Oil and Gas

Solutions to Chemical Testing Challenges in Hydraulic Fracturing

In 2008, Eurofins Environment Testing began providing extensive support to oil and gas exploration and production in the Marcellus Shale Play. Since that time, we have expanded our support to the industry in all of the unconventional regions of activity in the U.S. Eurofins Environment Testing's Shale Sustainability Program is a turnkey solution providing environmental testing and associated tools to manage environmental risks throughout the life cycle of a well.

Pre-Drill Water
Drilling and stimulation of oil or gas wells carries the risk of a potential claim of impact to groundwater. Eurofins Environment Testing develops programs for operations that can ensure adherence to required protocols.

Gas Migration
Light hydrocarbon and dissolved gas testing is of particular importance both in ambient air monitoring and in water testing. Eurofins Environment Testing supports the analysis through comparison of results to background or pre-drill levels.

Produced and Flowback Water
The composition of produced and flowback waters can lead to analytical challenges due to the nature of the water. Eurofins Environment Testing leverages its years of experience working with these samples, and tests for a variety of solids, salts, heavy metals, hydrocarbons and other compounds.

Drilling Residuals/Drill Cutting Disposal
Solid residuals from drilling operations must often be disposed of at an off-site approved disposal facility. Prior to disposal, the characterization of the residuals must be conducted, including testing for the potential presence of naturally occurring radioactive materials (NORM). Eurofins Environment Testing provides testing for the determination of NORM in a variety of sample types, including complex matrices.

Emergency Testing
Eurofins Environment Testing addresses concerns related to surface spills, well control, and lost containment of production and flowback water on the surface by providing emergency response services to any incident 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. To learn more about Eurofins Environment Testing's emergency testing services, visit our Incident Response page.

Ambient Air Emissions
Eurofins Environment Testing has the capability to analyze samples containing a variety of Hazardous Air Pollutants. To learn more about Eurofins Environment Testing's ambient and source air emissions offerings, visit our Air section.

Technologically Enhanced Naturally Occurring Radioactive Materials

Naturally Occurring Radioactive Material (NORM) is found everywhere. Because these materials are found in the natural environment, NORM is often exempted from regulation. When NORM is used for commercial purposes, and its radioactivity content is modified, it is classified as a Technologically Enhanced Naturally Occurring Radioactive Material (TENORM). These materials are often regulated because they result in a man-made radioactive concentration that is higher than the original NORM.

Eurofins Environment Testing has been providing a full suite of TENORM radiochemistry testing services to the Oil & Gas Operations sector for more than 10 years. We provide a variety of analytical options for the determination of radioactive constituents in groundwater, produced water, soil and solid waste. With more than 30 years of radiochemistry testing expertise, Eurofins Environment Testing provides full service radiochemistry testing support for samples from shale formations throughout the United States. Our team of experts assists in determining the best technical approach to meet your program’s data needs.

To learn more about Eurofins Environment Testing's radiochemistry services, visit our Radiochemistry and Mixed Waste page.

Analytical Methods and Options for water and solid samples:

Eurofins Environment Testing's Support For Exploration & Production

Eurofins Environment Testing provides extensive support to the oil and gas exploration sector throughout the United States and abroad. The delivery of quality, reliable data for our clients requires a keen understanding of the impact the exploration and production process has on environmental testing. Potential environmental issues can stem from naturally occurring constituents of concern, chemicals introduced through the drilling process, as well as the high level of dissolved salts and turbidity from formation waters. If not addressed appropriately, these issues can negatively affect data quality.

Eurofins Environment Testing has testing programs for oil and gas exploration and production programs and vast experience with onshore, offshore and fracking operations. We also provide emergency testing programs for small and large incidents.

Distribution Testing Services At Eurofins Environment Testing

Eurofins Environment Testing provides a full suite of environmental testing capabilities in support of the distribution of crude oil, refined petroleum and other related products. Services are provided for all phases of distribution including the installation of new pipelines, routine monitoring and incident response. Eurofins Environment Testing currently has national contracts in place with many of the largest distribution companies in the United States including those in the following sectors:

• Pipeline transport
• Transloading
• Terminal developers and operators

Eurofins Environment Testing has testing programs for real estate transfers, waste characterization, remediation and air emissions, with support for various states’ unique hydrocarbon methods. Eurofins Environment Testing also provide emergency testing programs for small and large incidents.

