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Title: Innovative technologies for managing oil field waste.

Abstract

Each year, the oil industry generates millions of barrels of wastes that need to be properly managed. For many years, most oil field wastes were disposed of at a significant cost. However, over the past decade, the industry has developed many processes and technologies to minimize the generation of wastes and to more safely and economically dispose of the waste that is generated. Many companies follow a three-tiered waste management approach. First, companies try to minimize waste generation when possible. Next, they try to find ways to reuse or recycle the wastes that are generated. Finally, the wastes that cannot be reused or recycled must be disposed of. Argonne National Laboratory (Argonne) has evaluated the feasibility of various oil field waste management technologies for the U.S. Department of Energy. This paper describes four of the technologies Argonne has reviewed. In the area of waste minimization, the industry has developed synthetic-based drilling muds (SBMs) that have the desired drilling properties of oil-based muds without the accompanying adverse environmental impacts. Use of SBMs avoids significant air pollution from work boats hauling offshore cuttings to shore for disposal and provides more efficient drilling than can be achieved with water-based muds. Downhole oil/water separatorsmore » have been developed to separate produced water from oil at the bottom of wells. The produced water is directly injected to an underground formation without ever being lifted to the surface, thereby avoiding potential for groundwater or soil contamination. In the area of reuse/recycle, Argonne has worked with Southeastern Louisiana University and industry to develop a process to use treated drill cuttings to restore wetlands in coastal Louisiana. Finally, in an example of treatment and disposal, Argonne has conducted a series of four baseline studies to characterize the use of salt caverns for safe and economic disposal of oil field wastes.« less

Authors:
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Argonne National Lab. (ANL), Argonne, IL (United States)
Sponsoring Org.:
FE
OSTI Identifier:
961203
Report Number(s):
ANL/EA/JA-45402
Journal ID: ISSN 0195-0738; JERTD2; TRN: US1003275
DOE Contract Number:  
DE-AC02-06CH11357
Resource Type:
Journal Article
Journal Name:
J. Energy Resour. Technol.
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 125; Journal Issue: 3 ; Sep. 2003; Journal ID: ISSN 0195-0738
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
ENGLISH
Subject:
02 PETROLEUM; 12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE WASTES, AND NON-RADIOACTIVE WASTES FROM NUCLEAR FACILITIES; 54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES; AIR POLLUTION; ANL; CONTAMINATION; COST; DRILLING; DRILLING FLUIDS; ECONOMICS; ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS; LOUISIANA; MINIMIZATION; OIL FIELDS; OILS; PETROLEUM INDUSTRY; SALT CAVERNS; SOILS; UNDERGROUND; WASTE MANAGEMENT; WASTES; GROUND WATER; WELLS; WETLANDS

Citation Formats

Veil, J A, and Environmental Assessment. Innovative technologies for managing oil field waste.. United States: N. p., 2003. Web. doi:10.1115/1.1586306.
Veil, J A, & Environmental Assessment. Innovative technologies for managing oil field waste.. United States. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.1586306
Veil, J A, and Environmental Assessment. 2003. "Innovative technologies for managing oil field waste.". United States. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.1586306.
@article{osti_961203,
title = {Innovative technologies for managing oil field waste.},
author = {Veil, J A and Environmental Assessment},
abstractNote = {Each year, the oil industry generates millions of barrels of wastes that need to be properly managed. For many years, most oil field wastes were disposed of at a significant cost. However, over the past decade, the industry has developed many processes and technologies to minimize the generation of wastes and to more safely and economically dispose of the waste that is generated. Many companies follow a three-tiered waste management approach. First, companies try to minimize waste generation when possible. Next, they try to find ways to reuse or recycle the wastes that are generated. Finally, the wastes that cannot be reused or recycled must be disposed of. Argonne National Laboratory (Argonne) has evaluated the feasibility of various oil field waste management technologies for the U.S. Department of Energy. This paper describes four of the technologies Argonne has reviewed. In the area of waste minimization, the industry has developed synthetic-based drilling muds (SBMs) that have the desired drilling properties of oil-based muds without the accompanying adverse environmental impacts. Use of SBMs avoids significant air pollution from work boats hauling offshore cuttings to shore for disposal and provides more efficient drilling than can be achieved with water-based muds. Downhole oil/water separators have been developed to separate produced water from oil at the bottom of wells. The produced water is directly injected to an underground formation without ever being lifted to the surface, thereby avoiding potential for groundwater or soil contamination. In the area of reuse/recycle, Argonne has worked with Southeastern Louisiana University and industry to develop a process to use treated drill cuttings to restore wetlands in coastal Louisiana. Finally, in an example of treatment and disposal, Argonne has conducted a series of four baseline studies to characterize the use of salt caverns for safe and economic disposal of oil field wastes.},
doi = {10.1115/1.1586306},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/961203}, journal = {J. Energy Resour. Technol.},
issn = {0195-0738},
number = 3 ; Sep. 2003,
volume = 125,
place = {United States},
year = {Mon Sep 01 00:00:00 EDT 2003},
month = {Mon Sep 01 00:00:00 EDT 2003}
}