The Effects of Organizational, Community, and State Regulatory Characteristics on Texas Oil and Gas Extraction Facility Venting and Flaring Practices (Funded by NSF DDRI Award)
Abstract:
Why do some organizations pollute more than others? This dissertation explores this question using a mixed methods approach by analyzing variation in Texas oil and gas extraction facility (NAICS 211) venting (i.e., releasing natural gas into the atmosphere) and flaring (i.e., burning natural gas) practices. Venting and flaring is a growing concern. In Texas in 2012, 48,192 thousand cubic feet of natural gas worth $228 million was wasted through venting and flaring at oil and gas extraction facilities, emitting more pollution than Texas oil and gas refineries. A conceptual model to explain the environmental behavior of these organizations was developed using an open systems organizational theory approach. To provide historical political context, an analysis of the politics of venting and flaring in Texas from 1889-2017 was conducted. Archival information obtained through a Public Information Act request to the Texas Railroad Commission is used to show how, due to direct involvement of large oil and gas companies, policy changed to increase the legal opportunities for companies to vent or flare gas. Then, a geographic information system (GIS) is created using restricted (American Community Survey), and public (Texas Railroad Commission, National Center for Charitable Statistics and Census TIGER) data to examine how community characteristics are related to extreme emissions in Texas in 2012 at the block group (n=15,771) and facility (n=126,862) level. A zero-inflated negative binomial regression model shows that low poverty, low density, and predominately Hispanic neighborhoods are disproportionately exposed to venting and flaring. Finally, the effects of the internal characteristics of facilities (n=126,862), the companies that directly own them (n=4,608), and the political legal environment in which the facility is embedded on the environmental efficiency of facility operations are explored. A clustered two-part hurdle regression model shows venting and flaring practices are consistently associated with facilities with new drilling, few nearby wells, large oil production, and permitting, and operators that produce more oil. Findings suggests structural isomorphism, economic incentives, and state policy are key factors contributing to the environmental decisions of organizations. The dissertation concludes by suggesting political will be applied to enact economic incentives and state policy to reduce the pollution and waste caused by venting and flaring.
Working Draft:
- Chapter 1: A Burning Issue: Flaring and Venting in Texas
- Chapter 2: The Problem with Flaring and Venting Regulation
- Chapter 3: Environmental Inequality from Flaring and Venting
- Chapter 4: Social Organizational Processes Underlying Flaring and Venting
- Chapter 5: A Plan for Change
- Appendix A: Methodological Issues in Quantitative Environmental Inequality Research
- Appendix B: Analytical Strategy for Quantifying the Types of Communities Most Exposed to Flaring and Venting
- Appendix C: Analytical Strategy for Quantifying the Types of Facilities and Operators Most Responsible for Flaring and Venting
Planned Defense Date:
- January 2019
Awards:
- National Science Foundation Doctoral Dissertation Research Improvement Award
- Center for Economic Studies Dissertation Mentorship Award
- Texas A&M University Sociology Department Graduate Research Award
Committee Chair:
- Dr. Theresa Morris, Department of Sociology, Texas A&M University
Committee Members:
- Dr. Arthur Sakamoto, Department of Sociology, Texas A&M University
- Dr. Mary Campbell, Department of Sociology, Texas A&M University
- Dr. Daniel Goldberg, Department of Geography, Texas A&M University
Why do some organizations pollute more than others? This dissertation explores this question using a mixed methods approach by analyzing variation in Texas oil and gas extraction facility (NAICS 211) venting (i.e., releasing natural gas into the atmosphere) and flaring (i.e., burning natural gas) practices. Venting and flaring is a growing concern. In Texas in 2012, 48,192 thousand cubic feet of natural gas worth $228 million was wasted through venting and flaring at oil and gas extraction facilities, emitting more pollution than Texas oil and gas refineries. A conceptual model to explain the environmental behavior of these organizations was developed using an open systems organizational theory approach. To provide historical political context, an analysis of the politics of venting and flaring in Texas from 1889-2017 was conducted. Archival information obtained through a Public Information Act request to the Texas Railroad Commission is used to show how, due to direct involvement of large oil and gas companies, policy changed to increase the legal opportunities for companies to vent or flare gas. Then, a geographic information system (GIS) is created using restricted (American Community Survey), and public (Texas Railroad Commission, National Center for Charitable Statistics and Census TIGER) data to examine how community characteristics are related to extreme emissions in Texas in 2012 at the block group (n=15,771) and facility (n=126,862) level. A zero-inflated negative binomial regression model shows that low poverty, low density, and predominately Hispanic neighborhoods are disproportionately exposed to venting and flaring. Finally, the effects of the internal characteristics of facilities (n=126,862), the companies that directly own them (n=4,608), and the political legal environment in which the facility is embedded on the environmental efficiency of facility operations are explored. A clustered two-part hurdle regression model shows venting and flaring practices are consistently associated with facilities with new drilling, few nearby wells, large oil production, and permitting, and operators that produce more oil. Findings suggests structural isomorphism, economic incentives, and state policy are key factors contributing to the environmental decisions of organizations. The dissertation concludes by suggesting political will be applied to enact economic incentives and state policy to reduce the pollution and waste caused by venting and flaring.
Working Draft:
- Chapter 1: A Burning Issue: Flaring and Venting in Texas
- Chapter 2: The Problem with Flaring and Venting Regulation
- Chapter 3: Environmental Inequality from Flaring and Venting
- Chapter 4: Social Organizational Processes Underlying Flaring and Venting
- Chapter 5: A Plan for Change
- Appendix A: Methodological Issues in Quantitative Environmental Inequality Research
- Appendix B: Analytical Strategy for Quantifying the Types of Communities Most Exposed to Flaring and Venting
- Appendix C: Analytical Strategy for Quantifying the Types of Facilities and Operators Most Responsible for Flaring and Venting
Planned Defense Date:
- January 2019
Awards:
- National Science Foundation Doctoral Dissertation Research Improvement Award
- Center for Economic Studies Dissertation Mentorship Award
- Texas A&M University Sociology Department Graduate Research Award
Committee Chair:
- Dr. Theresa Morris, Department of Sociology, Texas A&M University
Committee Members:
- Dr. Arthur Sakamoto, Department of Sociology, Texas A&M University
- Dr. Mary Campbell, Department of Sociology, Texas A&M University
- Dr. Daniel Goldberg, Department of Geography, Texas A&M University