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Drill cuttings have been allowed to accumulate on the seabed
beneath offshore structures, creating piles of up to 500,000m3
in the northern North Sea alone. These cuttings pose a potential
environmental hazard to the marine environment when disturbed, either
during the decommissioning of structures, or during the removal
of the cuttings themselves. Initial assessment of the tidal currents,
wave environment and fate of particulate contaminants allows the
optimal discharge depth and position to be identified. This information
can be used to set targeted discharge consents and to reduce environmental
impact.
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Produced water is the largest single waste-stream
from offshore oil and gas operations, containing dispersed
oils, aromatics and other chemicals. The environmental impact
of these contaminants requires regulatory control and monitoring,
to determine the effect on the marine environment, and to
accurately identify pollutant dilution.
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A clear understanding of the dispersal and fate of contaminants
from platform discharges is required to achieve regulatory compliance
and minimize environmental impact throughout the lifetime of offshore
structures and during pipeline installation and removal.
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ETS offer a unique capability to label, trace and determine
the disturbance level and fate of drill cuttings, the movement
and depositional pattern of seabed sediment and to monitor
the discharge of produced water in the oil and gas sector.
ETS specialize in measuring hydrodynamics and particle dynamics
in a range of marine and aquatic environments, using our patented
environmentally benign Tracer particles. Services include:
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'Labelling' of drill cuttings and produced water.
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Monitoring sediment / contamination dispersal from platforms
and pipelines.
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Discharge dispersal assessment including dilution studies.
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Continuous labelling of discharges for environmental liability.
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Monitoring the fate of drill cuttings.
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Leak detection from sub-sea pipelines.
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Produced water pathway and dispersal studies.
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Current velocity profiling including ADCP surveys and suspended
current meters.
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Suspended sediment flux monitoring using optical backscatter
sensors and sediment traps.
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Seabed sampling using corers and grabs.
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To view ETS' experience in the Oil and Gas sector please click
here
For further information about Offshore Services contact:
offshore@environmentaltracing.com
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