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

Technical Report · Mon Sep 01 04:00:00 EDT 1997

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

Veil, J A

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., 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
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
03 NATURAL GAS
BRINES
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
COST
DATA
DRILLING FLUIDS
MINERAL WASTES
NATURAL GAS INDUSTRY
PETROLEUM INDUSTRY
SALT CAVERNS
WASTE DISPOSAL