Document oDD0zeLJvEqOkp1LbZenxvrdX
WPX Energy Williston, Inc. - Various Well Pads and Facilities Partial Compliance Evaluation (PCE)
On-Site Clean Air Act (CAA) Inspections
Inspection Date(s):
October 23 and 24, 2024
Inspection Report Date:
December 27, 2024
EPA Representatives: Tribal Representatives:
Katelyn Bergl, US EPA Region 8, Clean Air Act Inspector Youn Joo Kim, US EPA Region 8, Clean Air Act Inspector Taylor Waanders, US EPA, Clean Air Act Inspector Dwight Bruce, MHA Energy
Company Representatives: None
Inspection Report Prepared By:
Katelyn Bergl, US EPA Region 8, Clean Air Act Inspector Youn Joo Kim, US EPA Region 8, Clean Air Act Inspector
Inspection Report Reviewed By:
Applicable Rules:
Scott Patefield, Manager, Enforcement and Compliance Assurance Division, Air and Toxics Enforcement Branch
SCOTT PATEFIELD Date: 2024.12.27 15:46:10 -07'00' Digitally signed by SCOTT PATEFIELD
40 C.F.R Part 49, Subpart K - Federal Implementation Plan for Oil and Natural Gas Well Production Facilities; Fort Berthold Indian Reservation (Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara Nation), North Dakota (Fort Berthold FIP)
40 C.F.R. Part 60, Subpart OOOO - Standards of Performance for Crude Oil and Natural Gas Facilities for Which Construction, Modification, or Reconstruction Commenced After August 23, 2011, and on or Before September 18, 2015
40 C.F.R Part 60, Subpart OOOOa - Standards of Performance for Crude Oil and Natural Gas Facilities for which Construction, Modification or Reconstruction Commenced After September 18, 2015 (NSPS OOOOa)
Compliance Assistance None
Enforcement History None
Areas of Concern 1. The EPA detected visible emissions from an operating utility flare at the following well pads: FBIR Smith 11X-10A Good Voice 34-27H Young Bird 34-27HA
See Table 1 below for more details regarding inspected locations for all well pads and Table 2 for inspection observation details. A log of images and videos captured during the inspections is provided in Appendix A.
General Inspection Information Unannounced well pad inspections were conducted jointly by U.S. EPA and Fort Berthold Indian Reservation (FBIR) Tribal inspectors on October 23, and 24, 2024, at multiple WPX Energy Williston, Inc (WPX) facilities located on the FBIR. WPX is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Devon Energy that operates under the WPX name.
The EPA inspectors evaluated each well site listed in Table 1 using audio, visual, and olfactory (AVO) inspection methods including the use of an optical gas imaging (OGI) camera and EPA Reference Method 22. At each facility, inspectors scanned the crude and/or water storage tanks, closed vent system and flares onsite for any detectable emissions. Specifically, inspectors scanned storage tank covers and closed vent systems for hydrocarbon emissions to determine compliance with the Clean Air Act, including the Fort Berthold FIP and NSPS regulations.
Each well pad inspection followed the approach below:
1. Record the entry sign of the well pad when available. Survey the entire well pad with OGI camera.
2. Record the number and type of site process equipment such as well heads, tanks, and emission control devices.
3. Record AVO indications of emissions from the storage tanks, closed vent system to the control devices and control devices.
4. Using the OGI camera, survey each process in infrared modes (auto, manual, and/or high-sensitivity modes). Record any uncontrolled emissions with the OGI camera and describe the frequency and magnitude of emissions in the field notebook.
5. Observe control devices (enclosed combustor or utility flare) for visible emissions. If there is visible emissions present, conduct Method 22 and record the observations.
6. Using another OGI camera, if available, confirm any observations of uncontrolled emissions with another inspector. Page 2 of 5
7. If there are operators present onsite, share any Areas of Concern.
Table 1 lists general inspection and well pad details for each inspected well pad. The well pad information located in Table 1 is from the North Dakota Industrial Commission (NDIC) well index located online at https://www.dmr.nd.gov/oilgas/.
Table 1: Inspection
Arrival
Date
Time
10/23/2024 13:45
10/23/2024 14:36 10/24/2024 10:49 10/24/2024 10:56 10/24/2024 11:10
and Facility Details of Facilities Inspected
Departure
API
Time
Well Pad Name Number Latitude
13:54
FBIR Guy Black 3302501262 47.690383
Hawk 24X-27A 3302502341
3302502342
3302502430
3302503902
3302503903
3302503904
3302503905
3305306684
14:45
FBIR Smith 11X- 3302501229 47.745331
10A
3302501823
3302501824
3302501825
3302504903
3302504904
10:54
Bird Bear 35-
3305308782 47.76439
26HA
3305308783
3305308784
3305308785
3305308786
3305308787
11:06
Good Voice 34- 3305305501 47.763435
27H
3305305502
3305305503
3305306491
3305306492
3305308424
3305308425
11:17
Young Bird 34- 3305308482 47.762023
27HA
3305308483
3305308484
3305308549
Longitude -102.43966
-102.44701 -102.68467 -102.68952 -102.70385
Observations and Regulatory Applicability Fort Berthold FIP, NSPS OOOO, and NSPS OOOOa regulations which are potentially relevant to the Areas of Concern observed during inspections are summarized in this section.
