Producers of natural gas are turning a set of resource development principles articulated last year by the American Gas Association (AGA) into action, according to AGA, which this week issued a report detailing new best practices that producers are implementing.

“Consumers have benefited enormously from the lower prices and price stability that has come with the growth of our natural gas supply,” said AGA CEO Dave McCurdy. “Natural gas utilities, in their role a stewards of their local communities, recognize the importance of continuing to build on this strong domestic supply while also ensuring that the resource is produced in a sustainable and responsible manner.”

The AGA board last May called on producers to engage stakeholders, establish best practices and communicate their actions to the public. The new AGA report highlights progress made since then in reducing environmental impacts, building trust with communities through responsible action and ensuring the appropriate authority and capacity of regulatory oversight.

The report also details progress in reducing surface footprints and community impacts, ensuring well integrity, protecting air and water quality, managing waste water and minimizing the use of fresh water.

“Green well completions that utilize liquid and gas separation equipment to capture potential methane emissions are rapidly becoming the standard for all drilling and production operations beyond initial exploratory wells,” the report said. “The process makes environmental and economic sense for natural gas producers.”

The industry has also helped build public trust by disclosing the chemicals used in hydraulic fracturing (fracking), AGA said. Operators conducting fracking operations voluntarily enter chemical data into the public website www.fracfocus.org, and states including Texas (see Daily GPI, June 21, 2011), Pennsylvania, Wyoming and Arkansas have their own frack fluid requirements.

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