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JPT Forum Articles are limited to 1,500 words including 250 words for each table and figure, or a maximum of two pages in JPT. A Forum article may present preliminary results or conclusions of an investigation that the present preliminary results or conclusions of an investigation that the author wishes to publish before completing a full study; it may impart general technical information that does not warrant publication as a full-length paper. All Forum articles are subject to approval by an editorial committee. Letters to the editor are published under Dialogue, and may cover technical or nontechnical topics. SPE-AIME reserves the right to edit letters for style and content. Introduction Despite the lack of documented adverse effects, environmental protection regulations severely restrict the offshore discharge of oilfield-produced waters. The California Ocean Plan (COP), adopted in 1972, regulates all domestic and industrial wastewaters discharged within California's 3-mile (4.8-km) zone. The 1972 COP includes strict limits on oil and grease, dissolved phenols and ammonium compounds, and toxicity to phenols and ammonium compounds, and toxicity to marine life. Federal guidelines proposed in 1975 for the offshore petroleum industry by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency would require "zero pollutant Protection Agency would require "zero pollutant discharge" inside the 3-mile (4.8-km) zone by 1983.Besides small amounts of suspended oil, oilfield produced waters can contain dissolved organics (e.g., produced waters can contain dissolved organics (e.g., organic acids and phenols) and ammonium compounds that conventional oilfield gravity-separation and flotation processes are not designed to remove. Other processes are not designed to remove. Other water-treatment processes may be needed to remove such dissolved compounds and to allow ocean discharge of produced water to continue as an alternative to produced water to continue as an alternative to underground injection. Biological oxidation processes appear suitable for this application.The aerated lagoon is one of the most common biological oxidation processes. It is used widely for treating municipal wastewater and process water from oil refineries and chemical plants. The process is cost-competitive when sufficient land is available and is fairly resistant to sudden changes in feedwater characteristics. Water-retention times range from a few days to more than a month, and water depths range from 6 to 15 ft (2 to 5 m)Aerators are used to supply oxygen to the bacteria and may induce enough mixing in the lagoon to keep a significant portion of the bacteria in suspension. These bacteria then are carried out of the lagoon and contribute to suspended solids in the effluent. Therefore, clarification of lagoon effluent may be required to comply with suspended-solids limits.This paper describes a 19-month field pilot study conducted in southern California that demonstrated for the first time the feasibility of the aerated lagoon for biotreating oilfield-produced water. Description of Pilot Plant The two-stage pilot lagoon (Fig. 1) consisted of two 500-bbl (80-m3), plastic-lined steel tanks in series, each filled with 375 bbl (60 m3) fluid. Stage 1 was primarily for oxidizing suspended oil and dissolved organic compounds; Stage 2 was for oxidizing dissolved ammonium compounds. Each stage was aerated by a variable-speed, "egg-beater" type of mixer. Feedwater flowed continuously to the pilot plant, with each stage independently controlling the water-retention time.Feedwater to the lagoon was a mixture of produced waters from the Carpinteria and Summerland state leases after oil removal by induced-air flotation. The total dissolved solids (TDS) content of the mixture was 20,000 g/m3 . About 10 g of Na3PO4 (as P) was added per cubic meter of feedwater, to ensure adequate (though per cubic meter of feedwater, to ensure adequate (though not necessarily optimum) phosphorus for microbial growth. JPT P. 241
- North America > United States > California (1.00)
- Europe > United Kingdom > North Sea > Central North Sea (0.25)
- Energy > Oil & Gas > Upstream (1.00)
- Water & Waste Management > Water Management > Lifecycle > Treatment (0.90)
- Government > Regional Government > North America Government > United States Government (0.87)
- Materials > Chemicals > Commodity Chemicals > Petrochemicals (0.75)
- North America > United States > California > Santa Barbara Basin > Summerland Field (0.89)
- North America > United States > California > Carpinteria Field (0.89)
