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Application of Microbiological Methods to Assess the Potential Impact of Produced Water Discharges

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Produced Water

Abstract

Microbial production and activity in produced water directly recovered from the discharge stream of offshore oil and gas production facilities off the east coast of Canada were examined before and after aeration in a series of concentrations to determine the effect of dilution at sea. Aeration and dilution resulted in reduced toxicity due to volatilization and oxidation of the lighter hydrocarbons including polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), alkylated PAHs, benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, xylene, and short-chain alkanes (C10–C14). A fraction of the detrimental effects on microbial productivity and activity could also be attributed to the elevated salinity associated with produced water. These results suggest that caution should be used in the manipulation of produced water samples used for toxicity/risk assessment studies.

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Acknowledgments

Funding for this research was provided by Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO), the Program of Energy Research and Development (PERD), and the Environmental Studies Research Funds (ESRF) managed by Natural Resources Canada (NRCan). We would like to thank Carol Anstey (DFO) for the nutrient analyses.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centre for Offshore Oil, Gas and Energy Research (COOGER), Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Bedford Institute of Oceanography, Dartmouth, NS, Canada, B2Y 4A2

    Kenneth Lee, Susan E. Cobanli, Brian J. Robinson & Gary Wohlgeschaffen

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  1. Kenneth Lee
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  2. Susan E. Cobanli
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  3. Brian J. Robinson
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  4. Gary Wohlgeschaffen
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Correspondence to Kenneth Lee .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Centre for Offshore Oil &, Gas Environmental Research, Bedford Institute of Oceanography, 1 Challenger Drive, Dartmouth, B2Y 4A2, Nova Scotia, Canada

    Kenneth Lee

  2. Neff and Associates, LLC, Duxbury, 20332, Massachusetts, USA

    Jerry Neff

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Lee, K., Cobanli, S.E., Robinson, B.J., Wohlgeschaffen, G. (2011). Application of Microbiological Methods to Assess the Potential Impact of Produced Water Discharges. In: Lee, K., Neff, J. (eds) Produced Water. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-0046-2_19

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