Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

An Ecological Risk Assessment for Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Produced Water Discharges to the Western Gulf of Mexico

  • Chapter
Produced Water 2

Part of the book series: Environmental Science Research ((ESRH,volume 52))

Abstract

Produced water represents the largest volume waste stream in the entire exploration and production process on most offshore platforms (Stephenson, 1991). The amount of treated produced water discharged from a single platform usually is less than 1.5 million liters/day (≈ 400,000 barrels/day), whereas discharges from large treatment facilities that process produced water from several platforms may be as high as 25 million L/day (Menzie, 1982). The total volume of treated produced water discharged to U.S. waters of the Gulf of Mexico in 1991 was approximately 549 million L/day (Rabalais et al., 1991), approximately 65 percent of which was generated in and discharged to coastal (state) waters of Louisiana and Texas (Boesch and Rabalais, 1989). In 1991, an average of 438 million L/day of treated produced water was discharged to the entire North Sea (Stephenson et al., 1994). The Statfjord oil field alone discharged an average of 30.9 million L/day of treated produced water to the Norwegian sector of the North Sea (Ynnesdal and Furuholt, 1994). The daily rate of produced water discharge to the North Sea is expected to increase to about 955 million L/day in 1998.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 84.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  • Abernethy, S.G., Bobra, A.M., Shiu, W.Y., Wells, P.G., Mackay, D. 1986. Acute lethal toxicity of hydrocarbons and chlorinated hydrocarbons to two planktonic crustaceans: the key role of organism- water partitioning. Aquat. Toxicol. 8:163–174.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Abernethy, S.G., Mackay, D., McCarthy, L.S. 1988. “Volume fraction” correlation for narcosis in aquatic organisms: the key role of partitioning. Environ. Toxicol. Chem. 7:469–481.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Armstrong, H. W., Fucik, K., Anderson, J.W., Neff, J.M. 1979. Effects of oilfield brine effluent on sediments and benthic organisms in Trinity Bay, Texas. Mar. Environ. Res. 2:55–69.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Boesch, D.F., Rabalais, N.N. 1989. Produced water discharges in the northwestern Gulf of Mexico region. Pages 13–30 In: D.F. Boesch and N.N. Rabalais, Eds., An Analysis of Impacts. Produced Waters in Sensitive Coastal Habitats. Central Gulf of Mexico. OCS Study MMS 89-0031. U.S. Dept. of the Interior, Minerals Management Service, Gulf of Mexico OCS Regional Office, New Orleans, LA.

    Google Scholar 

  • Boesch, D.F., Rabalais, N.N., Milan, C.S., Henry, C.B., Means, J.C., Gambrell, R.P., Overton, E.B. 1989. Field assessments. Pages 31–116 In: D.F. Boesch, N.N. Rabalais, Eds., An Analysis of Impacts. Produced Waters in Sensitive Coastal Habitats. Central Gulf of Mexico. OCS Study MMS 89–0031. U.S. Dept. of the Interior, Minerals Management Service, Gulf of Mexico OCS Regional Office, New Orleans, LA

    Google Scholar 

  • Borgund, A.E., Barth, T. 1994. Generation of short-chain organic acids from crude oil by hydrous pyrolysis. Org. Geochem. 21:943–952.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Brandsma, M.G. 1996. Dispersion modelling perspectives on the environmental fate of produced water discharges, (in press, this publication).

