Can I drill here anyway!?.....NO!!!

I often hear drillers labeled as people who don't respect or protect the environment.  Well that may be true if the environment interaction is compared to that of someone who may like to give a tree a hug from time to time.  The fact of the matter is however, there are very strict regulations which drillers must follow in order to execute drilling a well.  Surface permits are the major step to drilling.  Over field session II during my Junior summer, we learned a little bit about permits in the oil and gas industry.  I could not believe some of the things preventing a drilling operation.  There was a particular species of cacti which was considered endangered.  A team of professionals from the oil and gas company went out to get a better look at the location and a small bud of the cactus, "about the size of a pencil eraser," was ran over by a four wheeler.  These small growing plants were being tracked by some method of gps and the company was in fact issued a fine for the cactus which was barely visible to someone who may know the exact location of it.  Prairie dogs were also another issue as they are vastly spread in rural areas.  They are actually a headache for farmers and ranchers in many areas and extermination of them would not hurt any feelings.  So basically, the worthless rodents have more of a right to the land than individuals.  How does that make you feel?

Aside from surface rights which can also include sacred Indian grounds, national grounds, and others important areas, there is more to it than simply a surface permit.  Well plans such as casing design and wellbore trajectory must also be reviewed.  Proper zonal isolation is a MUST in the industry as well as staying in the required boundaries.  Cement Bond Logs (CBL's) are actually required.  This measures the structural integrity of the cementing jobs which are used to isolate zones such as groundwater zones.  Drilling technology is making the ability to stay in required boundaries easier as it progresses.  These permits can be several inches in thickness of stacks upon stacks of paper and can take several years to be approved.  If a change in the well plan is found to be necessary during the process, changes have to be reported to the legal agency in charge of the permit and has to be cleared for further drilling.  Drillers may not have as particular urges to save a tree or two as others, but none the less, are legally required and in fact take drastic measures in an attempt to be "friendly" to the mother earth.