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Significant onsite handling and offsite management costs are incurred by oilfield operators annually to properly manage hydrocarbon waste streams such as tank bottoms or other oily sludge or oil impacted soil generated during oil and gas production processes. The current study reports for the first-time technical results of a field trial on use of a smouldering combustion technology performed in an active oilfield. Two treatment batches with oily sludges, stabilized through blending with soil, resulted in permanent hydrocarbon removal (98–99.9% reduction) to create treated soil that met standards for reuse as clean backfill onsite. Emissions profile data collected pre- and post-thermal oxidizer indicated effective removal of volatile organic compounds, CO and SO2, but had increased NO and CO2 due to combustion of propane to affect the thermal oxidation. Regulatory, financial, environmental and safety considerations are discussed in context of future full-scale smouldering technology deployment. The technology has the potential to lower overall unit costs for management of hydrocarbon impacted waste and reduce waste sent to landfills, which can benefit more remote sites.

Treatment and management of oil-impacted wastes (e.g. tank bottoms, clarifier or pit sludge, oil-impacted soils) poses significant technical and financial challenges at exploration and production (E&P) facilities. Often these materials are distant from waste disposal or treatment facilities or are inaccessible to the equipment necessary for treatment. Further, the size of treatment facilities and associated costs may make treatment of these wastes unviable. Heated Overland Thermal Treatment Pad (Hottpad), is a novel, cost-effective and easily scaled solution for oil impacted wastes at E&P sites that has been developed and field demonstrated. Hottpad consists of a metal pad with metal or dirt-bermed walls, which is then covered with oily waste material or oil-impacted soil for subsequent treatment via smouldering combustion. Since initial deployment in 2016, the technology has been further improved and refined to target two applications of interest; i) small, portable systems designed for treatment of stranded wastes and ii) centralized, bespoke scale treatment facilities. Both systems are designed for on-site treatment with conversion of wastes to materials suitable for reuse. The current Hottpad configuration is the culmination of more than 8 years of collaborative research, technology development, refinement and improvement. Hottpad has been demonstrated to be highly effective at meeting remediation goals, is cost-effective, and is a more sustainable and lower risk alternative to the traditional means of treatment that rely on off-site transport of impacted materials.