Since the BP oil spill in April 2010, there has been increased focus and debate on offshore drilling, including the economic and environmental impacts it presents. Although the United States has significant, proven onshore energy reserves at various shale plays across the nation, offshore drilling has become the latest frontier for energy production. With constant demand for domestic energy sources, oil companies are beginning to invest in the vast potential that offshore reserves can provide. As gasoline prices rise, there is increased incentive to explore ever deeper offshore waters in attempt to keep costs down at the pump. However, as technology improves drilling techniques, the question remains: Can energy companies prevent future disasters like the BP blowout through improved prevention systems and safety measures? If so, are these safety measures currently in place?
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MIT researchers separate oil from water with magnets
Three things to consider when researching inherited lands
When conducting an environmental chain of title, or any historical property research, you will eventually encounter inherited lands. Family conveyances become much more prevalent as you work your way backward in the property history. With so many different ways to convey title unto family or heirs, it can sometimes be difficult to determine where to start. Let’s look at three elements of estate title and how they are recorded.
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Understanding the basics of aerial photography: History
Aerial photography is one of the best tools anyone, especially environmental professionals, can use to determine land use changes over time. In some cases, viewing aerial photographs can be the only way to identify the history of a site. For example, a former gas station that was removed to make way for a new commercial building may not be easily discovered in a regulatory database search. Viewing historical aerials over decades may reveal former land uses that could impact an environmental site assessment.
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Department of Energy releases 2012 Unconventional Resources R&D Plan
Last week, the US Department of Energy submitted the 2012 Annual Unconventional Resources R&D Plan to Congress. Don’t worry if you don’t have time to read the 200+ page document, I’ve provided a few highlights for you here.
The plan outlines federal spending of $50 million toward an oil and natural gas R&D effort called The Ultra-Deepwater and Unconventional Natural Gas and Other Petroleum Resources Research Program. The goal of the program is to inform the federal government of ways to increase environmental sustainability in energy production and identify risks associated with developing natural resources. After the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in 2010, a more focused approach on developing environmentally sensitive technologies has emerged.
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Video demo: Point search vs. boundary search
Have you ever wondered why there are multiple search buffers displayed in ASTM radius maps? Read this post to find out why.
When conducting ESAs on large or irregular-shaped properties, it is important that you search the entire target property (TP) in accordance with the ASTM E1527-05 standard. The standard requires (among other things) that you search specific regulatory databases outward from your TP. In addition, each database is meant to be searched to a specific distance – not all databases are searched the same.
Depending on how large or irregular-shaped your site is, searching outward from the property’s center point may not fully cover your TP as intended by the standard.
Three steps to conducting a chain of title in virtually any US county
For county-level title researchers, the “70-year chain of title search” is one of the most complex and labor-intensive searches. Title searches often require a researcher to revisit a time when property ownership laws and practices were much different than they are today.
A chain of title search can require an abstract of all available data on a property for 70 years or more. In addition, the report can require digging through deeds, easements, mineral rights, and use restrictions (to name a few). While most county courthouses collect and organize documents following standard industry guidelines that have been developed over time, every county office has its own individual quirks.
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