Oilfield Waste: An Overlooked Commodity
Abstract
California oil and gas operators generate large quantities of non-hazardous waste
through daily field operations. Vacuum trailers are used to haul oilfield waste to
open pits or mixing pads located on lease. Where pits and mixing pads are not available,
operators haul waste to third party disposal or landfill. This study evaluates standard
oilfield waste handling practices and identifies opportunities to (1) enhance oil
recovery, (2) reduce environmental footprint, (3) gain operational efficiencies, and
(4) achieve cost savings for the operator. The study sought to determine if centralized
processing reduces environmental impact and costs associated with waste handling for
oil and gas operators. Oil recovery pilots across three of California’s largest oilfields
have generated over $12 million per year in revenue that was being lost to mix pads
or landfills. The cumulative oil revenue has exceeded $50 million. The results from
pilot studies could have major implications on emerging shale plays, where fluid volumes
far exceed those in the mature fields of California. Flowback procedures on new wells
generate as much as 20,000 barrels per day of oil-bearing fluids. At a 20% oil cut,
4,000 barrels of oil recovered would result in $200,000 saved every day fluids that
fluids are recycled. The study offers a roadmap for waste minimization in mature oilfields
and a blueprint for waste optimization strategies in emerging shale plays.
Type
Master's projectPermalink
https://hdl.handle.net/10161/22678Citation
Umbro, Michael (2021). Oilfield Waste: An Overlooked Commodity. Master's project, Duke University. Retrieved from https://hdl.handle.net/10161/22678.Collections
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