Health, Safety and Environment Specification Aqueous Effluent
Health, Safety and Environment Specification Aqueous Effluent
Health, Safety and Environment Specification Aqueous Effluent
Aqueous Effluent
DOCUMENT ID - SP 1006
REVISION - 2.0
DATE - 15/07/2002
HSE – SPECIFICATION
Setting Clear Requirements
Document Authorisation
Document Authority Document Custodian Document Author
‘dapo Oguntoyinbo G.T. Tan G.T. Tan
Ref. Ind: CSM Ref. Ind: CSM/2 Ref. Ind: CSM/2
Date: 15/07/2002 Date: 15/07/2002 Date: 15/07/2002
The following is a brief summary of the four most recent revisions to this document. Details of all revisions prior
to these are held on file by the Document Custodian.
User Notes:
The requirements of this document are mandatory. Non-compliance shall only be authorised by CSM through
STEP-OUT approval.
A controlled copy of the current version of this document is on PDO's EDMS. Before making reference to this
document, it is the user's responsibility to ensure that any hard copy, or electronic copy, is current. For
assistance, contact the Document Custodian.
This document is the property of Petroleum Development Oman, LLC. Neither the whole nor any part of this
document may be disclosed to others or reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form by
any means (electronic, mechanical, reprographic recording or otherwise) without prior written consent of the
owner.
Users are encouraged to participate in the ongoing improvement of this document by providing constructive
feedback.
Contents
1.0 INTRODUCTION................................................................................................................................1
1.1 Purpose.............................................................................................................................................1
1.2 Changes to the Specification............................................................................................................1
1.3 Scope................................................................................................................................................1
1.4 Deliverables......................................................................................................................................1
1.4.1 Records.........................................................................................................................................1
1.4.2 Reports.........................................................................................................................................1
1.5 Responsibility...................................................................................................................................2
1.6 Performance Monitoring..................................................................................................................2
1.7 Review and Improvement.................................................................................................................2
1.8 Reporting Format..............................................................................................................................3
2.0 PERFORMANCE STANDARDS.....................................................................................................5
2.1 Aqueous Effluent Discharge Standards (AEDS)..............................................................................5
2.2 Effluent Discharges..........................................................................................................................5
2.2.1 Surface Disposal......................................................................................................................5
2.2.2 Production Water.....................................................................................................................5
2.2.3 Marine Disposal.......................................................................................................................6
2.2.4 Sewage Treatment Systems......................................................................................................7
2.2.5 Effluent Discharges – Storm Water Runoff..................................................................................9
2.2.6 Effluent Discharges – Ballast Water............................................................................................9
2.2.7 Effluent Discharges – Others.......................................................................................................9
2.3 Water Quality Standards (WQS)......................................................................................................9
APPENDIX A: WATER QUALITY DISCHARGE LIMITS FOR REUSE AND DISCHARGE AS PER
MD145/93.......................................................................................................................................................11
1.0 Introduction
1.1 Purpose
This Specification describes PDO's minimum requirements for managing surface
discharges of aqueous effluents (which result from PDO's activities, products or services).
These have the potential to either be a hazard to human health or to harm the
environment.
1.3 Scope
This Specification addresses aqueous effluent discharges listed below:
Production water (discharges of formation water that is co-produced with oil and
gas)
Sewage effluent
Process water and drainage water (discharges of any water used that has to be
disposed of, and any other drainage water, including water resulting from
maintenance and cleaning activities)
Reverse osmosis plant discharges
Ballast water (discharges to the marine environment of water that is pumped out of
ballast tanks before loading marine tankers)
Hydrotest water (discharges of water used to pressure test flowlines and pipelines).
1.4 Deliverables
1.4.1 Records
Records shall be maintained to document the implementation of the aqueous effluent
monitoring programme (refer to CP 122 HSE Management System Manual, Part 2
Chapter 6).
1.4.2 Reports
Effluent discharge data shall be submitted to the CSM Department monthly as specified
in Section 1.8 of this specification.
Any non-compliances with this Specification shall be notified, investigated and reported
(refer to CP 122 HSE Management System Manual, Part 2, Chapter 6).
1.5 Responsibility
Asset Managers
Asset Managers are responsible for ensuring that effluent discharges generated in their
area of responsibility (including discharges from contractor activities) are managed in
accordance with the requirements of this Specification. Effluent discharges addressed in
this Specification shall be:
identified
sampled and analysed, as appropriate
quantified (either by direct measurement or using appropriate methods of
estimation)
recorded, as appropriate (refer to Section 1.4.1)
reported, as appropriate (refer to Section 1.4.2)
In the event that circumstances prevent compliance with this Specification, Asset
Managers shall seek the advice and if necessary, a ‘step-out approval’ from the
Document Authority. This approval requires recording subject areas, which do not
conform as a non-compliance (refer to the ‘Non Compliance Report Form’ in CP 122 HSE
Management System Manual, Part 2, Chapter 6).
Contractors
Contractors are responsible for ensuring that effluent discharges generated in the course
of carrying out their contractual requirements are managed in accordance with the
requirements of this Specification and reported, when applicable, to the Contract Holder.
