Associated Case Studies:

Government and Regulatory Agencies: 3M CBM Model

San Juan Basin, USA

Situation:

Norwest prepared a basin-wide coalbed methane reservoir model of the Colorado portion of the San Juan Basin for the Southern Ute Indian Tribe, the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission, and the Bureau of Land Management. The model, referred to as the 3M CBM MODEL, simulates the effects of production from all existing and proposed Fruitland coal wells in Colorado. The effects of dewatering, gas adsorption and desorption, and historical production are included in the model. The model also provides a technology to evaluate coalbed methane infill drilling and gas seepage at the outcrop.

Industrial and Manufacturing: LNAPL Remediation

Ohio River

Situation:

An old chemical plant had accumulated at least 3 feet of thick benzene and styrene floating on groundwater in thick gravels, which periodically produced slicks on the Ohio River. Norwest performed site assessment, risk assessment. and pilot testing.

Solution:

Initial mass reduction was accomplished by vapor extraction with a thermal oxidizer until vapor yield declined. Norwest then engineered a sparge fence along the riverbank and created sparging clusters in hot spots. Periodic air injection via a large underwater mobile compressor broke up floating hydrocarbon that essentially lifted vapors into the vadose zone and promoted aerobic biodegradation above and below the water table. This “biosparging” mode required no recovered vapor or water treatment, and no fugitive vapors were detected. Monitored oxygen and carbon dioxide in the vadose zone correlated with hydrocarbon destruction. The floating product was completely removed after one year of operation and groundwater quality was improved to the point of meeting risk assessment criteria.

Result:

Norwest remediated a site that had been a candidate for NPL listing in one year’s active operation, with no groundwater treatment and vapor treatment limited to an initial vapor extraction phase.

Mining: Regulatory Approval for Mine Lease Boundary Solution

Alberta, Canada

Situation:

Two adjacent oil sand mining operations were required to develop a mine plan for the common lease boundary area that would minimize resource loss while maintaining the integrity of the separate fluid tailings storage for each operator on their respective side of the boundary.

Solution:

Norwest integrated the geological models, mine plans, and mining schedules for the two operations and developed a number of boundary solutions, ranging from a full in-place dyke of undisturbed material to a fully constructed dyke comprised of geotechnically competent waste material from the two operations. In all cases, the dykes were designed to meet the appropriate dam safety requirements for fluid storage.

The contending options were narrowed down to a small number of possible alternatives via a process of macro-level costing. Comprehensive mining schedules, boundary plans, operating and capital cost estimates, and resource loss estimates were developed for the final set of alternatives and reviewed with the two clients as well as representatives of the regulatory authority, the Alberta Energy and Utility Board.

Result:

The Board and both clients accepted the recommended alternative for implementation as part of the long-term mine and tailings plan for each of the operations.

Power Generation: CO2 Sequestration

Situation:

Norwest is currently consulting for a confidential power generation company on plans to build a coal-fired IGCC power plant.

Solution:

Project objectives are to identify the best CO2 sequestration options for the plant as well as conduct a comprehensive evaluation of oil reservoir candidates considered suitable for Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR) or pure sequestration.

Result:

Phase 1 of the project included a comprehensive evaluation of possible sinks in a regional basis resulting in the selection and ranking of candidates in terms of available storage capacity and the possibility of combining storage and CO2-EOR. Future phases will include specific geological and engineering assessments of pre-selected potential sinks as well as support for regulatory filings.

Industries Served

The experience and background of Norwest’s professionals enable us to provide specialized expertise to a variety of industries.

Mining: Norwest was founded on a deep understanding of exploring for, developing, and enhancing the performance of surface and underground mining operations.

Power Generation: Our professionals are well versed in applying their fuel production and utilization background to the electric power generation industry.

Industrial And Manufacturing: Our environmental and hydrology professionals assist clients in managing surface water, groundwater and environmental remediation issues.

Government And Regulatory Agencies: Norwest has worked with public entities ranging from local governments to international agencies.

Mining

Norwest offers a wide range of services related to surface and underground mining of coal, oil sands, base metals, precious metals, industrial minerals and other deposits. Our capabilities continue to grow to meet the ever-changing needs of our clients. From initial exploration concept to successful development of world-class mining ventures, Norwest professionals can help you make the most of your mining investment.

