PART III PRODUCTION OPERATIONS

A. BACKGROUND
1. Production operations begin as wells are completed during the development
(drilling and completion) phase. The production phase involves the active recovery
of hydrocarbons from producing formations. During this phase, discharges are
composed principally of produced formation water and also drilling fluids and drill
cuttings while concurrent development drilling is in progress. The discharge of
drilling fluids and drill cuttings, stops when development and well reworking
operations end. Production operations are practised on land, swamp, nearshore and
offshore environments of Nigeria.
2. The relevant pollution regulations on production operations are provided under
Sections 25 and 36 of the Petroleum (Drilling- and Production) Regulations, 1969.
3. The primary objective of the foregoing guidelines and standards shall be to
regulate the environmental management practices in the production and discharge of
produced formation waters, oily waste waters, sludges and accidental spills of oils
from oil and gas production installations within the territory and territorial
waters of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
B. DESCRIPTION OF OPERATIONS
1. After a well is drilled, and has proved that oil can be produced commercially
and economically, the well is prepared for sustained operations, and a permanent
installation replaces the mobile unit.
2. Hydrocarbon fluids move to the surface through tubing contained within the cased
borehole. For oil wells, energy required to lift fluids can be provided by natural
formation pressures or various induced mechanical means. The most commonly used
induced methods are: fluid (water or gas) injection to maintain pressure, forcing
gas into the oil stream for overall reduction in hydrostatic fluid density with a
subsequent �lift?, and lastly the use of pumps.
3. At the surface, oil, gas and water are separated: gas from any liquids, oil from
water. Fluids produced from oil reservoir normally consist of oil, natural gas, and
salt water (brine) which in turn, contains suspended and dissolved solids. A gas
well can produce dry gas, but, usually it produces varying quantities of light
hydrocarbons (called gas liquids or condensate). In both oil and gas production,
suspended solids in production waters are normally clays, sand, or similar
materials.
4. Gas, oil and water are commonly separated in several stages. Gas dissolved in
oil, is released as the pressure above the liquid phase is reduced. Oil from high
pressure wells requires several stages of decompression to become gas free. Oil and
brine are sometimes present as emulsion, either by natural occurrence or from the
vigorous mixing experienced in bringing the fluids to the surface. The emulsion may
be broken (i.e. separation of oil and water phases) by moderate heat, chemical
addition, electric charge, or quiescent settling.
5. Gas and oil separated in the above manner can be considered as inputs into
commercial gas pipelines and as crude petroleum feed stocks (for export and
refinery inputs), respectively.
45