    Google Scholar 

  • Brooks, J.M., Kennicutt, M.C., Wade, T.L., Hart, A.D., Denoux, G.J., McDonald, T.J. 1990. Hydrocarbon distributions around a shallow water multiwell platform. Environ. Sci. Technol. 24:1079–1085.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Connell, D., Markwell, R. 1992. Mechanism and prediction of nonspecific toxicity to fish using biocon- centration characteristics. Ecotoxicol. Environ. Saf. 24:247–265.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Dickhut, R.M., Gustafson, K.E. 1995. Atmospheric inputs of selected polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and polychlorinated biphenyls to southern Chesapeake Bay. Mar. Pollut. Bull. 30:385–396.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Karickhoff, S.W., Brown, D.S., Scott, T.A. 1979. Sorption of hydrophobic pollutants on natural sediments and soils. Wat. Res. 13:241–248.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kingston, P.F. 1987. Field effects of platform discharges on benthic macro fauna. Phil. Trans. Roy. Soc. London B316:545–565.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kingston, P.F. 1992. The impact of offshore oil production installations on the benthos of the North Sea. ICES J. Mar. Sci. 49:127–143.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ko, F.-C., Baker, J.E. 1994. Partitioning of hydrophobic organic contaminants to resuspended sediments and plankton in the mesohaline Chesapeake Bay. Mar. Chem. 49:171–188.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Long, E.R., MacDonald, D.D., Smith, S.L., Calder, F.D. 1995. Incidence of adverse biological effects within ranges of chemical concentrations in marine and estuarine sediments. Environ. Manage. 19:81–97.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Long, E.R., Morgan, L.G. 1990. The potential for biological effects of sediment-sorbed contaminants tested in the National Status and Trends Program. NOAA Tech. Memo NOS OMA 52. U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Seattle, WA. 175 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mackay, D., Puig, H., McCarty, L.S. 1992a. An equation describing the time course and variability in uptake and toxicity of narcotic chemicals in fish. Environ. Toxicol. Chem. 11:941–951.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mackay, D., Shiu, W.Y., Ma, K.C. 1992b. Illsutrated Handbook of Physical-Chemical Properties and Environmental Fate for Organic Chemicals. Polynuclear Aromatic Hydrocarbons, Polychlorinated Dioxins, and Dibenzofurans. Lewis Publishers, Boca Raton, FL.595 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • McCarty, L.S. 1986. The relationship between aquatic toxicity QSARs and bioconcentration for some organic chemicals. Environ. Toxicol. Chem. 5:1071–1080.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • McCarty, L.S., Mackay, D., Smith, A.D., Ozburn, G.W., Dixon, D.G. 1992. Residue-based interpretation of toxicity and bioconcentration QSARs from aquatic bioassays: neutral narcotic organics. Environ. Toxicol. Chem. 11:917–930.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Means, J.C., McMillin, D.J., Milan, C.S. 1989. Characterization of produced water. Pages 97–110 In: D.F. Boesch and N.N. Rabalais, Eds., Environmental Impact of Produced Water Discharges in Coastal Louisiana. Report to Mid-continent Oil and Gas Association, New Orleans, LA.

    Google Scholar 

  • Menzie, C.A. 1982. The environmental implications of offshore oil and gas activities. Environ. Sci. Technol. 16:454A–472A.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Neff, J.M. 1979. Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in the Aquatic Environment. Sources, Fates, and Biological Effects. Applied Science Publishers, Barking, Essex, England. 262 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Neff, J.M. 1987. Biological effects of drilling fluids, drill cuttings and produced waters. Pages 469–538 In: D.F. Boesch and N.N. Rabalais, Eds., Long-Term Environmental Effects of Offshore Oil and Gas Development. Elsevier Applied Science Publishers, London.

    Google Scholar 

  • Neff, J.M., Burns, W.A. 1995. Estimation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon concentrations in the water column based on tissue residues in mussels and salmon: an equilibrium partitioning approach. Environ. Toxicol. Chem. (in press).

    Google Scholar 

  • Neff, J.M., Rabalais, N.N., Boesch, D.F. 1987. Offshore oil and gas development activities potentially causing long-term environmental effects. Pages 149–174 In: D.F. Boesch, N.N. Rabalais, Eds., Long-Term Environmental Effects of Offshore Oil and Gas Development. Elsevier Applied Science Publishers, London.

    Google Scholar 

  • Neff, J.M., Sauer, T.C., Jr. 1995. Aromatic hydrocarbons in produced water: bioaccumulation and trophic transfer in marine food webs, (in press, this publication).

    Google Scholar 

  • Neff, J.M., Sauer, T.C., Jr., Maciolek, N. 1989. Fate and Effects of Produced Water Discharges in Nearhore Marine Waters. API Publication No. 4472. American Petroleum Institute, Washington, DC. 300 pp

