Project Links

Big Thicket National Preserve » Century Exploration Houston LLC BP-Yosemite No.1 and up to 6 Additional Directionally Drilled Wells » Document List » Document Contents

Century Exploration Houston, LLC Proposal to Drill and Produce the BP-Yosemite Well No. 1 and up to Six Additional Wells from One SUrface Location Outside the Beaumont Unit in Hardin County, Texas


In accordance with the National Park Service (NPS) regulations for non-federal oil and gas rights, Century Exploration Houston, LLC (Century) has submitted an application to directionally drill the BP-Yosemite Well No. 1 and up to six additional wells from one proposed surface location outside the Beaumont Unit of the Big Thicket National Preserve (Preserve) to reach bottomhole targets beneath the Preserve in Hardin County, Texas.
This Environmental Assessment (EA) evaluates the environmental impacts of two alternatives: the No Action Alternative or baseline alternative, and Century's proposal to directionally drill and produce up to seven wells from one surface location outside of the Preserve to reach bottomhole targets beneath the Preserve. By performing all surface operations outside of the Preserve and implementing mitigation measures, Century would substantially reduce impacts on Preserve resources and values, while obtaining the oil and gas resources to which they have the legal property rights. Therefore, the NPS dismissed several topics from detailed analysis, and the EA provides the reasoning that supports this dismissal. Issues that were retained for more detailed analysis include the impacts on: the natural soundscape from elevated noise, the natural lightscape from the use of additional lighting, air quality, wildlife, and certain resources and uses on adjacent lands, where impacts could potentially exceed minor levels. For this project, adjacent land topics included geology and soils, and vegetation, in addition to discussions on in and outside-the-Preserve impacts on air quality, soundscapes, lightscapes, and wildlife.
Through the analyses, the NPS concluded that the intensity of adverse impacts would range from negligible to moderate. No major adverse impacts were identified and no impairment of NPS resources or values would occur as a result of the proposed action. The duration of some impacts would be short-term, lasting from several days to 3 years (during construction and drilling); while other impacts would be long-term, extending beyond 3 years, depending on how long the directionally drilled wells are producing. Most impacts would primarily be localized around point sources, while some impacts could extend into the Preserve and the lands outside of the Preserve.
 
Comment Period: Closed        Oct 24, 2014 - Nov 24, 2014
Document Content:
Disclaimer: Links within the above document(s) were valid as of the date published.
Note: Some of the files may be in PDF format and can be viewed using the Adobe Acrobat Reader software. You may download a free copy of from Adobe Systems.