Background

As legislation changes and new technologies developed over the years, there is a massive amount of information available on produced water treatment, handling and management. It is recognised that there is a need to have a central focal point where this information can be made available in an organised manner to all interested parties. More importantly, as legislation and technology continue to develop and change, offshore operators need to be kept informed and updated in timely fashion. In addition, different operators may use different approaches in handling produced water, operational experience sharing can bring huge benefits. There is a need to have a mechanism to promote this experience sharing. A web based produced water club offers an ideal solution.

TUV NEL's Produced Water Club has been set up to give you access to relevant practical information which will assist in addressing produced water issues - saving you time and money.

Worldwide daily water production in 1999 for oil and gas reached 33.4 million tonnes, which was about three times the oil production. In the North Sea water production has increased steadily over the past two decades. Currently some 1.2 million tonnes of produced water is discharged every day. Worldwide legislation is tightening up for the discharge of produced water. For example, in the North Sea:

A minimum of 15% reduction in total quantity of oil discharged in produced water by the end of 2006 compared to the year 2000
The performance standard for the dispersed oil is to be reduced from its current level of 40 mg/l to 30 mg/l by the year end of 2006
Also new performance standards related to the discharge of aromatics and Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) are being considered

Increasing operation costs associated with produced water treatment also put pressure on offshore operators to manage production water even more effectively.

There are a number of ways as listed below to handle production water and so to minimise its discharge into the marine environment. Today operators are increasingly using a holistic water management approach and looking at the produced water issue proactively.

Water shut-off and /or isolation to stop water being produced at reservoir level using, for example, chemical / gel treatments
Downhole separation and Produced Water Re-Injection (PWRI)
Subsea separation and PWRI
Surface treatment and then either discharge the water into the sea or using PWRI

In March 2003 TUV NEL organised its first Produced Water Workshop. More than 100 people from around the world participated at the event. Topics included legislation, surface treatment technology, downhole subsea separation and produced water re-injection, produced water characteristics and environmental monitoring. The success of the event provided further evidence of the importance of the subject and the need to establish such a club.