Abstract Among the many goals of environmental management in Saudi Aramco, protection of special environmental areas is recognized as high priority to both the company and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. In line with this objective, Safaniya Onshore Producing Department (SONPD) designated Safaniya area sea water lagoon as Corporate Stewardship Biodiversity Area. The area is estimated to be 6 km peninsula, which is located in the north east of the Safaniya Producing Plant, where undisturbed native flora combines with a pristine shallow sea water lagoon, and provide a safe place for land wildlife (foxes, rodents, reptiles), marine wildlife (turtles, shrimps, fish, mollusks) and birds (flamingos, seagulls, etc.). Establishment of the Safaniya Lagoon started with surveying Safaniya and Tanajib Area, in collaboration with Saudi Aramco Environmental Protection Department (EPD) to select the most suitable region for biodiversity development. An establishment procedure was followed to secure the area with fences to limit the accessibility and prevent improper usage. A signboard was installed to identify the area as a sanctuary, forbidding entrance or any type of land use. Site development included mangrove plantation, already existing trash clean-up, and observation any type of waste dumped in the area, to ensure no contamination or danger to the habitat in the lagoon. The department successfully cooperated with Saudi Aramco EPD to plant more than 9,000 mangrove seedlings at the first two years of development. SONPD in collaboration with Society of Advocates and Volunteers for the Environment (S.A.V.E) invited employees with their respected family members to participate in a biodiversity beach clean-up campaign. The campaign helped collect more than 300 kg of waste, consisting of plastic bottles, old ropes, wood, and other waste materials. SONPD, along with its partners and programs, has now established the Safaniya Lagoon ecological and biological diversity sanctuary as a permanent refuge, with in-place protection and future mangrove planting events planned, the area is expected to expand in biodiversity with native flora and fauna, and expand a natural breeding and hatchery. During the winter season, migratory birds — such as flamingos and Amur Falcons, with flyways that pass over Safaniya Lagoon — are seeking warm weather and abundant food supplies. Creation of biodiversity is just the beginning of further area development. The next phase of sanctuary enhancement will be reutilization of tertiary treated wastewater for trees, which will form a wind barrier for mangroves.
- Government > Regional Government > Asia Government > Middle East Government > Saudi Arabia Government (1.00)
- Energy > Oil & Gas > Upstream (1.00)
Baseline Assessment of Water Quality And Circulation Patterns In the Khalid And Al-Khan Adjacent Coastal Lagoons In Sharjah, UAE
Shanableh, Abdallah (Research & Studies Center, University of Sharjah, Department of Civil Engineering, University of Sharjah) | Omar, Maher (Department of Civil Engineering, University of Sharjah) | Al-Midfa, Abdul-Aziz (Environment and Protected Areas Authority) | Dolan, Anas (Environment and Protected Areas Authority)
ABSTRACT The Khalid lagoon is one of the important features of the City of Sharjah and its socio-economic environment. The lagoon is man-made and is located at the heart of the city and is surrounded by high-rise buildings, markets, recreational parks, entertainment and cultural centers, and busy commercial districts. The area surrounding the lagoon is widely used by Sharjah residents for recreation and socializing and the lagoon itself is used for recreational fishing and boating. The lagoon is connected to the Arabian Gulf by a narrow channel through which water is exchanged between the lagoon and the Gulf. The entrance channel is heavily used by commercial boats and ships, and the land use surrounding the channel is predominantly commercial. Similar to the Khalid lagoon, the nearby Al-Khan lagoon is also connected to the Gulf through a channel. The Al-Khan lagoon is used for recreational fishing and boating and the area surrounding the lagoon is lightly developed. The Al-Khan lagoon is the smaller of the two with a total surface area of approximately 1.2 million m2 and an average depth of approximately 6 m. The Khalid lagoon has a total surface area of about 2.9 million m2 and an average depth of 4.5 m. To improve the flushing characteristics of Khalid lagoon and consequently improve water quality, a canal (called Al-Qasbaa) was constructed between the two lagoons. The canal is about 1 km long, 5 m deep and 30 meters wide. The canal was commissioned on 8 November 2000. A gate was provided on the Khalid lagoon side of canal to prevent water exchange between the two lagoons as desired. The study was undertaken as a joint effort between the Research Center at the University of Sharjah and the Environment and Protected Areas Authority in Sharjah.
