Abstract The principal waste streams have been identified from the production operations of all Shell Exploration and Production (E and P) companies. A phased approach has Production (E and P) companies. A phased approach has been identified to meet our target of eliminating over time all emissions, effluents and discharges that have a negative impact on the environment.
In the short/medium term, changes in operational procedures, together with "end of pipe" technology will procedures, together with "end of pipe" technology will be used to reduce emissions. In the longer term, fundamental changes to the production process will be required to eliminate the problem as far as possible at source, to re-use waste streams within the process and return any remaining unwanted material to the producing reservoir, without additional contamination.
Carbon dioxide is currently regarded as a special case and will be reduced by minimising the amount of energy consumed and /or wasted in the production process. process
Introduction All sectors of industry, including the Exploration and Production sector of the oil industry, must reduce the Production sector of the oil industry, must reduce the impact of its activities on the environment in the future. Arguments on where the industry stands in a "league table" of polluters should not influence efforts to reduce our emissions. In meeting this challenge, it is the intention that all Shell E and P companies will continuously improve their environmental performance and eliminate over time all effluents, performance and eliminate over time all effluents, discharges and emissions that have a negative impact on the environment.
The feedstock for E and P operations is not a specification product; we must take what nature gives us and product; we must take what nature gives us and condition it to a sales specification. Unwanted components, together with some of the chemicals used in the process, have traditionally been deposited in the environment, or allowed to disperse into the environment.
The variable nature of the feedstock has led to little effort being expended in the past on defining the composition of E and P waste streams. This situation is currently being remedied in all Shell E and P companies, with the preparation of inventories of all emissions, together with detailed data on composition. This will be used as the baseline for emission reduction programmes to be implemented by each individual programmes to be implemented by each individual company and for monitoring progress towards our ultimate goal. Emission reduction programmes will be based on changed operational procedures, together with new design philosophies and new technology. To be credible, plans must identify the means by which the targets will be achieved. This implies that realistic performance data must be available for new performance data must be available for new technology.
STRATEGY FOR REDUCING EMISSIONS The processes used to produce hydrocarbons have evolved over time, during which our understanding of the consequences of disposing of unwanted materials into the environment has not been as well developed as it currently is. Recognising that our ultimate goal must be achieved whilst maintaining the economic viability of our operations, we have proposed three time frames over which the necessary changes should be implemented.
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