Costs for Off-Site Disposal of Nonhazardous Oil Field Wastes: Salt Caverns Versusother Disposal Methods

摘要

This report provides information on the availability of commercial disposalcompanies in oil and gas producing states, the treatment and disposal methods they employ, and the amounts they charge. It also compares cavern disposal costs with the costs of other forms of waste disposal. At the federal level, the majority of oil field wastes are considered to be exempt from the hazardous waste provisions of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA). These wastes are instead regulated at the state level. All oil and gas producing states allow some oil field wastes to be disposed of on-site. The commonly used on site disposal methods include underground injection, on-site burial, land spreading or other land treatment, evaporation, surface discharge, and recycling. Argonne National Laboratory conducted interviews with oil and gas officials in 31 oil and gas producing states to learn how oil field wastes are disposed of in their states and to identify commercial off-site disposal companies.