Rescuing Louisiana: LEMOINE Partnering to Safeguard the State from Silent Environmental Threats

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In the heart of Louisiana, a state known for its rich cultural heritage and diverse ecosystems, a silent threat has lurked beneath the surface for decades: Orphan wells. These wells, once used for oil and gas exploration, pose significant environmental risks if left unchecked. However, LEMOINE acting in the role of Construction Manager at Risk (CMaR) for the Louisiana Department of Natural Resources (LDNR), has undertaken the ambitious project to plug these wells, contributing to the environmental sustainability and resilience of the state. LEMOINE’s services to LDNR include methane monitoring, federal compliance reporting, disadvantaged business enterprise (DBE) outreach and utilization, site restoration, and plug and abandonment (P&A) of wells.

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Understanding the Challenge

Orphan wells are a ticking time bomb that can contaminate groundwater, soil, and release harmful gases into the atmosphere. They not only endanger the environment but also pose health and safety risks to nearby communities. Louisiana, with its extensive history of oil and gas extraction, has roughly 4,500 orphaned wells that require immediate attention. As of December 2020, there are over 97,213 documented orphan wells throughout the United States. But that number leaves out the hundreds of thousands of additional undocumented orphaned wells that remain.

The Environmental Impact

Plugging of orphan wells is a crucial step in mitigating environmental damage. These wells can serve as conduits for the migration of harmful substances like oil, gas, and brine, contaminating the soil and groundwater. People living near some orphaned wells may be exposed to their methane and other gas emissions and subsurface fluids leaking to groundwater and/or soil. By sealing these wells, LEMOINE is preventing further pollution and safeguarding Louisiana’s natural resources.

Resilience for Future Generations

One of the most significant impacts of LEMOINE’s orphan well plugging project is the enhancement of Louisiana’s environmental resilience. As climate change intensifies, and the frequency of natural disasters increases, it is essential for states to fortify their ecosystems and infrastructure. Plugging these wells reduces the risk of environmental disasters, ensuring that communities have a stronger defense against future challenges.

Orphan Wells Count by Parish in Louisiana

Data Provided by EDF

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Economic Benefits

Apart from the environmental and social benefits, LEMOINE’s project also has had a positive economic impact. Job creation, increased property values, and the reduction of potential liabilities are just a few of the economic advantages that come with properly plugging orphan wells. This, in turn, strengthens the state’s economic resilience.

As LEMOINE moved through the development of our plan, we started recruiting local P&A companies and forming alliances of small providers in disadvantaged communities. With a target of wells established with LDNR, we created buyout packages for each well with local vendors. We helped them with funding, compliance, and reporting; provided company men, safety officers, and well site supervisors; de-risked the jobsites; and brought in A rated insurers and practices. LEMOINE bridged the gap of requirements that make federal projects tough for small companies.

LEMOINE ended up removing enough obstacles and creating so many new efficient teams and affiliations that we drove the projected costs of the P&A work down by nearly 20% and returned the savings to LDNR. LEMOINE has since been able to perform P&A work for 370 wells at the original projected cost of 300.

LEMOINE flattened the hills and valleys of difficult buyout and management of federal compliant projects – and produced a product that put Louisiana at the top end of producers on wells capped in 2023.

Conclusion

LEMOINE’s commitment to plugging orphan wells is a shining example of how private companies can play a pivotal role in enhancing environmental sustainability and resilience. By addressing the environmental risks posed by orphan wells, LEMOINE is not only safeguarding the state’s natural resources but also setting a precedent for responsible and sustainable construction practices.

As LEMOINE moves forward with P&A projects in Louisiana and branches out to assist other states, we will continue to take proactive measures to protect the environment, strengthen local communities, and create a more resilient future. Together, we can ensure that the silent threats beneath the surface do not become active disasters in our future.

LEMOINE: Promoting Excellence

LEMOINE: Promoting Excellence

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Buie B., Promoted to Senior Project Manager in 2023

Internal promotions bring widely recognized advantages in the workplace, such as boosting morale, saving time and money from recruitment expenses, employee retention, and mitigating risks associated with mismatched personnel or organizational ethos.

According to the Society of Human Resource Management (SHRM) benchmarking report, the average rate of internal promotion stands at 6%. However, thus far in 2023, LEMOINE has promoted 39 individuals, equating to nearly 10% of our core employee base.

This led us to ponder …Why does LEMOINE place such significant emphasis on internal promotions?

To answer this question, we turned to those deeply engaged in staff assessment and advancement within LEMOINE.  We asked a sampling of members of our Team, from Human Resources to Service Line Leadership, Operations, and more:

“Why does LEMOINE promote at higher-than-average rates?”

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Rudy Comeaux, President of Infrastructure

Career growth and development is very important to our organization at LEMOINE. Promotions are the result of high performing employees doing the right things at the right time every day. We continue to focus on the importance of developing our employees, always challenging ourselves to improve at this.

