Enhanced oil recovery: environmental issues and state regulatory programs

Technical Report · Sat Sep 01 04:00:00 EDT 1979

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/5931143· OSTI ID:5931143

Haynes, R. J.; Boggs, T. A.; Millemann, R. E.; Floran, R. J.; Hildebrand, S. G.

Environmental assessments were prepared for nine EOR demonstration projects located in six states, and the oil regulations for all oil-producing states were reviewed. These evaluations revealed a number of potentially important environmental impacts associated with EOR, including: (1) loss of vegetation; (2) excessive air emissions from thermal operations; (3) excessive erosion and sedimentation (mostly in hilly terrain) and subsequent deterioration of surface-water quality; (4) pollution of land and surface waters from spills or leaks of oil or other chemicals; and (5) contamination of groundwater aquifers. The need for additional environmental planning and monitoring regulations specific for the oil-production industry is emphasized. States are encouraged to continue strengthening and upgrading their oil-regulatory programs to safeguard the environment. The evaluations also identified areas where additional information is needed: (1) toxicity and carcinogenicity studies of chemicals used in injection processes; (2) evaluation of groundwater monitoring methods; and (3) studies of reclamation procedures for soils contaminated by oil and brine.

• Research Organization: Oak Ridge National Lab., TN (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-26
• OSTI ID: 5931143
• Report Number(s): ORNL/TM-6943
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
020300 -- Petroleum-- Drilling & Production
020900* -- Petroleum-- Environmental Aspects
021000 -- Petroleum-- Legislation & Regulations
AIR POLLUTION
ENHANCED RECOVERY
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS
GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS
GROUND WATER
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
OIL WELLS
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PETROLEUM DEPOSITS
POLLUTION
REGULATIONS
RESOURCES
WATER
WELL STIMULATION
WELLS