Preventing Crude Oil Burning During Well Testing and Servicing Operations
Burning crude oil during well testing and servicing is a common practice. This not only wastes valuable oil resources but also causes significant environmental pollution. Burning oil in fuel pits releases dangerous pollutants into the air, soil, and surface and groundwater, causing irreparable damage to the environment and ecosystem. Therefore, E&P has prioritized avoiding crude oil burning in its operations. In its Sepehr and Jofir project, E&P uses Mobile Oil Separators (M.O.S.), storage tanks, transport tankers, and pumps to prevent oil burning. This equipment separates crude oil from gases and impurities, enabling transfer to production facilities or pipeline injection.
E&P Pasargad Operations
Using M.O.S. equipment and a temporary storage and transfer system across 12 flow testing and well start-up operations, E&P Pasargad has returned approximately 120,000 barrels of crude oil to the production cycle, conserving resources and positively impacting the environment by reducing pollution and greenhouse gas emissions.
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Greenhouse Gas Emission Reduction
By preventing the burning of 120,000 barrels of crude oil using storage tanks and M.O.S., E&P has reduced CO₂eq emissions by an estimated 61,368 tons. This reduction accounts for both the emissions avoided by not burning the oil (approximately 430 kg CO₂eq per barrel) and the emissions avoided in the extraction and refining process (approximately 81.4 kg CO₂eq per barrel)
Environmental and Safety Benefits
• Pollution Prevention: M.O.S. prevents air, soil, and water pollution by separating harmful gases like SO₂ and H₂S released from burning crude oil.
• Safety Enhancement: M.O.S. mitigates safety hazards associated with storing high-H₂S crude oil by separating toxic gases, reducing risks of corrosion, leaks, and explosions.
• Energy Efficiency: Storing 120,000 barrels of crude oil (equivalent to 19 million liters) for electricity generation or refined fuel production optimizes energy consumption.
Connection to PEDC's Sustainability Goals
By using equipment like M.O.S. and the oil storage and transport system, E&P Pasargad not only improves its operational performance but also advances the following sustainability goals of the PEDC Group:
1. Energy Transition:
o Energy Security: Returning approximately 120,000 barrels of oil to the production cycle prevents the loss of this valuable resource, strengthening energy security. o Energy Efficiency: Utilizing stored oil improves the energy intensity of production and optimizes energy consumption in exploration and extraction.
2. Protecting the Planet:
o Circular Economy: M.O.S. embodies the principles of a circular economy by recovering oil instead of burning it, minimizing waste and maximizing resource utilization. o Greenhouse Gas Emission Management: The reduction of 61,368 tons of CO₂eq demonstrates E&P Pasargad's commitment to combating climate change and achieving global sustainable development goals.
E&P Pasargad's use of M.O.S. and the oil storage and transport system advances PEDC's sustainability goals by improving operational performance and reducing environmental impact. With a planned drilling program of 110 wells, the company anticipates returning 1,100,000 barrels of oil to the production cycle, preventing an estimated 562,540 tons of CO₂eq emissions and generating a combined financial benefit of approximately $105 million ($77 million in operational savings and $28 million in avoided emissions costs).
This success demonstrates that deploying technologies like M.O.S. and the storage and transfer system in oil field development programs aligns with PEDC's sustainability goals for energy transition (energy security and efficiency) and taking care of the planet (circular economy and greenhouse gas emission management). It also represents a crucial step toward achieving sustainable development in the Iranian oil industry.
References
1. EPA - Greenhouse Gas Equivalencies Calculator
2. Masnadi et al. (2018) - Global carbon intensity of crude oil production [1] Mobile Oil Separator