26  |  ENVIRONMENTAL, HEALTH & SAFETY
As we explore for and produce clean, affordable, abundant, American 
natural gas, we provide an important solution to our nation’s energy 
challenges and its quest for energy independence. With at least a 200-
year supply of natural gas located right here in the U.S., this versatile 
fuel can be used to not only heat homes, create electricity and meet 
America’s transportation needs, but also to fuel the country’s future 
by creating jobs and stimulating local and national economies through  
investment and taxes. 
Environmentally Friendly Operations
At Chesapeake, we realize that the way a great product is produced is 
as important as the product itself. For example, we have helped pioneer 
the use of multiwell padsites to drill up to 16 wells from a single loca -
tion, greatly reducing our land and road use and overall environmental 
footprint. We use the latest horizontal and directional drilling technology 
to place wells at a safe distance from homes, schools and businesses. In 
addition, we build and maintain access roads and work to eliminate soil 
erosion near our sites, as well as restore local vegetation. 
We implement advanced, modern protective measures known as Best 
Management Practices (BMPs) to help ensure energy development is con-
ducted in an environmentally responsible manner. Procedures are imple-
mented throughout our operations to protect freshwater aquifers and 
reduce environmental impacts. BMPs protect wildlife, air quality, water and 
landscapes as we work to develop vitally needed domestic energy sources. 
Implemented throughout the entire life cycle of a well, BMPs can be 
as simple as strategically placing a berm, or land barrier, on locations 
to control surface water runoff. Others involve cutting-edge operational 
technologies such as utilizing the most advanced techniques offered in 
drilling fluids, well casing and cement design. Regardless of complex -
ity, all BMPs are based on the idea that the environmental footprint of  
energy development should be as small and temporary as possible. 
These practices are continually evolving and further improving as 
Chesapeake and the industry develop new innovative techniques and 
approaches to business. 
In addition to our BMPs, Chesapeake has also initiated several  
innovative internal programs focused on water recycling and greener  
hydraulic fracturing processes. 
Aqua Renew ®
Created to meet the challenge of reducing our water usage, Chesapeake’s 
Aqua Renew ® program uses state-of-the-art technology to recycle pro -
duced water. Since the 
company’s preliminary 
reclamation project in 
2006, our focus on water reuse and conservation has become a company-
wide endeavor, stretching from the Barnett Shale of North Texas to the 
Marcellus Shale of northern Pennsylvania. 
The Aqua Renew  program has yet to find a limit to how much  
recycled water could be used without compromising well production. 
In fact, our Marcellus Shale operations are treating and recycling virtu -
ally 100% of produced water (more than 10 million gallons per month)  
for reuse in our hydraulic fracturing operations. Properly conducted 
modern fracking is a highly engineered, controlled, sophisticated and 
safe procedure.
With such large volumes of recycled water, the company is see -
ing more than just environmental advantages. We estimate that this  
INVESTING IN OUR WORLD  
AND OUR PEOPLE »
Green operations — Chesapeake’s Best Management Practices ensure our 
operations are as environmentally friendly as possible, while protecting 
our employees, neighbors and the areas where we operate.