Eurofins Environment Testing's Comprehensive Support For Refinery Operations

Refinery operators face many environmental compliance challenges. These expansive industrial complexes have compliance programs to monitor the surrounding water, soil, sediment, waste and air.

Eurofins Environment Testing provides testing and logistical support to the nation’s largest refineries and to each of the Top 10 Oil and Gas companies in America and abroad. Our comprehensive suite of environmental testing services to the Downstream sector includes discharge monitoring, groundwater monitoring, storm water monitoring, source emissions testing, benzene fenceline monitoring, industrial hygiene testing, ambient air, waste characterization, site investigations and remedial action support. Eurofins Environment Testing provides local logistical support, including sample pickup and testing services, from laboratories and service centers located throughout the United States, and in close proximity to the largest refining states, including Texas, Louisiana, California, Washington, Illinois, Indiana, Pennsylvania and New Jersey.

Program services include easy to read and use reports, electronic deliverables, 24/7 availability of data through MyEOL, our on-line web based portal, Spanish language reports and national program management that is coordinated through experienced project management professionals.

Eurofins Environment Testing also provides emergency testing programs for small and large incidents.

Benzene Fenceline Monitoring Overview

On September 29, 2015, the Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) issued the final Risk and Technology Review and New Performance Standards for refineries. The rule is based on two emissions standards already in place at refineries: the National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants From Petroleum Refineries (Refinery MACT 1 and MACT 2). The rule adds emission control requirements for storage tanks, flares and coking units and also requires the monitoring of air concentrations at the fenceline of refineries.

Methods 325A and 325B were included in the final rule. These methods provide details on how refineries are to deploy passive samplers at the fenceline of their facility to collect fugitive emission data for benzene. Passive diffusive sampling tubes are to be placed along the fenceline to measure the ambient air concentration at each sampling location over a 14 day period. The samplers consist of a small inert coated stainless steel tube filled with an adsorbent material. One end of the tube is capped with a mesh cover that allows the ambient air to diffuse on to the adsorbent material.

Under the final rule, existing sources will be required to deploy samplers no later than January of 2018.

Eurofins Environment Testing’s Benzene Fenceline Capabilities

Eurofins Environment Testing Sacramento has been analyzing ambient air and source emission samples for more than 20 years. The laboratory uses Perkin Elmer Automated Thermal Desorption (ATD) gas chromatograph/mass spectrometer (GC/MS) equipment to achieve the detection limits required by Method 325B.

Eurofins Environment Testing uses Carbopack X sorbent tubes, one of three sorbents specified in the method. Tubes are conditioned and blank checked for cleanliness prior to distribution to the field. Tubes must be used within 30 days of conditioning. Analysis is then conducted using the Perkin Elmer ATD GC/MS.

The Eurofins Environment Testing Difference

Eurofins Environment Testing views Benzene Fenceline Monitoring as a long term partnership with our clients. We understand the complexities of adhering to new regulations, and we have built a program to work with you through each step of the process from planning to sampling and data reporting. Once data is generated, choose from one of our hundreds of report and electronic data deliverable formats to ensure that your data is in the format that you need for easy interpretation and reporting.

Retail and Distribution

Eurofins Environment Testing's suite of environmental testing services include logistics support for sampling kits and sample pickup, a broad array of state hydrocarbon methods, air testing for petroleum vapor intrusion, waste characterization, site investigations and remedial action support. Program services include easy to read and use reports, electronic deliverables and 24/7 availability of data through MyEOL, our on-line web based data portal. Eurofins Environment Testing provides national program support to several large petroleum distribution companies and their consultants.

Underground Storage Tanks

Underground storage tanks (USTs) are used to store petroleum hydrocarbons including gasoline, diesel fuel, oil and other products such as those used at dry cleaning operations. EPA regulates more than 560,000 USTs throughout the United States that store petroleum or hazardous substances. Various states also regulate USTs and have more stringent rules regulating UST management and operation.

Until the mid-1980s, most underground storage tanks were made of bare steel, which is likely to corrode over time and allow contents to leak into the surrounding environment. Faulty installation or inadequate operating and maintenance procedures can also cause releases into the environment.

Eurofins Environment Testing offers a diverse range of EPA and state required hydrocarbon testing methods, as well as testing for incident response services. We also provide emergency testing programs for small and large incidents. Methods include: