Best Management Practices (BMPs) are being adopted by many oil and gas firms as a crucial component of their pollution prevention program to assist them in reducing their air emissions, water use, erosion control, and production of hazardous waste.
Pollution is a threat to the environment and the general public. This is why reducing the amount of any hazardous material, pollutant, or contaminant released into the environment is the goal of pollution prevention. The prevention of pollution also entails the prudent use of resources.
This article is meant to assist you in reducing pollution before, during, and after drilling, production, processing, storage, transmission, and distribution.
The following BMPs must be evaluated individually, taking each facility’s circumstances, operations, and constraints into consideration. Before a project begins is the ideal time to start identifying BMPs. You can comply with legal requirements by using several of the BMPs listed below.
Cut Back on Emissions While Drilling and Finishing
To capture gas produced during well completions that would otherwise be vented or flared, use Reduced Emissions Completions (RECs), also known as Green Completions. For this, electricity is required.
Cut Emissions While Producing
To cut down on fugitive air pollutants, substitute covered tanks, central, or local water treatment facilities for open pits. Reduce venting as much as feasible while using closed-loop techniques during blowdowns.
Install a plunger lift device and switch to low-emitting engines to remove liquids from wells or blow-downs. To reduce leaks and fugitive emissions, tighten connections and replace the packing.
To reduce air emissions, use and maintain appropriate hatches, seals, and valves. Use vapor recovery systems on dehydrators, storage tanks for produced water, oil, and condensate.
By sending emissions to a flare or combustion chamber or by sending dehydrator still emissions to first-stage compression, unburned hydrocarbon emissions can be reduced. To prevent over-dehydration, reduce the rate of glycol circulation.
Lessen Hazardous Substances
To lessen toxicity, swap oil-based mud for polymers, biodegradable additives, or organic additives. Keep containers covered when purchasing less volatile solvents and liquid chemicals in bulk. Instead of using diesel oil, lubricate using mineral oil and lubra-beads.
Use Equipment with High Efficiency
Change high-bleed valves with electric, compressed air, or low-bleed valves. Install new electric, solar, or compressed air-powered devices and controls, or convert existing gas-operated pneumatic devices.
Enhance Inspection and Upkeep
Use a directed inspection and maintenance program to find fugitive gas leaks coming from faulty compressors, valves, connectors, seals, and open-ended lines.
These devices include infrared cameras, organic vapor analyzers, soap solutions, and ultrasonic leak detectors, as well as measurement tools like calibrated bagging, rotameters, and high-volume samplers.
Also, keep drums and other materials covered, as in a trailer, shed, or under a tarp.
Control Tailpipe Emissions and Dust
Use water or chemical treatment, like lignin sulfonate, calcium chloride, magnesium chloride, or asphalt emulsion. On-site, limit vehicle speeds to 10 mph.
After work is finished, bury or reclaim any storage heaps that were excavated. Wash the machinery, then clean the excavation faces. To remotely monitor and manage production, use telemetry and well automation.
Utilize water that is centrally stored and pumped via a temporary surface line to the good pads and fracturing facilities. Use hard-line frac pipelines that may supply many good pads with centralized fracturing pads.
Centralize the locations of the gas processing plants, and transport workers to the job site via buses and vans.
Monitor Development and Reclamation
To lessen the exposure of cuttings and other waste storage locations to stormwater runoff, use diversion dikes, containment dikes, and curbing. Separate the areas that are not impacted from the areas where liquid storage, loading/unloading facilities, and operations take place.
To minimize sediment loss and runoff pollution, use sediment traps, swales, and mulching during building activities.
Conclusion
By following these best management practices, companies can help ensure the safety of their employees, the environment, and the public. The guide also provides useful information on policies and procedures related to the oil and gas industry and offers suggestions for improving communication between all stakeholders.
It enables companies to be better equipped in managing their operations and ensure their compliance with industry standards.
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