Best Management Practices – Illinois EPA

Best Management Practices for Oil Exploration and Extraction

What are Best Management Practices?

Best Management Practices (BMPs) refer to operating procdures and good

housekeeping habits for reducing and preventing pollution. The overall philosophy
behind BMPs is to conduct everyday activities in a more environmentally-sound
manner, recognizing that it may not always be practical to control or manage
pollution after it is generated. Using BMPs can help a facility save money, protect
the environment and improve community well-being.

Why Implement Best Management Practices in the Oil Exploration and Extraction Industry?

The petroleum industry generates a number of wastes during oil exploration and
extraction. The primary wastes generated by drilling oil wells are drilling fluids
and cuttings. Wastes generated by field production are produced water (i.e.,
brine, petroleum hydrocarbons, metals, chemical treatment additives) and oily
sludges. Secondary wastes include hydraulic fluid, weighting agents, acids,
solvents, tank bottoms and oil debris. Improper disposal of these wastes has the
potential to harm the soil, water resources and wildlife.

Each suggested BMP will need to be judged on a case-by-case basis, taking into
account the conditions, operations and limitations of each facility. You are
encouraged to individualize the BMPs to your operations and site conditions, and
to develop your own solutions for preventing pollution.

Siting:

Have roads, tank batteries and other production facilities been located and
constructed to minimize impacts to surrounding areas, such as human
populations, wetlands and sensitive ecosystems?
Have siting considerations been included that will reduce or eliminate potential
impacts from wastewater discharges, air emissions at tank batteries, and
spills on mammals, birds, fish and benthic organisms (mud dwellers)?

Exploration:

Can directional drilling techniques be employed, particularly near sensitive

environmental areas?
Can smaller diameter holes be drilled?
Can the use of excess muds, additives, and water be avoided?
Is it possible to substitute organic or synthetic additives (mineral oil) for diesel-
based mud?
Can the amount of containers/packaging be minimized (e.g., buying barite and
gel in bulk)?
Are unused chemicals/additives/muds being returned to the vendor/supplier?
Is it possible to minimize the volume of disposed mud by using improved solids
control technology?
Can separation systems be employed for filters and solids to extend the life of
drilling muds?
Can borehole erosion and enlargement of the hole be reduced by using drilling
fluids that minimize reactions with the drilled formations and wellbore
hydraulics?
 Is it possible to use alternative drilling fluids and additives to reduce toxicity
such as:
Chrome-free lignosulfonates and polysaccharide polymers to replace chrome
lignosulfonates for reducing drilling fluid viscosity?
Lubricants such as lubra beads and gilsonite-based additives to replace diesel oil?
Isothiazoline and amines to replace pentachlorophenols and paraformaldehyde as
biocides?
Mineral oil in place of diesel oil as an effective substitute for stuck pipe spotting
fluids?
Low solids nondispersed drilling fluid systems to replace dispersed systems which
typically require large volumes of water?
Sulfite and organic phosphate corrosion inhibitors to replace chromate corrosion
inhibitors?
Have site preparation and drilling activities been scheduled to avoid disturbing
plants and animals during crucial seasons in their life cycles?

Lease Development and Production:

Is it possible to reduce erosion by minimizing digging and soil movement and

by protecting slopes with covering, sandbags, or plants?
Can casing-head gas recovery systems be installed at production wells to
reduce hydrocarbon emissions and hydrogen sulfide emissions?
During secondary production, do you monitor production water levels to
identify when injection water or formation water migration is occurring?
Is it possible to install monitoring systems for underground pipelines to prevent
soil and groundwater contamination?
Can underground piping be used that is made of corrosion resistant materials
or can underground piping be protected using cathodic protection or other
devices?

Waste Reduction:

Can recirculation pumps be added to product storage tanks to reduce the

settling of heavy hydrocarbons on tank bottoms?
Can drip pans be used at treatment vessels, valves, and product pipeline
junctions?
Is insulation material covered and protected to minimize degradation?

Laboratory:

Are only those tests necessary being performed and are they being performed
no more often than required?
Can test methods/procedures be used which generate no or less waste (for
example, colorimetric testing)?
Is the segregation of waste chemicals being used to reduce the amount of toxic
waste for disposal?
Will the supplier accept excess or unused chemicals?

Lubricants:

Can lubricants be bought in bulk?

Is it possible to minimize the volume of waste lube oil by extending its use?
Is a regular inspection and maintenance program being used by the facility to
minimize lead or line failures?

