Polish experience in the area of management of the waste generated during the exploration for hydrocarbons from unconventional accumulations

Abstract

Abstract. The work presents the status of works over the gas exploration from unconventional accumulations in Poland as of the 4 th of January 2016. Both the qualitative and quantitative characteristics of waste generated during the exploration for hydrocarbons from unconventional accumulations (data for the years 2010-2014) are presented in the paper. Due to the high content of water and the consistency of waste as well as its changeable and hard-to-predict chemical composition, the waste is difficult to manage. Possible manners of the management of drilling waste connected with the exploration and exploitation of hydrocarbons from unconventional accumulations in Poland and logistic al challenges related to it are also discussed in the paper.

The influence of shale gas mining activities on the natural environment in Poland

“…Moreover, 4 boreholes were drilled in south-west part of Poland (in Silesian Lowlands and Opolskie region) [1].…”

“…Cleaning of drilling fluids takes place in the area of a drilling rig with the use of vibrating, linear and double-deck sieves, desanding equipment, desludgers, centrifuges, hydrocyclones, flocculating stations. Those measures enable the re-use of drilling fluid both for boring another hole and applying as groundwork for compiling a new drilling fluid [1].…”

“…Reference value averaged per year [11] 20 30 n/a n/a n/a 5 n/a As a result of works connected with the exploration and recognition of deposits of natural gas from unconventional accumulations 2 sorts of waste are generated [1, 5, 6, The main sources of contaminants present in the drilling waste are chemicals used for compiling and regulation of parameters of technological drilling fluids, biocides, petroleum substances, corrosion inhibitors, chemicals used for completion of deposits and stimulation of inflow of hydrocarbons and reservoir fluids -which are most often brines and crude oil [1,6] Each drilling fluid has an increased pH value, increased amounts of undissolved and dissolved solid substances (Total dissolves solids -TDS) [1,14,15], surfactants, chloride and sulphate ions and dissolved organic carbon (Total organic carbon -TOC). It also includes small amounts of petroleum-derived hydrocarbons [1,15,16], heavy metals (such as: arsenic, cadmium, barium, chromium, copper, mercury, nickel, lead, antimony, selenium, zinc, tin, cobalt) [1,14,15,17] and also trace amounts of radioactive substances which come from shale formations [1,12,14].…”

“…It also includes small amounts of petroleum-derived hydrocarbons [1,15,16], heavy metals (such as: arsenic, cadmium, barium, chromium, copper, mercury, nickel, lead, antimony, selenium, zinc, tin, cobalt) [1,14,15,17] and also trace amounts of radioactive substances which come from shale formations [1,12,14].…”

“…The locations of Polish gas fields range from the middle-east coast of the Baltic sea through the central part of Poland to the Lubelskie region (the Lublin basin). Additionally, four boreholes were drilled in the south-west part of Poland (in the Silesian Lowland and the Opole region) [1].…”