scope:

INTRODUCTION

E & P Categories Defined

In its report to Congress in December, 1987 on the oil and gas industry's Exploration and Production (E & P) Wastes, EPA identified these general E & P waste categories:

1. Drilling fluids,

2. Produced water, and

3. Associated Wastes

This report addresses the Associated Wastes category.

Associated Wastes include all wastes, other than drilling fluids and produced water, uniquely associated with exploration and production operations. From a practical view, the primary Associated Wastes include:

• workover fluids,

• used oils,

• oily debris and filter media,

• dehydration and sweetening wastes,

• produced sand and contaminated soil,

• spent iron sponge,

• tight emulsions, and

• tank bottoms and separator sludges.

Waste Management Practices

The general waste management practices employed in handling these wastes include:

• recycled/reused,

• burial,

• road application/land spreading,

• on-site pits,

• off-site commercial facilities, and

• Class II injection.

Report Purpose

To provide a better understanding of Associated wastes, API has commissioned this report. It focuses primarily on a qualitative and quantitative description of Associated Wastes as well as a discussion on the predominant waste management practices. Examples of state regulatory programs that are applicable to these practices are also included. Updated volume data from a 1985 API industry-wide survey on Associated Wastes is provided (Appendix A) which estimates that approximately 11.8 million barrels of Associated Wastes were generated that year. Waste characterization data is also provided (Appendix B) for a number of the primary Associated Wastes.

Brief issue papers on other miscellaneous oilfield wastes of interest are also provided (Appendix C),