Environmental impacts of produced water and drilling waste discharges from the Norwegian offshore petroleum industry

• Published in: Marine environmental research Vol. 92; pp. 154 - 169
• Main Authors: Bakke, Torgeir, Klungsøyr, Jarle, Sanni, Steinar
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier Ltd 01.12.2013; Elsevier
• Subjects: acids; Agnatha. Pisces; analysis; Animal and plant ecology; Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Animals; Benthos; Biological and medical sciences; Biomarkers; cod (fish); continental shelf; drilling; Drilling waste; ecosystems; Environment; Environmental impact; Environmental Monitoring; Extraction and Processing Industry; fauna; Fish; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Industrial Waste; industry; mortality; Mytilus edulis; Norway; Offshore discharges; oils; oxygen consumption; Petroleum; Petroleum hydrocarbons; polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons; Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons - analysis; Produced water; risk; Risk Assessment; Sea water ecosystems; sediments; Synecology; toxicity; Vertebrates: general zoology, morphology, phylogeny, systematics, cytogenetics, geographical distribution; Water Pollutants, Chemical; Water Pollutants, Chemical - analysis; Norway; Scandinavia; Europe; Petroleum hydrocarbons; Offshore discharges; Drilling waste; Risk assessment; Biomarkers; Fish; Benthos; Produced water; Environmental impact; Drilling; Hydrocarbon; Biological marker; Offshore discharge; Risk analysis; Petroleum; Industry; Marine environment; Vertebrata; Offshore; Environment impact; Pisces; Wastes
• ISSN: 0141-1136; 1879-0291; 1879-0291
• DOI: 10.1016/j.marenvres.2013.09.012

Operational discharges of produced water and drill cuttings from offshore oil and gas platforms are a continuous source of contaminants to continental shelf ecosystems. This paper reviews recent research on the biological effects of such discharges with focus on the Norwegian Continental Shelf. The greatest concern is linked to effects of produced water. Alkylphenols (AP) and polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) from produced water accumulate in cod and blue mussel caged near outlets, but are rapidly metabolized in cod. APs, naphtenic acids, and PAHs may disturb reproductive functions, and affect several chemical, biochemical and genetic biomarkers. Toxic concentrations seem restricted to <2 km distance. At the peak of discharge of oil-contaminated cuttings fauna disturbance was found at more than 5 km from some platforms, but is now seldom detected beyond 500 m. Water-based cuttings may seriously affect biomarkers in filter feeding bivalves, and cause elevated sediment oxygen consumption and mortality in benthic fauna. Effects levels occur within 0.5–1 km distance. The stress is mainly physical. The risk of widespread, long term impact from the operational discharges on populations and the ecosystem is presently considered low, but this cannot be verified from the published literature. •Recent papers on effects of discharges of produced water and drilling waste from offshore petroleum operations are reviewed.•Produced water may cause toxic effects on individual organisms in laboratory and close to outlets.•Effects of oil contaminated drill cuttings deposits on the benthos are confined to within less than 2 km.•Effects of water based cuttings are reported from laboratory and only close to drill wells.•Effects of the discharges on populations and communities have not yet been verified and are unlikely.