- Transportation > Infrastructure & Services (1.00)
- Transportation > Marine (0.78)
- Water & Waste Management > Water Management > Water Supplies & Services (0.65)
Abstract This paper studies the Scardovari lagoon (Po Delta, Italy) in relation to the coastal flooding of the low–lying rear area, that is protected by earth levees. The paper aims at identifying the critical stretches, also in view of climate changes. Three different scenarios are investigated considering both the future sea–level rise and the rate of subsidence that affects the area. Field measurements, numerical models and analytical tools are used to define the overflow and wave overtopping. It is found that the critical stretches that require mitigation measures are mainly located in the North–eastern sector. INTRODUCTION Deltas are dynamic and fragile systems, subject to rapid alterations due to natural processes and anthropogenic pressures. Sea storms, natural and human–induced subsidence and other threats that affect such areas will probably be exacerbated due to the expected sea-level rise (Nicholls et al. 2010). These environments, therefore, require careful monitoring in order to safeguard their environmental and economic value. Accurate management of these territories assumes a compelling role concerning: (i) the protection from coastal flooding (hydraulic defense of the hinterland); (ii) the preservation of the existing production activity (for instance fishing and aquaculture); (iii) the safeguarding of the environment (habitats). The Po Delta is the biggest Italian wetland, covering an area of about 400 km2 (Simeoni & Corbau, 2009). The coast is characterized by low sandy and vulnerable barrier islands that separate lagoons from the sea. The lagoons are wide shallow water bodies bordered with coastal levees that protect the inland that has elevations almost completely below sea level. The breeding of mussels and clams here represents the main production activity. During the recent extreme meteorological events (October 2018 and November 2019) occurred in the Venetian coast, the entire Po Delta area was affected by erosion of the coastal sandbanks. In the lagoons behind, the effect of storm surges in combination with waves has led to erosion, localized instability of the first defense line (coastal levees), and the filling of some of the lagoon channels with consequences on the delicate ecosystems.
Among the many goals of environmental management in Saudi Aramco, protection of special environmental areas is recognized as high priority to both the company and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. In line with this objective, Safaniya Onshore Producing Department (SONPD) designated Safaniya area sea water lagoon as Biodiversity Area. The area is estimated to be 6 km peninsula, which is located in the north east of the Safaniya Producing Plant, where undisturbed native flora combines with a pristine shallow sea water lagoon, and provide a safe place for land wildlife (foxes, rodents, reptiles), marine wildlife (turtles, shrimps, fish, mollusks) and birds (flamingos, seagulls, etc.). Establishment of the Safaniya Lagoon started with surveying Safaniya and Tanajib Area, in collaboration with Saudi Aramco Environmental Protection Department (EPD) to select the most suitable region for biodiversity development. An establishment procedure was followed to secure the area with fences to limit the accessibility and prevent improper usage. A signboard was installed to identify the area as a sanctuary, forbidding entrance or any type of land use. Site development included mangrove plantation, already existing trash clean-up, and observation any type of waste dumped in the area, to ensure no contamination or danger to the habitat in the lagoon. The department successfully cooperated with Saudi Aramco EPD to plant more than 9,000 mangrove seedlings at the first two years of development. SONPD in collaboration with Society of Advocates and Volunteers for the Environment (S.A.V.E) invited employees with their respected family members to participate in a biodiversity beach clean-up campaign. The campaign helped collect more than 300 kg of waste, consisting of plastic bottles, old ropes, wood, and other waste materials. SONPD, along with its partners and programs, has now established the Safaniya Lagoon ecological and biological diversity sanctuary as a permanent refuge, with in-place protection and future mangrove planting events planned, the area is expected to expand in biodiversity with native flora and fauna, and expand a natural breeding and hatchery. During the winter season, migratory birds — such as flamingos and Amur Falcons, with flyways that pass over Safaniya Lagoon — are seeking warm weather and abundant food supplies. Creation of biodiversity is just the beginning of further area development. The next phase of sanctuary enhancement will be reutilization of tertiary treated wastewater for trees, which will form a wind barrier for mangroves.
- Water & Waste Management > Water Management (1.00)
- Government > Regional Government > Asia Government > Middle East Government > Saudi Arabia Government (1.00)
- Energy > Oil & Gas (1.00)