Motor Vehicle Maintenance:

 Do you recharge/recondition batteries or recycle them?
Do you extend oil change out intervals through oil analysis?
Do you purchase reusable oil filters?
Is antifreeze recycled?
Do you keep lids on parts washer to avoid solvent evaporation?
Can you purchase citrus-based solvents?
Are tire rotations and alignments done regularly?
Is appropriate tire pressure maintained?
Are tires with greater road-wear abilities purchased?

Paint Related Materials and Wastes:

Can non-essential painting be reduced or eliminated?

Can your paints and supplies be purchased in bulk and do you only purchase
the amount needed to do the job?
Are paint batches being sized systematically for specific jobs?
Can less toxic, less volatile paints and solvents be purchased (for example,
paints with lower metals content)?
Are water-based or high-solids coatings being used whenever possible?
Is it possible to use a brush for small jobs instead of spraying?
Are all containers kept closed to reduce evaporation?
Are paints being purchased that have greater durability?
Is it possible to buy paint in smaller containers to reduce excess paint when
mixed?
Have you trained employees to apply paints efficiently?
Can you reduce overspray by proper use of spray gun?
Do you only mix the amount of paint that is needed?
Do you use paint up completely?

Pallets:

Have you considered buying materials in skid-mounted bulk hoppers or

containers?
Is it possible to purchase recycled plastic pallets which have a longer life than
wooden pallets?
If not, do you re-use wooden pallets as long as possible?

Pipe/Equipment Scale and Corrosion:

Have you considered using piping/liners made of materials that do not corrode?
Can you minimize scale buildups by optimizing chemical treatments and
cathodic protection programs?

Pipe Dope:

Can less toxic pipe dope materials (for example, lead-free) be used?
Have you considered using only the amount of dope needed to protect pipe
threads?
Can any excess pipe dope be used at another location?

Pit Wastes:

Is rig wash water used judiciously?

Have all sources of water leaks been examined and eliminated?
Are automatic shut-off nozzles being used on rig floor water hoses?
Are closed-loop mud systems being used?
 Have pits/pit systems been designed to minimize waste by the following
methods:
Size and construct pits to accommodate only the necessary volumes
anticipated plus an adequate freeboard?
Eliminate use of pits or reduce pit size by 1/3 to 1/2?
Use pit liners?
Can pits be replaced with above-ground or double-walled partially buried tanks?
Is a catchment pan installed on top of the wellhead to prevent spills?

Plastic solids (pigs, etc.):

Are products purchased that are manufactured with recycled plastic?

Produced Sand:

Are the appropriate gravel pack size and screens being used?
Is solids control equipment engineered to maximize cleaning efficiency and
minimize oil and/or salt contamination?
Has the production rate been optimized?
Are solids kept mixed and in solution for eventual central removal?

Produced Water:

Are wells completed to minimize water production?

Is re-perforation of wells being utilized to minimize water production?
Are downhole fluid separation techniques, or water shut-off (blocking)
techniques being used whenever possible?
Are corrosion inhibition chemicals and "cold treatment" being used for produced
water?
Is the thick coalescer panel in oil water separators being replaced with thin
panel baffles?

Radioactive Waste (tracer materials):

Can less toxic and non-radioactive alternatives be used?

Rags, Oily:

Are equipment and facilities being maintained in a manner to prevent drips,

leaks, spills, etc. which would require cleanup?
Are drip pans or other containment systems being used to collect drips, leaks,
etc?

Rigwash:

Is high-pressure, low-volume washing equipment being used?

Has a regular maintenance program been set up for water systems?
Are paint solids removed from water arrestor holding tanks using a centrifuge
or cyclone system?
Is wash water volume reduced by using sweeping/dry cleaning methods when
practical?
Have automatic shutoff nozzles been installed on hoses?

Soil Contamination:

Have the following methods been used to reduce soil contaminated with crude
 oil, chemicals, produced water, sulfur, and refined oil?:
Improved housekeeping and use of drip pans, double walled sumps and
above-ground sumps.
Use of pit liner material around and under production facilities.
Use of impervious secondary containment.
Installation of fences around facilities to minimize releases caused by
vandalism.
Use of cathodic protection, coated pipe, etc. to minimize leaks.
Install high-level alarm systems and/or shut-off devices on tanks.
Replacement of conventional storage tanks with "false bottom" tanks
that allow for early leak detection.
Consolidation of produced fluid separation and well testing facilities.
Use of "canned submersible pumps" to replace conventional impeller
type pumps used for fluid transfer service.

Solvents:

Have you eliminated solvent usage where possible?

Is the appropriate quantity for the job being purchased and used?
Do you buy in bulk when appropriate?
Do you use less toxic and less hazardous solvents, such as citric acid-based
solvents?
Is high-pressure water, steam or non-toxic solvent being used to clean
equipment?
Are RCRA-listed and non-listed solvents segregated in order to reduce the
amount of hazardous waste?
Are solvent containers kept covered when not in use to decrease evaporation?
Is a "Just-in-Time" inventory control system being used?