Page 3 of 5
Table 2 at the end of this report summarizes details of control devices and related observations. See Appendix A for a log of images and videos taken during the inspections.
Fort Berthold FIP Applicability Based on drilling information reported to the NDIC well index by WPX, the facilities listed in Table 1 were completed after the August 12, 2007, applicability date (per 40 C.F.R. 49.4161) and are producing from the Bakken Pool (per 40 C.F.R 49.4163(a)(1)) and are thus subject to the Fort Berthold FIP.
Utility Flare Requirements [ 49.4165(c)] Per 49.4165(c)(6)(vii), "The owner or operator must ensure that each enclosed combustor and utility flare is operated with no visible smoke emissions." Per 49.4166(g)(3) and EPA Reference Method 22, the EPA noted black smoke emissions at the FBIR Smith 11X-10A, Good Voice 34-27H, and Young Bird 34-27HA well pads. See Area of Concern #1 above.
NSPS OOOO Applicability Based on well production information reported by WPX to the NDIC and the date of construction, reconstruction, or modification of the storage vessels, the EPA believes that storage vessels and associated emissions control equipment at the FBIR Smith 11X-10A well pad are potentially subject to requirements for storage vessel affected facilities in NSPS OOOO.
Control Device Requirements [ 60.5412(d)] Per 60.5412(d)(1)(iii), owners and operators must, "Operate the combustion control device with no visible emissions, except for periods not to exceed a total of 1 minute during any 15-minute period." The EPA observed black smoke continuously for more than five minutes (per Method 22) at the FBIR Smith 11X-10A well pad. See Area of Concern #1 above.
NSPS OOOOa Applicability Based on WPX's NSPS OOOOa annual reporting, the EPA believes that storage vessels and associated emissions control equipment at the Good Voice 34-27H and Young Bird 3427HA well pads are potentially subject to requirements for storage vessel affected facilities in NSPS OOOOa.
Control Device Requirements [ 60.5412a(d) and 60.5413a(e)] Per 60.5412a(d)(1)(iii), owners and operators must, "Operate the combustion control device with no visible emissions, except for periods not to exceed a total of 1 minute during any 15-minute period." The EPA observed black smoke continuously for more than five minutes (per Method 22) at the Good Voice 34-27H and Young Bird 34-27HA well pads. See Area of Concern #1 above.
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Table 2: Inspection Details: Control Devices and AVO/OGI Observations
Visible
Well or Number Control Pilot
Active
Well Pad of Control Device
Flame
Flaring Method 22
Name
Device(s) Type(s)
(Y/N)
(Y/N) Observations
FBIR
Smith
1
High/Low
Y
Y
Yes
11X-10A
Emission Observation Description
Continuous smoking from High/Low flare.
Media File Name
N/A
High/Low
Y
Y
Yes Continuous smoking from High/Low flare.
Good Voice 34-27H 2 N/A
High Capacity Y N None
Young
High/Low
Y
Y
Yes Continuous smoking from High/Low flare.
Bird 34-
2
N/A
27HA
High Capacity Y N None
Slope to K/O Drum K/O line sloped towards KO drum
K/O line sloped towards KO drum
K/O line sloped towards KO drum
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APPENDIX A: Photograph and Video Log
Media File entrysign-20241023-185051.jpg
Description Entry Sign
Well Pad Name FBIR Guy Black Hawk 24X-27A
entrysign-20241023-193743.jpg Entry Sign
FBIR Smith 11X-10A
entrysign-20241024-154944.jpg Entry Sign
Bird Bear 35-26HA
entrysign-20241024-155659.jpg Entry Sign
Good Voice 34-27H
entrysign-20241024-161117.jpg Entry Sign
Young Bird 34-27HA
*In addition to recording metadata through the OGI camera's system, EPA collected metadata for the media files recorded
during the inspections, including the date, time, and location of the recorded media, in the Survey123 ArcGIS application at
the time of the inspections. Due to a technical issue experienced with the OGI camera's metadata captured for the .mp4type files, the Survey123 metadata was used as the primary reference for verifying inspection media file data.
Appendix A Page 1 of 1