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Abstract

This paper surveys the major waste streams generated by human and industrial activities in an offshore oil and gas drilling and production field. It focuses on investigating and recommending proper waste management practices in the frame of a waste management plan as a tool for environmental protection and pollution prevention. The study sets a waste management strategy, suggests a frame work document of a waste management plan considering oil and gas industry best practices and regulatory requirement. It highlights some of the waste minimization and environment protection initiatives by oil and gas Production companies in Abu Dhabi, UAE.

Introduction

Oil and gas drilling and production industry generates large volume of wastes. According to API survey to the onshore and coastal operators in the United States, almost 18 billion barrels of produced water, about 150 million barrels of drilling waste and about 20 million barrels of other types of E&P waste were generated from onshore oil and gas facilities in 1995 (API, 2000). The continuous increase of demands for oil and gas has resulted in a significant increase of oil prices, production and the generated wastes. The ultimate fate of the wastes depends on the nature of the wastes and the characteristics of the recipient environment. Some of these wastes may have significant negative impacts. Management of waste is a challenge that faces all oil and gas companies, especially in offshore fields, where the marine environment is known of its fragile and sensitivity to pollution. This is why it is important that wastes are effectively managed and properly disposed, through a systematic approach to waste handling, storage and disposal based on waste management and minimization principles and best practices.

1.1 Area of the study

The area of the study is Abu Dhabi offshore oil concession areas (Figure 1). The Emirate of Abu Dhabi is a located in the Arabian Gulf. It is one of the seven emirates of the state known as United Arab Emirates. Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) operates total of 18 offshore and onshore oil and gas upstream and down stream companies. That includes, oil and gas production companies, drilling company, refineries, oil and gas shipping companies, etc.