Use of injection wells for refinery waste disposal. Quarterly report, October 1, 1996--December 31, 1996
The Ground Water Protection Council has had initial discussions with the American Petroleum Institute staff and several major oil companies concerning a project that would address several technical and regulatory issues related to the use of injection wells at refineries. As currently regulated by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA), injection wells used for refinery related disposal are typically classified as either Class I hazardous or non- hazardous, depending on RCRA classification. The expense of acquiring an operating permit for these types of wells is very high and they have substantially more operational expenses than a typical Class II injection well. What is perplexing, based on general observation, is that some Class II injection wells are being permitted and allowed to dispose of waste having similar characteristics as some of those used by the refineries but classified as hazardous. Class II injection wells are authorized statutorily because the injectate is associated with fluids originating from the production of hydrocarbons. From our conversations with several state oil and gas regulatory agencies and representatives of the refinery industry, it appears that the use of Class II wells at refineries has been rejected because they are not seen as being directly associated with production of oil & gas. Examples of such refinery wastes are those associated with various treatment or process stream originating from the plant. Although these wastes are associated with produced hydrocarbons, USEPA does not consider them to be in the same category as wastes associated with Class II injection wells, even if they are characteristically similar. This project would collect sufficient data to determine whether or not (in relation to the underlying regulations) there is an inconsistency in current federal and state regulation. If one is found, refineries might be eligible for reclassification of wastes.
- Research Organization:
- Ground Water Protection Council, Inc., Oklahoma City, OK (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE Assistant Secretary for Fossil Energy, Washington, DC (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- FG22-95BC14828
- OSTI ID:
- 496154
- Report Number(s):
- DOE/BC/14828-T1; ON: DE97052504
- Resource Relation:
- Other Information: PBD: Jan 1997
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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