Oil and Gas Technology Feasibility Studies
The optimal recovery and use of U.S. oil and gas resources requires energy policies and environmental regulations based on credible scientific data, assumptions, and analyses. Before new technologies can be moved into commerce, their capabilities, cost, risk, and legality need to be determined. Argonne's Environmental Science Division (EVS) conducts independent feasibility studies of the technical, regulatory, economic, and risk aspects of promising oil field technologies to foster technology evaluation and implementation. Examples of technologies that EVS has recently evaluated include: Synthetic-based drilling fluids that offer both good drilling performance and low environmental impacts;
The use of underground salt caverns for disposing of oil field waste well below drinking water supplies;
Downhole oil/water separators that offer cost savings through lower produced water management costs and fewer environmental impacts;
The use of treated drill cuttings to restore coastal wetlands; and
Slurry injection for disposal of drilling wastes.
In addition to preparing feasibility studies on these topics, EVS has conducted extensive outreach to regulatory agencies and the oil and gas industry in the United States and abroad, through conference presentations and publications.
Related EVS Developed/Hosted Web Sites
Related Web Sites
Related Publications
- Thermal Distillation Technology for Management of Produced Water and Frac Flowback Water
- Water Issues Associated with Heavy Oil Production
- Testimony of John A. Veil, Argonne National Laboratory, Before the House Committee on Science and Technology Subcommittee on Energy and Environment Concerning: "Research to Improve Water-Use Efficiency and Conservation: Technologies and Practice"
- Life-Cycle Thinking for the Oil and Gas Exploration and Production Industry
- Trip Report for Field Visit to Fayetteville Gas Wells
- Potential Ground Water and Surface Water Impacts from Oil Shale and Tar Sands Energy-Production Operations
- Exploration and Production Waste Disposal Database
- Offsite Commercial Disposal of Oil and Gas Exploration and Production Waste: Availability, Options, and Costs
- Summary of DOE/PERF Water Program Review, November 1-4, 2005, Annapolis, Maryland
- Characteristics of Produced Water Discharged to the Gulf of Mexico Hypoxic Zone
- Downhole Separation Technology Performance: Relationship to Geologic Conditions
- A White Paper Describing Produced Water from Production of Crude Oil, Natural Gas, and Coal Bed Methane
- An Introduction to Salt Caverns and Their Use for Disposal of Oil Field Wastes
- An Introduction to Slurry Injection Technology for Disposal of Drilling Wastes
- Evaluation of Slurry Injection Technology for Management of Drilling Wastes
- Compendium of Regulatory Requirements Governing Underground Injection of Drilling Wastes
- Analysis of Data from a Downhole Oil/Water Separator Field Trial in East Texas
- Regulatory Issues Affecting Management of Produced Water from Coal Bed Methane Wells
- Information on Commercial Disposal Facilities That May Have Received Offshore Drilling Wastes
- Summary of Data from DOE-Subsidized Field Trial #1 of Downhole Oil/Water Separator Technology, Texaco Well Bilbrey 30-Federal No. 5 Lea County, New Mexico
- Update on Onshore Disposal of Offshore Drilling Wastes
- Data Summary of Offshore Drilling Waste Disposal Practices
- Disposal of NORM-Contaminated Oil Field Wastes in Salt Caverns
- Risk Analyses for Disposing of Nonhazardous Oil Field Wastes in Salt Caverns
- Preliminary Technical and Legal Evaluation of Disposing of Nonhazardous Oil Field Waste into Salt Caverns
- Potential environmental benefits from regulatory consideration of synthetic drilling muds.
- Feasibility Evaluation of Downhole Oil/Water Separator (DOWS) Technology
- Costs for Off-Site Disposal of Nonhazardous Oil Field Wastes: Salt Caverns versus Other Disposal Methods
- Surface Water Discharges from Onshore Stripper Wells
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