The environmental impact factor (EIF) created by StatoilHydro researchers provides an excellent tool for identifying the most environmentally effective and cost-efficient measures for eliminating harmful discharges to the sea.
Increasing amounts of contaminated water are produced together with the oil as reservoirs begin to reach the end of their productive life.
The question is how to dispose of this produced water once it has been separated from the wellstream.
This has been particularly pertinent because the Norwegian government’s White Paper no 58 (1996-97) required the petroleum industry to come up with a strategy for achieving zero harmful discharges to the sea by 2005.
Two options are available:
- to inject the water back into the reservoir
- to purify it sufficiently prior to discharge so that it causes no harm.
But the next question is which criteria should be used to choose the best and most cost-effective solution, and which cleaning technology should be applied.
This is where the environmental impact factor (EIF) comes in, as a management tool for improving decision-making and contributing to financial value creation by avoiding ineffective investment.
Applauded by industry and government alike, the EIF has been used by all Norwegian offshore operators when reporting plans and results for their zero harmful discharge work.
Work on the tool was initiated and led by StatoilHydro researchers in association with Norsk Hydro, Agip and TotalFinaElf.