Also, when employees see their peers receive promotions, they know opportunities exist for high performers.

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Erica Hinds, Director of Marketing

Internal candidates often have a deeper understanding of the company’s needs, challenges, and goals. This familiarity allows them to tailor their skills and contributions more effectively to meet those needs. Given our strong emphasis on nurturing company culture and aligning with objectives at LEMOINE, internal promotions can oftentimes be the most natural and smooth path to drive our strategic goals forward.

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Mike Rice, President of Disaster Services

As a leader, there is nothing more gratifying than seeing our young professionals work with such commitment and dedication to building the skills necessary to take on more responsibility, which results in their promotions.

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Wills Hover, Vice President of Healthcare

Our organization is lucky to have many bright young leaders. Over the past year, many promotions were attributed to relentless drive and grit, the trust and respect our team members cultivate with our clients and their peers, and their unwavering commitment to LEMOINE.

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J.D. King, Vice President of Preconstruction

LEMOINE has a culture that is palpable.  The employees that foster that culture are invaluable.  There’s no better feeling than getting to reward those employees by providing opportunities for them to advance their career at LEMOINE.

CEO Lenny Lemoine is passionate about people.  From onboarding to technical training and soft skills, Lenny is invested in LEMOINE’s employee success stories.

When speaking on the firm’s future sustainability, Lenny was quoted in a 2013 article from The Independent stating, “The only way it’s going to be sustainable is if you’re hiring the best, but you’re able to grow them and retain them and create an environment and culture where they feel gratified and they feel like they have a bright future and that they’re developing on an individual basis into being as good as they should be at what they do.”

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Lenny Lemoine, CEO

The Common Denominator

The collective responses and insights we received conveyed a unified message: Relationships.  For decades, we have consistently upheld the notion that our success is cultivated by our philosophy of building authentic, lasting relationships. Typically, our focus has been on forging these bonds with clients, industry partners, and communities – all external affiliations.

Yet, in light of our recent realization of our higher-than-average promotion rates, we recognize the significance our culture places on internal relationships.  We value personal growth, recognition, and success. This effort has proven that we also value building, maintaining, and leveraging prosperous relationships within LEMOINE. Teams that have worked together in the past can complete projects more efficiently, leading to the highest success rate for us, our partners, our clients, and the communities touched by our work. 

As we pursue our Big Hairy Audacious Goal (BHAG) of ranking among Fortune’s 100 Best Companies to Work For by 2027, we are committed to nurturing, advancing, elevating, and celebrating our Brand Promise: The Right People.

Want to join a team built on excellence and relationships? Learn more about careers with LEMOINE!

Our Brand Promise: The Right People.

Expanding Owner’s Representation Services in Middle Tennessee

We are thrilled to announce the newest addition to our esteemed team at LEMOINE Program Services. John Ramares, an accomplished professional in the Design and Construction Industry, has recently joined us, bringing a wealth of expertise and enthusiasm. With his arrival, we are excited to expand our Owner’s Representation Services into the Middle Tennessee and Nashville market, further solidifying our presence in this dynamic region.

Our Services: Advisory Audit + Controls Dispute Resolution Energy + Sustainability Facilities Consulting Preconstruction Services

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John Ramares joins LEMOINE with decades of experience in the Design and Construction industry.

Connect with John here.

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LEMOINE Program Services – Comprehensive Program Management Solutions:

LEMOINE Program Services has earned a reputation as a renowned provider of Full-Service Program Management Solutions. Our diverse range of services includes Advisory, Audit + Controls, Dispute Resolution, Energy + Sustainability, Facilities Consulting, Preconstruction Services, Program Management, Transition Planning, and much more. By offering a comprehensive suite of services, we ensure that our clients receive holistic support throughout every stage of their projects.

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A Valuable Addition to the Team:

John Ramares brings with him several years of experience in the Design and Construction Industry, making him a valuable asset to our team. His expertise and leadership will be instrumental in spearheading the expansion of our Owner’s Representation Services in the Middle Tennessee / Nashville market. With John at the helm, we are confident in our ability to deliver exceptional results and exceed client expectations.

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Driving Growth and Success in Middle Tennessee:

As we embark on this exciting journey, we are committed to contributing to the growth and success of LEMOINE Program Services in the Middle Tennessee region. John’s deep understanding of the local market, combined with our comprehensive service offerings, will enable us to forge strong collaborations with clients and industry professionals. Together, we will ensure that projects are executed with excellence, adhering to the highest standards of quality and professionalism.

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Learn More about LEMOINE Program Services:

To discover more about our comprehensive range of services and how we can assist you, please visit our website at programservices.1lemoine.com. There, you will find detailed information about our expertise and the values that guide us in every endeavor.