Environmental Fate And Effect Of Contaminants In Produced Water

Abstract

Abstract In 1994, the International Association of Oil and Gas Producers (OGP) issued a report on the fate and effects of constituents produced water in the marine environment, based on information from member companies and the literature (1). The report, which focused on the North Sea, was reviewed and updated in 1998, and is currently subject to a further revision. This new report addresses discharge, fate and potential environmental impact of produced water to the marine environment from a wider, global perspective. The focus of the review is primarily on produced water impact, and takes into account a number of comprehensive studies that have been completed during the past 5 years. In addition, information and data on environmental effects of naturally-occurring, ‘non-oil’, constituents forms an important contribution to the report. It is clear that produced water, in general, poses a limited threat to marine ecosystems. Local effects have been observed in shallow waters. Regulation and legislation practices on produced water vary significantly on a global scale, but in many areas are still based principally on concentration standards of oil in water. In some areas, in addition to performance standards, there is also a requirement for biological testing and discharge modelling studies. Environmental risk and impact assessments have, during the past decade, found broader application in areas such as the North Sea and Gulf of Mexico. The paper will present the results of the review and will serve as a basis for further discussion on produced water environmental management in the industry and in the regulatory and scientific and wider stakeholder communities.