Ozone Reductions Fall Short in 2005
Data from the state shows that several oil and gas companies failed to meet required ozone reductions in 2005. The chart below, which came from the Colorado Air Pollution Control Division, shows that 58% of oil and gas companies failed to achieve the required 37.5% reduction in emissions of ozone forming compounds north of Denver. Ten companies, or 38%, achieved no reductions in ozone forming compounds whatsoever.
| Company | Uncontrolled Tons/Year | Controlled Tons/Year | Average % Reduction |
| Aceite Energy Corp. | 42.59 | 24.84 | 41.67% |
| Blue Chip | 62.12 | 62.12 | 0% |
| | 48.79 | 48.79 | 0% |
| City/County | 60.24 | 34.14 | 43.32% |
| | 59.15 | 42.50 | 28.16% |
| Encana | 1864.18 | 976.98 | 48% |
| Exco Resources | 471.94 | 254.69 | 46.03% |
| Foundation Energy MG | 17.05 | 17.05 | 0% |
| Fountainhead | 34.3 | 34.3 | 0% |
| K.P. Kauffman Co | 571.12 | 530.49 | 7.12% |
| Kerr McGee | 7653.2 | 4460.4 | 41.7% |
| Machii Ross | 17.04 | 8.28 | 51.39% |
| Matrix Energy, LLC | 121.36 | 121.36 | 0% |
| Merit Energy Company | 1188.28 | 792.34 | 33.32% |
| Noble Energy Inc. | 11338.64 | 6908.51 | 39.07% |
| Paladin Energy | 41.92 | 41.92 | 0% |
| Petro-Canada | 2080.73 | 1190.19 | 42.80% |
| Petroleum Development | 3130.19 | 1702.00 | 45.63% |
| Petroleum Management | 22.83 | 22.83 | 0% |
| Red | 137.27 | 137.27 | 0% |
| Setex Oil and Gas | 190.38 | 85.70 | 54.99% |
| Starlight Resources | 135.07 | 119.82 | 11.29% |
| | 58.36 | 58.36 | 0% |
| | 550.04 | 550.04 | 0% |
| Whitewing Resources | 38.61 | 18.15 | 52.99% |
| Whiting Oil and Gas Corp. | 59.82 | 39.94 | 33.24% |
Some companies far exceeded the required 37.5% reduction in ozone forming compounds in 2005. Among them, Setex Oil and Gas seems to be the champion in ozone reductions, achieving a whopping 54.99% reduction. The majority of companies, however, failed to do their part to protect the Denver metro area from ozone pollution in 2005.
This summer, companies were required to achieve a 47.5% reduction in emissions of ozone forming compounds. We have heard that several companies may have failed to meet this requirement as well. In light of this summer's extremely unhealthy ozone pollution, this seems very likely.
posted by Jeremy Nichols @ 7:16 AM
2 comments
2 Comments:
Too much ozone could be harmful but too little is harmful, too. The creation and the destruction ozone ratio are very changeable. High ozone concentrations affect some components of our body’s defense system while one percent decreases of the ozone layer increases UV light intensity at the earth’s surface by two percent, which lead also to body’s damage.
That's an interesting point, Mellissa. True, we need ozone high up, but down low, ozone is a serious health threat. In fact, the Clean Air Scientific Advisory Committee, a federally established committee of health and science experts, just recommended that the EPA establish an ozone standard of at most 70 parts per billion. This is 10 ppb lower than what the EPA currently requires. Check out the post from August 28th for more info.
When scientists unanimously support stronger protection from ground-level ozone, I'm hardly inclined to disagree.
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