University of Colorado at Boulder
BMP of Oil and Gas Development

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BMP ID: 6368
Title: Treat waste products to the greatest extent possible when recycling is not feasible
Text: Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle: "Waste products that cannot reasonably be recycled or reused should be treated to the greatest extent possible to reduce the risk to the environment and human health. Although disposal is the least preferred option for dealing with toxic materialsâ€"due to the likelihood of residual pollutants causing future environmental or health risksâ€" when there is remaining waste, it should be disposed of safely."
Source Publication Name: Drilling Down: Protecting Western Communities from the Health and Environmental Effects of Oil and Gas Production
Citation Section: Chapter 5
Citation Page: 28
Supplemental Documents:  
Usage Type: Recommended
Timing: • Production / Operation / Maintenance
• Reclamation
Oil / Gas Field:  
Surface Ownership: • Federal
• State
• Private
Mineral Ownership: • Federal
• State
• Private
Primary Contact: Ms. Amy Mall
Natural Resources Defence Council
Phone:     Alt. Phone:
Fax:     E-mail: 
Alternate Contact:  
 
Categories: Water Quality and Pollution
Land Surface Disturbance
Air Quality and Emissions
Location: General / Federal
Species:
Vegetation Types:
General Comments:
Cost-Benefit Analysis: Many methods to reduce or recycle toxic materials have been documented to produce significant cost savings after initial up-front costs. Some even help the industry to recover more of their product and increase revenue. A company in Alaska reusing drilling fluid reduced its costs from $7 million to $3.25 million. [164] Devon Energy spent $15,000 to capture methane emissions from a new well, instead of venting those emissions into the air, and sold the methane captured for $35,000. A Devon Energy official said, “It’s a win-win for everybody.” BP tested an air emissions control unit that cost $1.4 million but in two years led to income of more than $1.6 million. [165] Another company experienced annual savings of $272,000 and paid off initial capital costs in less than four years after starting to reclaim crude oil from sludge. [166]
BMP Efficacy:
Date Entered: 2010-03-15 13:41 UTC
Last Updated: 2011-07-17 13:29 UTC