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Title: Costs for off-site disposal of nonhazardous oil field wastes: Salt caverns versus other disposal methods

Technical Report ·
DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/537271· OSTI ID:537271

According to an American Petroleum Institute production waste survey reported on by P.G. Wakim in 1987 and 1988, the exploration and production segment of the US oil and gas industry generated more than 360 million barrels (bbl) of drilling wastes, more than 20 billion bbl of produced water, and nearly 12 million bbl of associated wastes in 1985. Current exploration and production activities are believed to be generating comparable quantities of these oil field wastes. Wakim estimates that 28% of drilling wastes, less than 2% of produced water, and 52% of associated wastes are disposed of in off-site commercial facilities. In recent years, interest in disposing of oil field wastes in solution-mined salt caverns has been growing. This report provides information on the availability of commercial disposal companies in oil-and gas-producing states, the treatment and disposal methods they employ, and the amounts they charge. It also compares cavern disposal costs with the costs of other forms of waste disposal.

Research Organization:
Argonne National Lab. (ANL), Argonne, IL (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Assistant Secretary for Fossil Energy, Washington, DC (United States)
DOE Contract Number:
W-31109-ENG-38
OSTI ID:
537271
Report Number(s):
DOE/BC-97008692; ON: DE97008692; IN: DOE/BC/W-31-109-Eng-38-2; TRN: AHC29722%%36
Resource Relation:
Other Information: PBD: Sep 1997
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English