Spill Cleanup Waste (crude oil, refined oil, chemicals):

Are the number of spills being minimized?

Is impervious secondary containment being provided?
Is a collection system being used for drips, leads, hose connections. etc.?
Is it possible to minimize the use of absorbents to collect spilled material?

Stormwater:

Is it possible to improve work processes and properly maintain equipment and

facilities to reduce leaks, spills, etc?
Can the facilities be covered to eliminate contamination of stormwater?
Do you segregate drainage from liquid storage, loading/unloading/facilities and
operations areas from un-impacted areas?
Is all clean stormwater diverted away from contaminated areas?
Are all wastes stored where they are not exposed to stormwater?

Tank Bottoms:

Has the volume of solids collected in storage tanks been minimized?

Are tanks designed to reduce the volume of produced tank bottoms (for
example, cone-shaped bases)?
Is a gas blanket kept on tanks to reduce oxygen and formation of iron oxides?
Can you install return line to run bottoms through heat-treater more frequently
than normal?
Have sources of solids been identified? If yes, have engineering or operations
solutions been attempted?
 Is oil reclaimed onsite or sent to reputable reclaimer?
Are light oil tank bottoms treated in heavy oil dehydration facilities?
Are tank bottoms sent to a refinery coker?
Is a centrifuge or filter press used to recover oil and water form tank bottoms?
Can re-circulation pumps be added to product storage tanks to reduce the
settling of heavy hydrocarbons on tank bottoms?

Oil Field Service Industry

Fluid Transfer:

Have you considered using a portable surface liner during transfer of fluids?
Purchasing and Materials Management:
Can you institute an inventory control program through centralized purchasing?
Do you have secondary containment for hazardous materials storage?
Do you use recyclable containers that can be returned to vendor?

Vehicle Washing:

Can you install oily water recycling systems which includes oil water skimmer?
Facility Design and Construction: Can you install a concrete floor?
Has the building been designed to segregate wastes?

Facility Operation and Maintenance:

Have quality assurance, prevention and maintenance programs been

developed?
Are acids and other well treatment fluids handled in the following manners?:
Use of "canned submersible pumps" to replace conventional impeller
type pumps used for fluid transfer service.
Is the system designed so mixing is done automatically through
computer system?
Is the system designed so mixing takes place indoors where there is
secondary containment?
Has filtering, recycling and reusing of materials been practiced prior to disposal
or treatment?

South-west Network for Zero Waste

http://www.zerowastenetwork.org/P2Options/dsp_OptionsAll.cfm?processId=400

DRILL RIG OPERATIONS ALTERNATIVES

Options below have reviewed by pollution prevention specialists. They are commonly recommended
and implemented for facilities.

Test lubricating oil to extend use

Test oil and extend its use based on wear versus accumulated operating hours [Note: Some oil
suppliers offer free testing.]
Recycle in-process whenever possible.

Incorporate good housekeeping

Incorporate good housekeeping to prevent spills.

Contain spilled fuel

Contain spill as soon as possible.
Use specific drilling cuttings
Minimize drilling hole size when possible.
Design and monitor drilling mud activities to minimize caving.

Sustitute oil-based drill cuttings

Substitute organic additives, polymers, or biodegradable additives for oil-based mud to reduce costs
associated with cleanup of oil-based drill cuttings.

Use alternative mud and additives

Use a closed-loop mud system.
Use the reserve pit management system. Optimize solids control.
Use low solids, non-dispersed muds.
Use unused additives at other sites.

Manage mud and additives

Control inventory (accurately estimate amounts required and purchase only as needed), and plan
ahead to avoid unused materials.
Use unused additives at other sites.

Use wiping tool

Use and inside diameter wiping tool for drill pipe.

Use lead free pipe dope

Choose biodegradable, lead free pipe dope. Purchase only what is needed.

Use durable drill bits.

Purchase highly durable drill bits.

Manage surplus casing

For surplus casing, purchase and use only what is needed. Use surplus at other sites.

Manage cement/grout
Purchase and use only what is needed. Use any surplus cement for erosion prevention. Then return any
unused dry cement to vendor.

Minimize water production

Use a closed-loop drilling fluid system.
Drill horizontal wells to minimize water production.
Optimize production rate to minimize the influx of water.

Use produced water to test equipment

Hydro-test pipelines, equipment, and tanks with produced water.

Treat produce water with polymers

Treat the producing formation with polymers that decrease the permeability of water, while
maintaining the permeability of hydrocarbons.

Reuse drums and containers

Reuse drums and containers, clean (triple rinse) first only if necessary.

