The Role of the Supplier of Production Chemicals in Managing the Environmental Impact of Produced Water in Offshore Oil and Gas Production

Abstract

The intent of this paper is to put a perspective on the issue of the regulation of offshore chemicals and to illuminate the role of the specialty chemicals industry in this respect. It is the concern of the regulators that the use of offshore chemicals may have an impact on the environment. The nature of the specialty chemicals industry which produces and supplies these chemicals (and are thus also referred to in this paper as the suppliers) will be described as well as its role in the management of the environmental impact of the offshore industry through development of better products. A way of implementing this development process and the implications will be discussed as well as the possible role of the CHARM model. Finally the need for cooperation between regulators and industry will be stressed.