Oil & Gas

EMERGENCY RULE FOR OILFIELD WASTE TESTING AMENDED, EFFECTIVE OCTOBER 1

Department of Natural Resources (DNR) officials have amended Statewide Order No. 29-B starting October 1, continuing oilfield waste testing at commercial disposal facilities for 120 days, while eliminating exploration and production (E&P) waste testing at the well sites.

According to DNR Secretary Jack Caldwell, technical advisers say that enough samples have been taken since May 1 to perform a statistical analysis on the oilfield waste. "Now that the collection phase is over, we are moving forward on several fronts," Caldwell said. "When all the new data is validated, the team of scientists at LSU will begin their analysis of the data. At the same time, Philip Asprodites, commissioner of conservation, will begin looking into types of treatments that may be necessary for any toxicants found to exceed levels set by the new permanent rule."

Under terms of the first and second Emergency Rules, approximately 1,800 E&P waste testing batches were analyzed by independent laboratories and filed with the Office of Conservation. Technical consultants from Louisiana State University under contract with DNR are now validating the raw data and will analyze the overall chemical and physical composition of each type of E&P waste.

However, continuing testing for the next 120 days of E&P waste shipments at the disposal sites is necessary to assure consistency with evolving waste profiles. These "sniff tests" will check emissions from the waste for volatile organics, such as benzene, toluene, ethyl-benzene and xylene (BTEX), and for hydrogen sulfides.

Commissioner Asprodites said while this Emergency Rule is underway, the Conservation office will begin to determine how the permanent rule for management and disposal practices will take shape for Louisiana. Asprodities said, "We hope to have the conclusions from our experts by the end of the year so we can have a draft rule in early 1999."

Editors: For more information, please contact DNR Communications and Public Information Office at 225-342-4844 or 225-342-8955.