Strategies for Sustainable Management of Oilfield Wastes and Wastewaters in Shale Resource Plays

摘要

Management of exploration & production (E&P) industry waste and wastewaters has evolved rapidly over the last dozen years, driven by greater scrutiny of waste management practices by state and federal regulatory agencies, the public, and environmental groups. The evolution of waste management has accelerated with the focus on unconventional oil & gas plays and use of multiple horizontal well completions from a single pad. The use of multi-well pads and rapid development of regional areas has resulted in large, localized volumes of waste materials and water not seen before in the industry. This paper provides a comprehensive summary of the types of wastes that may be generated during shale resource development and reviews regulatory requirements for waste management, recycling and disposal. It also discusses the importance of developing a "cradle to grave" waste management plan covering a project from exploration and development through production of oil & gas and eventually to site closure.