The environmental impact factor (EIF) is an excellent tool for identifying the most environment- and cost-effective measures for eliminating harmful discharges to the sea.
Increasing amounts of contaminated water are produced with the oil as reservoirs begin to reach the end of their productive life.
The question is: how does one dispose of it once it has been separated?
And this is particularly pertinent in light of the Norwegian government’s White Paper no 58 (1996-97) requiring the petroleum industry to come up with a strategy by 2005 for achieving zero, harmful discharges to the sea.
There are two options:
- to re-inject it into the reservoir
- to purify it sufficiently prior to discharge so that it causes no harm
But 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) management tool comes in – a tool for improving decision-making and contributing to financial value creation through the avoidance of ineffective investment.
Applauded by industry and government alike, the tool has been used by all Norwegian offshore operators when reporting plans and results for their zero harmful discharge work.
The work has been initiated and led by Statoil researchers in association with Norsk Hydro, Agip and TotalFinaElf.
