Waste handling and disposal from hydrocarbon exploration, drilling, and production are regulated by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) through federal and state regulations and/or through implementation of federal regulations. Some wastes generated in these operations are exempt under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) but are not exempt under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA), Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act (SARA), and other federal environmental laws. Exempt wastes remain exempt only if they are not mixed with hazardous wastes or hazardous substances. Once mixture occurs, the waste must be disposed as a hazardous material in an approved hazardous waste disposal facility. Before the Clean Air Act as amended in 1990, air emissions from production, storage, steam generation, and compression facilities associated with hydrocarbon exploration, drilling, and production industry were not regulated. A critical proposed regulatory change which will significantly effect Class II injection wells for disposal of produced brine and injection for enhanced oil recovery is imminent. Federal regulations affecting hydrocarbon exploration, drilling and production, proposed EPA regulatory changes, and a recent significant US Court of Appeals decision are covered in this report. It appears that this industry will, in the future, fall under more stringent environmental regulations leading to increased costs for operators.

The petroleum industry must minimize the environmental impact of its various operations. This extensively researched book assembles a tremendous amount of practical information to help reduce and control the environmental consequences of producing and processing petroleum and natural gas.The best way to treat pollution is not to create it in the first place. This book shows you how to plan and manage production activities to minimize and even eliminate some environmental problems without severely disrupting operations.It focuses on ways to treat drilling and production wastes to reduce toxicity and/or volume before their ultimate disposal. You'll also find methods for safely transporting toxic materials from the upstream petroleum industry away from their release sites. For those sites already contaminated with petroleum wastes, this book reviews the remedial technologies available. Other topics include United States federal environmental regulations, sensitive habitats, major U.S. chemical waste exchanges, and offshore releases of oil.Environmental Control in Petroleum Engineering is essential for industry personnel with little or no training in environmental issues as well as petroleum engineering students.

This book contains in-depth articles written by scholars, international lawyers, and practitioners from around the world. It deals with the environmental aspect of the hydrocarbon cycle in general and oil and gas exploration and production in particular. Its main thrust is management of environmental legal risks and issues in upstream operations.