Waste Minimization Program at Sour Gas Facilities

Abstract

Waste Minimization Program at Sour Gas Facilities J.R. Benoit; J.R. Benoit Mobil Oil Canada Search for other works by this author on: This Site Google Scholar M.G. Schuh M.G. Schuh Bromley Engineering Search for other works by this author on: This Site Google Scholar Paper presented at the SPE/EPA Exploration and Production Environmental Conference, San Antonio, Texas, March 1993. Paper Number: SPE-26011-MS https://doi.org/10.2118/26011-MS Published: March 07 1993 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Twitter LinkedIn Get Permissions Search Site Citation Benoit, J.R., and M.G. Schuh. "Waste Minimization Program at Sour Gas Facilities." Paper presented at the SPE/EPA Exploration and Production Environmental Conference, San Antonio, Texas, March 1993. doi: https://doi.org/10.2118/26011-MS Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Reference Manager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex Search nav search search input Search input auto suggest search filter All ContentAll ProceedingsSociety of Petroleum Engineers (SPE)SPE Health, Safety, Security, Environment, Search Advanced Search AbstractAlthough the Oil and Gas industry in North America has enjoyed various exemptions from hazardous waste regulations over the years, these regulations are changing and more emphasis will have to be placed on wastes from the production of oil and gas. As a result a Waste Minimization Program has been developed for application at Mobil's sour gas plants in Western Canada. The Program consists of a multi-phased approach where the primary focus is on the Waste Audit which is the first step in reducing waste.The paper will provide an overview of the various phases of the program including the development of the waste flow diagram and the material balance study. Procedures for identifying waste reduction alternatives and ranking criteria will also be discussed as well as suggestions for a cost/benefit analysis and implementation plan. Emphasis on the approach, audit team selection and expectancies from the program will be reviewed.To date the program has been implemented at five (5) sour gas plants in Western Canada. The paper will present some of the results from the program and outline minimization options that have been implemented with success. The program has already yielded a 30% reduction in solid and liquid wastes at many of these facilities.IntroductionThe Environmental Protection Agency has legislated under the 1984 Hazardous and Solid Waste Amendments to the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, that waste generators must have a waste minimization program in place. Numerous pieces of legislation since then has made it very difficult and costly for generators to dispose of their waste. Superfund legislation, which was implemented during that same period to help cleanup orphan sites, is costing the E and P petroleum industry millions of dollars every year in direct and indirect costs. Although the industry disposed of its waste at these sites according to the regulations at that time, its perceived ability to pay for these cleanup costs has often dictated U.S. regulators' course of action.In Canada, regulations on waste minimization are not yet as stringent. The Federal Government's proposed Green Plan specifically addresses the area of Waste Reduction and has proposed to set up an Office of Waste Management that would regulate its goal of 50% reduction of waste by the year 2000.In Ontario, the provincial government has implemented tighter regulations, particularly Regulation 309 of Ontario's Environmental Protection Act which has substantially increased the cost of waste disposal.In Alberta, the government will be implementing in 1993 its Alberta Environmental Protection and Enhancement Legislation. Draft versions of the legislation, have indicated that the government has specifically targeted the "Minimization of Waste and Recycling" in the regulations. The legislation has proposed that regulations be implemented "requiring the development and implementation of a waste minimization, recycling or recovery plan" for waste generators.P. 639^ Keywords: regulation, unit process, upstream oil & gas, waste management, priority waste, implementation, waste stream, gas plant, legislation, reduction Subjects: Environment, Waste management This content is only available via PDF. 1993. Society of Petroleum Engineers You can access this article if you purchase or spend a download.