The use of planning tools to minimize waste and discharges to the environment during well construction is fast becoming the norm in the oil and gas industry. Air emission control through the same approach is also desirable. Calculating the carbon footprint of a well construction operation is however usually done after the event. When planning the well, air emissions are generally taken into account through qualitative evaluations, and consideration of emissions from disposal activities appears to be somewhat rare. Nevertheless there is a clear advantage in a quantitative analysis of the operation, as it supports emission mitigation at source and allows the engineer to compare different operational choices. The objective of the development work undertaken was to create a user-friendly yet scientifically defensible methodology for calculation of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, air pollutants, fuel consumption and fuel costs before well construction takes place. The aim was to enable engineers to compare different operational choices in a quantitative manner. The developed methodology utilises databases of equipment, specific energy consumption and specific emission factors and allows pre- operational calculations without the need for detailed data on actual power consumption or fuel use. This allows targeted emission mitigation to be incorporated into the planning stage. The initial phase of the project included a review of GHG calculation methodologies and the air emission reporting requirements in the EU and the USA. Existing methodologies appear to have been designed to support post-operational calculations, where accurate data on fuel consumption and fuel consistency is known, thus some methodology development was required as such data is not available before an operation. The approach used in this calculator takes into account all aspects of the operation that can be influenced by the operator: Logistics, equipment, fluid choices and waste management options, including different end disposal options. The results include both detailed breakdowns and rapid overviews of emission sources both for greenhouse gases and the traditional air pollutants. Applying the concepts developed in the planning stage supports identification of best practices and allows targeted improvement efforts towards areas of greater emissions. The actual tool can be used for both comparisons during the design stage and as an aid to audits for accurate post-operational emissions audits.
Consideration of the risk associated with operations at the earliest possible stage is a key factor for effective chemical HSE risk management. This paper describes the operational and strategic decisions behind the design and implementation of a method developed for Maersk Oil, where the responsibility for chemical risk assessment is transferred to the earliest possible point in the chemical handling chain -the procurement process.Separate HSE risk assessment procedures conducted solely by specialists may lead to decoupling of the HSE considerations from the operational requirements. The objective was to integrate chemical HSE risk assessment into the overall consideration of chemical suitability (technical and cost) for a particular operation. When extending HSE risk assessment responsibility to operational staff with procurement responsibilities from HSE specialists, certain criteria must be met. The developed methodology was to meet the following targets:1. Give consistent answers without applying HSE expertise; 2. Be easy and fast to use; 3. Take into account regulative demands; and 4. Allow linking chemical HSE risk to management actions and corporate policy The developed methodology provides the assessor with a simple yet plausible and understandable result of the associated level of HSE risk. The assessment is based on linking data supplied by the vendors to chemical usage scenarios supplied by the actual operative personnel. Implementation of the methodology for easy user interface is based on an IT-solution tailored to the operators existing processes. This paper summarises the definition of the objectives and the main considerations taken when developing the methodology and presents an overview of the supporting tool developed.
TX 75083-3836, U.S.A., fax 01-972-952-9435. AbstractEurope's biggest-ever single piece of legislation, REACH (Registration, Evaluation and Authorisation of Chemicals), entered into force on June 1, 2007. REACH requires manufacturers, importers and users of chemicals to demonstrate that their products are safe to use for humans and the environment. There will be increasing pressure to substitute chemicals perceived as potentially harmful with less hazardous materials. The legislation is expected to have a significant effect on the management and application of chemicals used by the oil industry in Europe.This paper reviews the REACH process of approval from an end users point of view. The focus is on how REACH will impact on oil companies' European exploration and production (E&P) activities in practical terms. Previous work in the area has tended to focus on the impact on the chemical manufacturers or on cost. The likely consequences of REACH to upstream oil and gas companies are here demonstrated through a discussion of management requirements, based on how four international oil companies are preparing to ensure upstream operations comply with REACH For the European E&P industry, the introduction of REACH will require new management focus and measures to:1. Identify the potential for discontinuation of supply of vital oilfield chemicals 2. Design and implement more rigorous chemical management procedures at site but is also considered to 3. Support better and more comparative assessment of chemicals' Health, Safety and Environmental (HSE) properties. In order to illustrate the complex processes of REACH, the regulatory requirements have been reviewed against the HSE profile of formates. These high volume oilfield chemicals used as drilling and completion fluids can be handled by employees with a high level of safety without requiring full chemical hazard suits. Formate brines demonstrate a low level of toxicity to humans and the environmental impact is significantly less than that of many traditional brines. In the tightening regulatory environment this effectively means that compliance is less arduous to achieve and requires less chemical specific management measures.
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