OTHER INITIATIVES PRODUCING THE CLEANEST FOSSIL FUEL IN THE MOST RESPONSIBLE WAY Questar policy states that the corporation "will conduct its operations in a manner that respects the natural environment." By definition, drilling for natural gas creates some surface disturbance. However, on the Pinedale Anticline in western Wyoming, Questar has adopted a technique used extensively on offshore platforms to develop its acreage with a fraction of the disturbance created by development of a traditional natural gas field. The technique is directional drilling. Drilling a conventional vertical onshore natural gas well typically involves clearing and leveling a two- to four-acre "pad" to support the drilling rig and related equipment. Each pad and access road remain a visible reminder of the presence of the well until vegetation reclaims the site. Directional drilling can make a huge difference. It involves drilling multiple distant locations from a single pad by gradually steering the drill bit away from its vertical path a few degrees at a time. Using this technique, a company can recover gas from a large area without building a new pad for each new well or moving the rig more than a few feet. At Pinedale, Questar is drilling directionally up to 16 wells from a single pad, eliminating the need for the other 15 pads and dramatically reducing the amount of surface disturbance related to pads, access roads and gathering systems. Directional drilling is more expensive than conventional drilling. However, the company anticipates that it can recover some of that extra cost if it can drill and complete all the wells on a pad in one continuous operation. At Pinedale, Questar is also pioneering a number of other innovative practices designed to minimize traffic, dust, noise and visual impacts. Along with natural gas, each well produces a certain amount of water and condensate (petroleum liquids). Traditionally, these liquids are stored in tanks at each well until they can be loaded into tanker trucks. When all Questar's wells are completed, they will need about 25,500 visits a year by tanker trucks. So what's the alternative? In 2005, Questar began construction of a $25 million pipeline system that will eliminate the need for these tanker trucks and most of the storage. Eliminating storage tanks also means eliminating the petroleum vapors that escape from the tanks. At its Pinedale wells, Questar is also using equipment designed to drastically reduce the need for "flaring" (venting and igniting) natural gas during the well-completion process. So is there a way to tap natural gas deposits in a more responsible way? Questar thinks so.