This Specification shall be reviewed every 4 years. However changes to the current
version may be made in less than four years as the need arises depending upon the
issue of new and relevant environmental legislation and or major organisational changes
in PDO.
Parameter Units
Sewage Effluent Monthly Daily Average sewage 3
m /day
effluent volume
Maximum daily sewage effluent 3
volume in the month m /day
3
Total monthly volume of sewage m /day
effluent reuse:
Irrigation 3
m
Other 3
m
Sewage
Treatment Plant Weekly measurements of the following
Effluent Quality parameters:
criteria BOD mg/l
COD mg/l
TSS mg/l
pH units
Faecal coliform number per
100ml
Ammonical nitrogen mg/l
Number of occasions standards exceeded Number
Individual licenses and permits may establish AEDS, which are more stringent than those
required by this Specification. In these situations, the more stringent requirements shall
apply.
In addition to the discharge water quality limits set in the MD 145/93, the following
requirements should also be met:
Discharge points shall be designed and located to maximise the rate of mixing.
Discharges shall have no adverse effects on the general visible amenity of an area
Efforts shall be made to eliminate the effect of acute toxic effects on organisms in
the mixing zone
Discharge shall not impinge on any shoreline where there is unrestricted access by
the public
Discharge shall not impinge upon ecologically sensitive habitats
Drainage exceeding the limits (Appendix A) shall not be discharged directly to the
environment .
This Plan consists of 5 principles, which detail the strategy to be used for disposal of
production water, in the order of preference listed below:
1. Minimise the volumes of water produced during oil extraction
2. Maximise reuse of such produced waters
3. Phase out the use of shallow disposal wells and prevent disposal into useable or
exploitable aquifers.
4. Return production water to the producing reservoir .
5. Dispose surplus waters to formations which have a salinity > 35,000 mg/l, in
conjunction with case-specific monitoring programmes.
In resolving the best technical solution for production water disposal at each site, each of
the 5 principles shall be fully evaluated. An Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) shall
be developed for each production water disposal centre, detailing the selected technical
solution for production water disposal. Each EIS shall be submitted to the MRMEWR for
technical review and to obtain a Permit to Discharge.
The discharge point is to be located at least one metre below the water surface at the
lowest ebb. The primary area for dilution shall be a radius of 300 metres from the
discharge point, so that the following will not arise outside this area:
An increase in temperature of one degree Centigrade in the surrounding water
A decrease in the dissolved oxygen content by more than 10% of the background
concentration
Any change in the concentration of hydrogen ions by more than 0.2 units
An increase or decrease in the ratio of salt in the receiving water by more than two
parts per thousand.
A STP shall be used if the waste from more than 150 people is received, as required by
Ministerial Decree 5/86: Regulations for Septic Tanks and Holding Tanks.
The management of sewage effluent for STPs is controlled by MD 7/84: Regulations and
Criteria for the Disposal of Liquid Substances to the Marine Environment, and MD
145/93: Regulations for Wastewater Re-use and Discharge. The water quality
requirements for the discharges is detailed in Section 2.3.
In addition to accepting raw sewage from domestic activities, STPs may (within certain
limits) accept industrial waste streams. The following shall not be discharged to STPs:
Petroleum hydrocarbon products (gasoline, naphtha, fuel oil, or mineral oil or other
flammable or explosive liquid, solid or gas).
Garbage.
Waters or waste which contain grease, oil, or other substances that will solidify or
become viscous (prevent or block sewage flow) at temperatures between 32 and
150° F (65 ° C).
Any waters or wastes containing emulsified oils and grease, exceeding 100 ppm at
any one time with only waste water from hand washing containing residual
hydrocarbon and detergent shall be allowed.
Aqueous wastes containing heavy metals (copper, chromium, cadmium, cyanide,
lead, mercury, molybdenum, nickel, selenium and zinc) in excess of 2 ppm by weight
as these will suppress the biological action in the STP.
Any ashes, cinders, sand, mud, glass, rags, feathers, plastics, wood, entrails,
chemical residues, paint residues, or any other solid or viscous substance capable of
causing obstruction to the flow in sewers, or other interference with the proper
operation of the STP.
Any liquid or solid hazardous waste described in SP1009 HSE Specification - Waste
Management
Overall total influent to the STP which will exceed the STP design influent and
organic load in kg BOD/day as specified in the EIS approved by the MRMEWR.
Septic tanks shall be allowed only for discharge of domestic wastewater from an
equivalent population of not more than 150 people. For larger installations, domestic
wastewater shall be discharged to a sewage treatment plant.
Effluent from the septic tank shall be discharged to a soak-away pit, or any other
underground percolation system, approved by the Municipality.
If ground permeability conditions do not allow installation of an approved soak-away
pit, effluent shall either be discharged to the public sewer system, or holding tanks
installed.
Effluent from holding tanks shall be removed by tanker to a disposal location
approved by the Municipality.
Septic tanks and holding tanks shall only be installed with the prior approval and
consent of the Municipality for the area.
Sludge and scum accumulations within septic tanks shall be removed when
necessary and disposed in an approved manner (refer to SP 1009 HSE Specification -
Waste Management).
