MOL Pakistan Oil and Gas Co. B.V.

BIOREMEDIATION OF OIL BASED MUD (OBM) DRILL CUTTINGS

By placing care for the environment at the heart of its business, MOL Pakistan made a significant improvement in its environmental performance during 2008 by successfully treating 1,890 m3 of oil based mud (OBM) cuttings waste using bioremediation treatment technique. The company owns a bioremediation site in TAL Block, NWFP, operated by one of the leading drilling waste management contractor. MOL Pakistan stipulated that all OBM cuttings waste discharged into the environment must have oil & grease content of less than 3% with the company also keen on leaving behind a product that could be reintegrated into the environment. For this an in-house research study was carried out by MOL HSE to identify a Construction of Bioremediation Facility technology which was reliable and output conformed to international waste content specifications (Louisiana State Order - LSO 29B) for release into the environment, as well as be competitive with other more traditional forms of waste management in terms of cost and efficiency. Several factors such as general overview of the area, hydrological evaluation, precipitation patterns, soil conditions, drainage etc were considered while selecting an effective waste management strategy. At the end of the evaluation process and after considering more than five treatment techniques currently being used worldwide, it was decided that bio-remediation process would meet companys corporate SD & HSE policy/standards. Project after necessary approvals from MOL Pakistan management was initiated in January 2008. Bioremediation is the management of soil, sludge, water, or an air stream to encourage the optimal microbial activity for degradation or detoxification of target industrial, petroleum and hazardous waste. Bioremediation of petroleum hydrocarbons (crude oil waste streams associated as a byproduct of the drilling, production and refinery industry) is a conclusive and documented method of waste declassification. A properly designed bio-site comprising of two pads, with a combined capacity of accommodating 2,000 m3 of OBM was constructed and is being operated by Scomi Oiltools near Manzalai Gas Plant. OBM Cuttings 3 (approximately 1,890 m ) were transported from various drilling locations for treatment at the treatment site. Treatment process involved the mixing of drill cuttings with bulking agent, native soil and bio-enhancer as per pre-determined ratios. Tests were carried prior to, during and after completion of treatment process to evaluate the efficiency of the treatment process. Final tests revealed that oil & grease levels in the treated cuttings was brought down below 3% by weight whereas other parameters also conformed to the stringent limits prescribed in LSO-29 B. The whole treatment process took approximately 150 days to complete. No accidents/incidents were reported and first phase of treatment was executed in a safe and environmentally friendly manner. Treated cuttings were hauled away from bio-site and have been utilized as fill material for construction of different access roads. Next batch of drill cuttings approximately 2,000 m3 in volume have been transferred to the bio-site and its treatment is in progress.

Mixing of Biochemical with OBM Cuttings at Bioremediation Site