc. to determine a successful production cement job and has cement lab testing.
    Higher Performance
    The intermediate casing cement designed is informed from a Basis of Design including lab testing, centralization, and remedial plans if suffiient top of cement is not acheived

  • Production Cement

    Lower Performance
    The operator adheres to regulations but relies mostly on general knowledge/experience for operations.
    Moderate Performance
    The operator utilizes operational indicators usch as floats holding, returns, lift pressures, etc. to determine a successful production cement job and has cement lab testing.
    Higher Performance
    The production casing cement designed is informed from a Basis of Design including lab testing, centralization stand off calculations

  • Emergency Response

    Lower Performance
    The operator has a generic emergency response plan, drills & training related to emergency situations are limited. They may lack a emergency plan all together.
    Moderate Performance
    The Emergency Response Plan address basic operational contingencies such as blowouts, spills and significant air releases.
    Higher Performance
    The ERP incorporates strategy, tactics, required capabilities, risk assessment and business impact analysis.

  • Environmental Programs (Exhaust)

    Lower Performance
    All combustion sources are operated in adherence with regulatory requirement.
    Moderate Performance
    On-site power is generated using natural gas powered or thermoelectric generators.
    Higher Performance
    On-site power is tied to the local grid or a study has been completed to asses scope 2 emissions

  • Environmental Programs (Flaring)

    Lower Performance
    The operators practices routine flaring, but applies efficient technologies to improve combustion.
    Moderate Performance
    The operator has committed to the elimination of non-emergency flaring and has a plan/program established to track progress.
    Higher Performance
    The operator has eliminated flaring at the facility AND has clear shut-in procedures in the event of a release

  • Environmental Programs (Venting)

    Lower Performance
    The operator completes all emissions reporting in conjunction with federal requirements, but has made no additional efforts to measure or monitor GHG emissions.
    Moderate Performance
    There is a basin-level pneumatic retrofit plan in place with the percentage of pneumatic retrofits documented over time.
    Higher Performance
    The operator utilize continuous emissions monitoring technology, capable of quantifying total site emissions on a mass basis, as defined by EPA.

  • Environmental Programs (Water)

    Lower Performance
    The operator tracks volumes surrounding freshwater usage and SWD disposal regardless of regulatory requirements.
    Moderate Performance
    The operator has done additional work or studies to understand the impact of operations on the local aquifer beyond regulatory requirement.
    Higher Performance
    The operator collaborates with NGO's, academia, communities, and agencies to ensure that long-term and large scale operations are sustainable and efficient.

  • Frac Ops

    Lower Performance
    The operator provides general outlines for EHS, equipment requirements, and job details in the completions program.
    Moderate Performance
    The operator validates their frac design through the use of modeling software and has a well documented completion program defining key operational parameters.
    Higher Performance
    The operator incorporates measured reservoir parameters from pilot wells into the completions design for continuous improvement

  • Pits-Tanks-Impoundments

    Lower Performance
    The operator ensures and demonstrates that pits, tanks, and impoundments are in good, workable condition.
    Moderate Performance
    All upright tanks are monitored through a SCADA system.
    Higher Performance
    The operator has eliminated drilling pits and all new facilities are designed to be tankless facilities.

  • Reclamation

    Lower Performance
    The operator has a budget for reclamation and asset retirement.
    Moderate Performance
    The operator monitors the progress of reclamation efforts at predetermined intervals.
    Higher Performance
    The operator continues checks on the site after reclamation is deemed complete.

  • Operational Impacts

    Lower Performance
    The operator has basic considerations surrounding disturbances (traffic, noise, light) to local communities and environmental impact of short-term operations (D&C).
    Moderate Performance
    The operator engages with community stakeholders prior to pad development.
    Higher Performance
    The operator regularly monitors surface waters, aquifers, and biological/botanical impacts in the immediate vicinity throughout project life

  • Spill Prevention

    Lower Performance
    The operator has basic spill prevention measures in place such as secondary containment.
    Moderate Performance
    The operators spill response plan contains spill mitigation methodology, clean-up techniques, and considerations for critical ecosystems.
    Higher Performance
    All fluids, solids, and processing equipment are contained within impermeable secondary containment.

  • Spill Response

    Lower Performance
    The spill response plan includes basic spill reporting requirements.
    Moderate Performance
    The Spill Response Plan matches critical areas and land sensitivities such as wetlands, farmlands, etc. with the appropriate remediation effort.
    Higher Performance
    Remediation success monitored throughout the project lifecycle and follow up studies are extended beyond regulatory requirement.

  • Waste Management

    Lower Performance
    The operator disposes of wastes but does not have any formal waste management program for waste characterization or approved facilities.
    Moderate Performance
    The operator's waste management program is reviewed every two years for appropriate waste characterization and approved facilities
    Higher Performance
    Each waste stream is individually adressed within the waste management program and the operator has an established audit program for approved wase facilities.

  • Well Collision

    Lower Performance
    The operators conducts limited, if any, anti-collision mitigations during drilling operations.
    Moderate Performance
    The opeartor considers potential collision risks and sets baseline separation factors.
    Higher Performance
    The operator utilizes rotary steerable systems during drilling operations and as a established set of separation factors for each phase of drilling operations with different requirements in different risk environments.

  • Well Control (Completions)

    Lower Performance
    The operator has taken a limited role in specifying operational parameters and allows contractors to handle the majority of completion operations.
    Moderate Performance
    The operator utilizes equipment suited to the pressures experienced during completions operations. Sufficient pressure testing is done for the anticipated pressures.
    Higher Performance
    The operator conducts regular well control drills, has documented equipment requirements and specifies testing requirements

  • Well Control (Drilling)

    Lower Performance
    The BOP's are tested per regulatory requirements and standards.
    Moderate Performance
    The operator requires well control drills on a regular basis. Drills can include kick detection, BOP function test, accumlator function test, etc.
    Higher Performance
    The operator performans well control audits through an acreddited third party and non-wellsite personnel has completed well control certification.

  • Well Integrity

    Lower Performance
    The operator relies on manual gauges for pressure readings and lacks the ability to remote ESD the well.
    Moderate Performance
    All wellhead pressures are monitored and high and low pressure thresholds have been established. ESD valves are installed on assets.
    Higher Performance
    All wellhead pressures (including annuli) are monitored via SCADA and during upset conditins, there are controls in place to remotely shut-in the well if necessary.

  • Wellhead

    Lower Performance
    Minimal care or protection provided for the wellhead.
    Moderate Performance
    Wellhead equipment is sufficiently tested prior to installation and acess to all annuli is available.
    Higher Performance
    The operator has a wellhead design and maintenance standard and has a two barrier policy prior to conducting down hole work.
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