Substitute solvents to clean equipment

Substitute non-hazardous biodegradable surfactants (soap) for hazardous solvents (mineral spirits) to
clean equipment.

Reuse collected cleaning solvent

Use drip pans to collect solvent for reuse (use dirty solvent for initial cleaning and clean solvent for
final cleaning, if necessary).

Minimize cleaning rags

 Maintain equipment and facilities so that cleanup with rags is minimized.
Segregate from other waste, and wash for reuse.

Store and maintain chemicals properly

Store and maintain chemicals properly to prevent spills or leaks.

Surplus chemicals management

Control inventory by accurately estimating amounts required, or purchasing smaller quantities only
as needed.
Offer (or exchange) unused chemicals to other facilities in lieu of recycling, treatment, or disposal.
Use non-hazardous products.

Reuse rigwash water

Remove paint solids from water and reuse.

Use high pressure hose nozzles for rigwash

Use low-volume, high pressure hose nozzles with automatic cutoffs.

Manage paint purchases

Purchase only the required amount and use it all before it becomes unusable.

Paint only when and where necessary

Size the paint batch according to the specific job.
Purchase highly durable paints.
Control and reduce over-spray.

Reduce sandblast media

Use paints that do not require sandblasting.
Use as aggregate in road mix, if allowable.

Manage litter and debris

Rent rollaway trash trailer at drill site. Dispose of trash as needed.

WELL COMPLETION ALTERNATIVES

Options below have reviewed by pollution prevention specialists. They are commonly recommended
and implemented for facilities.

Prevent paraffin formation

Install magnetic fluid conditioner to prevent paraffin formation
Use paraffin inhibitor chemicals.
Use hot-oil treatment to dissolve paraffin in well and flow lines.

Reduce lubricating oil

Test oil and extend its use based on wear versus accumulated operating hours. [Note: Many
lubricating oil suppliers offer testing service at no charge.]
Recycle in-process whenever possible.

Minimize Produced Water

Use a closed-loop drilling fluid system.
Drill horizontal wells to minimize water production.
Optimize production rate to minimize the influx of water.
Treat the producing formation with polymers that decrease the permeability of water, while
maintaining the permeability of hydrocarbons.
Hydro-test pipelines, equipment, and tanks with produced water.

Reduce treating chemicals

Control inventory by accurately estimating amounts required, or purchasing smaller quantities only
 as required.
Offer to give to or exchange unused chemicals with other facilities in lieu of recycling, treatment, or
disposal.
Use non-hazardous products.
Store and maintain chemicals properly to prevent spills or leaks.

Minimize sand production

Optimize production rate to minimize sand production.
Use uncontaminated sand as fill material.

Reduce and recycle slop oil

Recycle back into production stream.
Replace impeller-type pumps used for fluid transfer service with _canned_ submersible pumps to
eliminate leaks from impeller pumps seals and gear boxes.
Send slop oil that cannot be recycled into production to a state-permitted tank bottoms reclamation
facility.

Reduce scale
Use scale inhibitors.
Avoid mixing incompatible produced waters, which results in scale formation.

Manage lubricating oil filters

Change filters only when necessary.
Use reusable filters.
When handling filters, take precautions to prevent oil spillage.
Isolate all drained fluids in re-sealable container for in-process recycling.

Remove Pit Liner

Remove waste and liner for proper disposal.
Remove oil and salt-laden mud, fold in and close with liner in place.

SEPARATION & TREATMENT OF WELL FLUID OPERATIONS

Options below have reviewed by pollution prevention specialists. They are commonly recommended
and implemented for facilities.

Minimize the generation of blowdown.

Recycle back into production stream.
Operate cooling towers efficiently to minimize the generation of blowdown.
Cascade water use.

Minimize sand and scale production

Optimize production rate to minimize sand production.
Use uncontaminated sand as fill material.
Use scale inhibitors.
Avoid mixing incompatible produced waters, which results in scale.

Prevent soil contamination

Follow procedures, including maintenance, to prevent soil contamination.
Use impervious primary and secondary containment.
Use cathodic protection or coated pipe to reduce leaks due to corrosion.

Manage and reduce surplus chemicals

Accurately estimate amounts required, or purchase smaller quantities only as required.
Offer (or exchange) unused chemicals to other facilities in lieu of recycling, treatment, or disposal.
Use non-hazardous chemicals.
Store and maintain chemicals properly to prevent spills or leaks.
Manage Filters
Change filters only when necessary.
Use reusable filters.
Use differential pressure as an indicator of needed change.
When handling filters, take precautions to prevent oil spillage.
Isolate all drained fluids in re-sealable container for in-process recycling.