An environmentally viable waste disposal method for oil-producing countries

Abstract

The increasing amount of oil field waste is a matter of concern. This study proposes the Slurry Fracture Injection (SFI) technique as an alternative waste disposal method. The proposed waste disposal method is complete and leaves few future liabilities. The entire waste can be injected into an isolated deep geologic zone with no contamination of water-bearing formations or formations outside the targeted zone. The method can lead to the reclamation of oil industry landfills and the oil pits and dumps. We propose a two-tiered screening method for evaluating the feasibility of this technology and identification of a suitable target zone. A stringent environmental monitoring program should complement the SFI process to ensure environmental compatibility.