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Fossil Energy Technologies 
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Oil Reservoir and Environmental
Research The INEEL has strengths in environmental technology that relate not only
to the Department of Energy (DOE) complex but to those in the fossil energy
community. For example, the INEEL has evaluated possible health risks
relating to naturally occurring radioactive materials (NORM) that are
commonly encountered in oil production facilities. The INEEL is developing
technologies to treat such environmental problems as vadose zone accumulations
of benzene, toluene, ethylene and xylene (BTEX). Another project is using
the natural accumulation of selenium in plant materials to design wetlands
for treating discharge waters. Simple low-cost bioreactors are being developed
for treating produced water and gas in oil field and offshore platform
environments for removal of sulfides. The INEEL has completed a workshop on "Established Practices and Technologies
for Petroleum Exploration and Production on Alaska's North Slope" that
is currently available. Additional workshops and a database related to
Alaska North Slope are planned by DOE to expand the information available
to the industry. These environmental activities have been funded by DOE-Fossil
Energy, the Gas Research Institute, the American Petroleum Institute,
certain petroleum companies, and by internal funds. Since 1991, the INEEL has prepared three major reports dealing with oil
and gas resources on the Arctic North Slope for DOE. The latest report,
Economics of Alaska North Slope Gas Utilization Options, compares two
options for marketing the 25 trillion cubic feet of natural gas in the
Prudhoe Bay and Point Thomson fields. One option includes constructing
an 800-mile gas pipeline (paralleling the existing oil pipeline), constructing
a liquefied natural gas (LNG) plant on Alaska's southern shore, and transporting
the LNG to Asian markets.
The other option includes constructing a gas-to-liquids
plant on the North Slope in the Prudhoe Bay area and transporting the
resulting liquid mixed with the crude oil down the existing oil pipeline
to be marketed in North America as transportation fuels. Studies indicate
that either option would be economical. Each has advantages. These studies
will help DOE decide the direction of research. Industry has used the
information in determining their future direction. Owing to its importance
to the economy of the United States, every effort should be made to most
effectively develop and produce the oil and gas from that vast oil and
gas resource on the sensitive North Slope of the United States. Research Areas:
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Updated: Thursday, October 24, 2002 For general inquiries about the INEEL, please call 1-800-708-2680. © 2004 Bechtel BWXT Idaho, LLC. All rights reserved. Bechtel BWXT Idaho, LLC is an EEO/AA employer. Feedback |
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The INEEL is operated for the DOE by Bechtel BWXT Idaho, LLC.
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