Our services include:

Exploration services
Exploration programs
Drilling and field programs
Resource assessment
3-dimensional digital computer modeling
Resource characterization
Reserve and resource estimation
Geostatistics
Surface and Underground Mines
Mine design and planning
Mine cost estimating
Computer simulation
Equipment selection and specification
Benchmarking, productivity, and efficiency studies
Operations management consulting
Economic, financial, feasibility, and valuation studies
Mine safety and loss control programs
Processing / Materials Handling
Plant layout
Process design
Mine infrastructure design
Capital and operating cost estimates
Construction management
Plant commissioning and start-up
Geotechnical and Geo-Environmental Engineering
General geotechnical engineering
Surface and underground mine design engineering
Stability investigation and hazard mitigation
Impoundment design and construction management
Environmental Planning and Management
Environmental assessment and management
Mine permitting
Mine closure, landform re-grading, and reclamation design
Environmental due diligence
Water resources management
Surface and groundwater hydrology

Power Generation

Norwest’s extensive background in energy minerals evaluation and production provides a unique set of skills applicable to the electric power generation industry. Whether we’re performing research on carbon sequestration, analyzing optimal fuel supplies for a given project, enhancing boiler performance through coal sourcing and blend, or assisting with audits and certifications, we provide consulting that is respected in the industry and proven to increase the returns from your generation assets.

Below you’ll find a list of services Norwest provides to the power generation industry.

Fuel Supply
- Fuel supply assessments
- Fuel blending studies
- Procurement assistance
- Fuel supply security
- Competitive analysis
- Mergers and acquisitions due diligence
- Feasibility studies
- Market and transportation studies
Contract and Legal Support
- Contract preparation
- Negotiation support
- Contract and supply audits
- Force Majeure Investigation
- Expert Witness
Engineering
- Coal blending
- Coal preparation
- Materials storage and handling
Environmental
- Permitting and regulatory support
- Audits and assessments
- Environmental management plans
Carbon Sequestration
- Depleted oil and gas reservoirs
- Enhanced oil and gas recovery
- Deep saline formations
- Enhanced coalbed methane recovery

Government and Regulatory Agencies

A variety of international, federal, provincial, state, local, and native / first nations’ government and regulatory agencies have benefited from Norwest’s broad range of services. From understanding the economic natural resource potential of an underdeveloped region to providing expert witness and advisory services, Norwest’s professionals know how to balance the needs of economic development with the principles of sustainable development.

Our services to government and regulatory agencies include the following:

Resource assessments
- Oil sands
- Coal
- Industrial minerals
- Oil and gas
- Coalbed methane
- Coal mine methane
- Base metals
- Precious metals
Regional natural resource development planning
Resource leasing evaluations and strategy planning
Natural resource property valuations
Performance reviews
Regulatory plan development and management
Regulatory compliance reviews
Sustainable development principles
Environmental planning and management
Litigation support
Expert witness

Industrial and Manufacturing

Norwest has extensive experience assisting industrial and manufacturing clients in managing surface water, groundwater and environmental remediation issues. Norwest’s clients include chemical and petrochemical facilities, refineries, commercial land developers and manufacturing facilities. In addition, Norwest provides expert technical support for law firms and insurance companies working on environmental cases and land transfer due diligence. Our senior professionals are well qualified to provide expert witness testimony on a wide variety of environmental and water resources issues.

Norwest has provided Phase 1 and Phase 2 Environmental Site Assessment (ESA) services on behalf of both sellers and potential purchasers of industrial property since the mid-1980s. Our clients have included Lyondell Chemical Company, El Paso Energy Company, Textron, the Hartford Insurance Group, and Atlantic Richfield Company among others. Due to our long history with larger industrial clients, many of our engagements have spanned the full range of environmental consulting services, from Phase 1 and Phase 2 ESAs to remediation design and implementation. This broad experience base allows Norwest professionals to bring a broad perspective to our clients as compared with consultants who focus solely on Phase 1 and Phase 2 ESA documentation.

Search form

Experience

Associated Case Studies:

Situation:

Situation:

Solution:

Result:

Situation:

Solution:

Result:

Situation:

Solution:

Result:

Industries Served