Waste re-injection well goes online at Prirazlomnoye offshore Russia

Offshore staff

ST PETERSBURG, Russia – Gazpromneft Shelf has commissioned the first re-injection well at the Prirazlomnoye field in the Pechora Sea, 60 km (37 mi) from the northern Russian coast.

This will be used for re-injecting waste materials produced during well construction, i.e. drilling mud, waste water, and drill cuttings.

Injection will take place into strata above the production horizon, ensuring its protection from higher and underlying layers. The well should also optimize recycling of industrial waste which will now be performed directly on the ice-resistant drilling andproduction platform Prirazlomnaya with no negative environmental impacts, the company claimed.

Currently two production wells are in operation alongside the injection well, with a further 29 wells to be commissioned eventually.

All wells are located within the platform, the base of which acts as a buffer between the well and the open sea. Additionally the wells are engineered to prevent an uncontrolled emission of oil or gas.

The offloading line for the pumping of oil to tankers is equipped with an emergency shut-down system, which is activated instantaneously.

05/27/2016