Pit closure involves a series of actions that involve waste management, site investigation, potentially some level of remediation and final reclamation. The essential steps include:
- Pit waste should be evacuated and the waste treated or disposed of.
- Based on regulations or the condition of pit, once the waste is evacuated, sampling and analysis may be required, prior to backfilling.
- If the analytical data suggest the pit leaked or materials were not adequately removed additional remediation may be required.
- Synthetic pit liners may require handling as solid waste and not as an E&P waste.
Pits with synthetic liners at a drilling pad
Production site after pit closure
Images: “Well Pad During Drilling Operations” by Courtesy West Virginia Surface Owners’ Rights Organization; “Production Facility Following Interim Reclamation” by Courtesy West Virginia Surface Owners’ Rights Organization