    Google Scholar 

  • Neff, J.M., Sauer, T.C., Jr., Maciolek, N. 1992. Composition, fate and effects of produced water discharges to nearshore marine waters. Pages 371–385 In: J.P. Ray, F.R. Engelhardt, Eds., Produced Water. Technological/Environmental Issues and Solutions. Plenum Press, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Page, D.S., Gilfillan, E.S., Boehm, P.D., Harner, E.J., 1995. Shoreline ecology program for Prince William Sound, Alaska following the Exxon Valdez oil spill: part 1—Study design and methods. Pages 263–295 In: P.G. Wells, J.N. Butler, J.S. Hughes, Eds., Exxon Valdez Oil Spill: Fate and Effects in Alaskan Waters. ASTM STP 1219. American Society for Testing and Materials, Philadelphia, PA.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Rabalais, N.N., Dagg, M.J., Boesch, D.F. 1985. Nationwide Review of Oxygen Depletion and Eutrophication in Estuarine and Coastal Waters: Gulf of Mexico (Alabama, Louisiana, Texas). Final Report to U.S.D.C. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Ocean Survey, Ocean Assessment Division, Rockville, MD. 60 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rabalais, N.N., McKee, B.A., Reed, D.J., Means, J.C. 1991. Fate and effects of nearshore discharges of OCS produced waters. Vol. 1: Executive Summary. Vol. 2: Technical Report. Vol. 3. Appendices. OCS Studies MMS 91–004, MMS 91–005, and MMS 91–006. U.S. Dept. of the Interior, Minerals Management Service, Gulf of Mexico OCS Regional Office, New Orleans, LA.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sauer, T.C., Boehm, P., 1991. Use of defensible analytical chemical measurements for oil spill natural resource damage assessment. Pages 363–369 In: 1991 Oil Spill Conference. Prevention, Behavior, Control, Cleanup. American Petroleum Institute, Washington, DC.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sijm, D.T.H.M., Schipper, M., Opperhuizen, A. 1993. Toxicokinetics of halogenated benzenes in fish: lethal body burden as a toxicological end point. Environ. Toxicol. Chem. 12:1117–1127.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Stephenson, M.T., Ayers, R.C., Bickford, L.J., Caudle, D.D., Cline, J.T., Cranmer, G., Duff, A., Garland, E., Herenius, T.A. Jacobs, R.P.W.M., Inglesfield, C. Norris, G., Petersen, J.D., Read, A.D. 1994. North sea produced water: fate and effects in the marine environment. Report No. 2.62/204. E&P Forum, London, England. 48 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Terrens, G.W., Tait, R.D. 1993. Effects on the marine environment of produced formation water discharges from Esso/BHPP’s Bass Strait platforms. Esso Environmental Report: 933/1. Esso Australia Ltd., Melbourne, Australia.

    Google Scholar 

  • Van Leeuwen, C. J., Van Der Zandt, P.T. J., Aldenberg, T., Verhaar, H J.M, Hermens J.L.M. 1992. Application of QSARs, extrapolation and equilibrium partitioning in aquatic effects assessment. I. Narcotic industrial pollutants. Environ. Toxicol. Chem. 11:267–282.

    Google Scholar 

  • Voice, T.C., Weber, W.J., Jr. 1983. Sorption of hydrophobic compounds by sediments, soils and suspended solids -1. Theory and background. Wat. Res. 17:1433–1441.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Warne, M.St. J., Connell, D.W., Hawker, D.W. 1991. Comparison of the critical concentration and critical volume hypotheses to model non-specific toxicity of individual compounds. Toxicol. 66:187–195.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ynnesdal, H., Furuholt, E. 1994. Environmental effects of produced water from large fields in the North Sea. An overview. Society of Petroleum Engineers Paper 27150. Annual Symposium of the Society of Petroleum Engineers, Djarkata, Indonesia.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Battelle Ocean Sciences Laboratory, 397 Washington Street, Duxbury, Massachusetts, 02332, USA

    Jerry M. Neff & Theodor C. Sauer Jr.

Authors
  1. Jerry M. Neff
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Theodor C. Sauer Jr.
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. IKU Petroleum Research, Trondheim, Norway

    Mark Reed

  2. STATOIL Research and Development Centre, Trondheim, Norway

    Ståle Johnsen

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 1996 Plenum Press, New York

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Neff, J.M., Sauer, T.C. (1996). An Ecological Risk Assessment for Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Produced Water Discharges to the Western Gulf of Mexico. In: Reed, M., Johnsen, S. (eds) Produced Water 2. Environmental Science Research, vol 52. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4613-0379-4_33

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4613-0379-4_33

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4613-8025-2

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4613-0379-4

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation