oil and gas site remediation

Occidental's commitment to the environment continues throughout the entire life-cycle of each of our oil and gas operations. The average lifespan of an individual oil and/or gas well is usually between 15 - 30 years.

When the well has reached the end of its productive life, Occidental's site restoration team moves in to evaluate the site and determine the best method of site remediation. Soil samples are taken to analyze the total petroleum hydrocarbon surrounding the well site. Based upon those and other findings, a restoration plan is developed. The goal is to return the site to its near-original condition, or in many cases, enhance the environment and create economic benefits.

Wellheads, pumping units, pipes, tanks and other equipment must be removed from the site before the well is permanently plugged with cement. Waste-handling pits are often encountered, and shrubs, grass and other naturally-occurring vegetation is planted to help facilitate a functional hydrologic cycle. The natural recovery processes quickly transform restored sites into desirable natural habitats.

Offshore Restoration

Decommissioning and removing offshore installations is a complex process. A wide variety of regulatory requirements must be satisfied to ensure the safety of marine environments.

In the early 80s, the rigs-to-reefs was adopted. Massive offshore platforms are toppled and sink to the ocean floor. The obsolete rig structures make ideal artificial reefs, providing living and feeding habitats for thousands of marine species. Typically, within about six months, a thriving new reef ecosystem can appear.

Learn more about Occidental's remediation efforts:

Copper Basin Project - Occidental restored a degraded mining site.

Lathrop Remediation - An agrichemical site in Texas is restored.

Ferrophos Pigments - Learn more about Ferrophos Pigments - Glenn Springs Holdings, Inc. - corrosive resistant coatings.

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