Chesapeake improves the nation’s economy and energy security by producing clean, abundant, affordable, American natural gas. The company acts as a good neighbor by incorporating environmentally sound, safe work practices incorporated into daily operations, with site security being critical.
By working as a team with emergency-response contractors and local first responders such as fire departments, the company is able to respond quickly and efficiently to protect the public, its employees and the environment.
We promote public safety, environmental protection and public understanding of Chesapeake’s operations in North Texas. The site security of our padsites is managed from two vantage points.
On-site security: On-the-ground padsite security includes:Â
- Using signs and labels to identify our drilling locations and production sites
- Posting 24-hour emergency contact information on our signage located at the entries to our locations and sites
- Posting hazard identification at the gates to and on our locations
- Fencing our locations appropriately
- Implementing and maintaining spill prevention measures on our locations
- Maintaining an Emergency Response Plan (ERP)
These controls keep curiosity seekers at bay and our carefully monitored equipment secured when not in use. Once drilling operations are complete, professional field attendants make frequent site visits to monitor production activity.
Off-site security: Remote padsite security includes:Â
- Directing security patrols
- Monitoring security cameras and system architecture
- Using real-time supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) technology
- Managing emergency calls from the field
- Tracking weather that could impact operations and notifying affected personnel
- Monitoring local, state and national conditions that could pose a security threat
SCADA systems monitor and control production facilities throughout Chesapeake’s wide-ranging operations. We put our own twist on field automation, using it to measure and enhance natural gas and oil production through emissions and pressure controls. Most important, we can reduce safety hazards and environmental impact by immediately shutting in wells when measurements move outside accepted levels.
The functions enabled by SCADA technology are accomplished by the use of solar-powered computers located at each wellsite to gather measurements and data. The data moves through a distributed communications network system to the local field office and finally to company headquarters in Oklahoma City, where data is continuously provided to operating units from Pennsylvania to Texas.Â
Field attendants will still drive from wellsite to wellsite, tracking production and making sure that each well is operating efficiently and safely. But these days, they are likely to carry a laptop in addition to a wrench, because computer-based field technology enables him to keep a watchful eye on production sites day and night, regardless of their location.
Emergency response
Chesapeake also prepares for rare emergency situations with a comprehensive approach. The company uses the same emergency response structure used by first responders — the National Incident Management System. The system ensures that all levels of the company and local law enforcement can work together quickly, efficiently and effectively.
How you can help
If you see anything out of the ordinary at one of our sites, handle the situation as you would anything unusual happening in your area. If it’s an emergency, call 911. If possible, provide the exact location and name of the padsite you are calling about. Signs with this information are clearly posted at every site.
To report a concern, request assistance or note unusual activity, call the Chesapeake Operations Center at
817-502-5009 or 800-566-9306, or email coc@chk.com. The operations center is staffed with highly trained personnel 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
If you have general questions about Chesapeake’s operations, please email AskChesapeake@chk.com.