Be located at least 50 meters away from any public water source, well or falaj or at
least 15 meters from any private well
Not be constructed nearer than 3 meters from the wall of an occupied building.
Be sited in a position where they can be served by sludge tanker vehicles and at a
distance not more than 20 meters from the nearest tanker access.
Effluent from the holding tanks shall be carried away by tankers to a place approved
by the Municipality of the area at such intervals as will ensure that there is no
overflow of sewage from the holding tank at any time.
Mobile/Portable STPs
In remote locations unsuitable for soak-aways, mobile STPs should be used. The mobile
STPs shall meet the effluent standards MD 145/93 and MD7/84.
The WQS are a measure of the concentration of specific substances in the receiving
water following an initial period of dispersion and dilution. A key feature of WQS for
water is that they are derived in relation to specific water quality objectives (WQO).
WQS are based on the premise that aquatic systems can accommodate defined
concentrations of contaminants without causing biological damage or compromising
defined WQOs. The permissible levels are detailed in Appendix C of this Specification.
The WQSs that shall be used by PDO to assess the significance of effluent discharged
from its activities, products and services are listed in Appendix C. These WQSs have
been sourced from various regulatory agencies and organisations around the world,
reviewed by competent specialists and adopted by SIEP as the recommended WQS for
E&P operating companies.
Monitoring and measurement to assess compliance with WQS shall be carried out in
accordance with Section 1.6. Individual licences and permits may establish WQS which
are more stringent than those required by this Specification. In these cases, the more
stringent requirements shall apply.
The practical application of WQS follows the principles of risk management within the
Hazards and Effects Management Process in CP 122 HSE Management System Manual,
Part 2, Chapter 4.
Effluent discharges with concentrations that are less than the MACs listed in this
Specification may present a risk of environmental harm in environmentally sensitive
receiving waters but would not generally present a significant hazard. It is also possible
that the receiving environment may be sensitive to contaminants not listed above. In
these cases, options for establishing reduced exposure concentrations shall be
considered in order to manage risks such that they are As Low As Reasonably Possible
(ALARP).
Appendix A: Water Quality Discharge Limits for Reuse and Discharge as per
MD145/931
Parameter Standard A* *
Standard B
o 15.0 mg/l 20.0 mg/l
BOD (5days @ 20 C)
150.0 mg/l 200.0 mg/l
COD
15.0 mg/l 30.0 mg/l
Suspended solids
1500.0 mg/l 2000.0 mg/l
Total dissolved solids
2000.0 micro S./cm 2700.0 micro S./cm
Electrical conductivity
10.0 10.0
Sodium absorption ratio
6-9 6–9
pH
5.0 mg/l 5.0 mg/l
Aluminium
0.1 mg/l 0.1 mg/l
Arsenic
1.0 mg/l 2.0 mg/l
Barium
0.1 mg/l 0.3 mg/l
Beryllium
0.5 mg/l 1.0 mg/l
Boron
0.01 mg/l 0.01 mg/l
Cadmium
650.0 mg/l 650.0 mg/l
Chloride
0.05 mg/l 0.05 mg/l
Chromium
0.05 mg/l 0.05 mg/l
Cobalt
0.5 mg/l 1.0 mg/l
Copper
0.05 mg/l 0.10 mg/l
Cyanide
1.0 mg/l 2.0 mg/l
Fluoride
1.0 mg/l 5.0 mg/l
Iron
0.1 mg/l 0.2 mg/l
Lead
0.07 mg/l 0.07 mg/l
Lithium
150.0 mg/l 150.0 mg/l
Magnesium
0.1 mg/l 0.5 mg/l
Manganese
0.001 mg/l 0.001 mg/l
Mercury
0.01 mg/l 0.05 mg/l
Molybdenum
0.10 mg/l 0.10 mg/l
Nickel
5.0 mg/l 10.0 mg/l
Nitrogen – ammoniacal
50.0 mg/l 50.0 mg/l
Nitrogen – nitrate
5.0 mg/l 10.0 mg/l
Nitrogen – organic
0.5 mg/l 0.5 mg/l
Oil and grease
0.001 mg/l 0.002 mg/l
Phenols
30.0 mg/l 30.0 mg/l
Phosphorous
0.02 mg/l 0.002 mg/l
Selenium
0.01 mg/l 0.01 mg/l
Silver
200.0 mg/l 300.0 mg/l
Sodium
400.0 mg/l 400.0 mg/l
Sulfate
0.1 mg/l 0.1 mg/l
Sulfide
0.1 mg/l 0.1 mg/l
Vanadium
5.0 mg/l 5.0 mg/l
Zinc
200.0 per 100ml 1000.0 per 100ml
Faecal coliform bacteria
< 1.0 per litre < 1.0 per litre
Viable nematode ova
1
The following discharge limits apply, except in the event that alternatives limits are specified
within individual licenses or permits.
*
The definitions relating to Standards A and B are detailed below
Standard A Standard B
Method of Irrigation
Spray or any other method of aerial irrigation not
permitted in areas with public access unless with timing
control.