Effects of the Application of Drill Cuttings and Recovered Oily Sands on Caribbean Pines, Anzoátegui State, Northeastern Venezuela

摘要

As a part of an overall waste reduction initiative, beneficial reuse of materials otherwise considered oilfield waste were evaluated as an environmentally responsible and business practical method of handling theses materials. Heavy oil production by the Cerro Negro Project, within the Orinoco River region of the Anzoátegui State of northeastern Venezuela, is surrounded by Caribbean pine plantations. During 1999 and 2000, decanted drill cuttings and recovered oily sands were mixed with virgin soil (mostly sandy loams) and an agglutinate in order to produce an asphalt mixture for use as a substrate stabilizer and road base. The mixture was prepared to comply with Venezuela Ministry of Environment requirements before being spread as a road base on internal roads within the pine plantations as a stabilizer. Studies were conducted to evaluate numerous quantitative and qualitative parameters potentially associated with impact to pine trees and the surroundings environment. These possible effects were evaluated from the following key assessment sectors: A. Caribe pine plantation areas near the initial mixing sites (borrow pits), B. Plantation areas adjacent to roadways or firebreaks where the mixture was applied, and C. Plantation areas where the mixture is used directly as a substratum. The results of this study, designed to evaluate the effects of the application of the mixture of drill cuttings and recovered oily sands on the forestation species and theirsurrounding environment, document that the application of this mixture represents a cost-effective waste reduction option with natural resources re-use and erosion stabilization benefits. Results potentially demonstrating enhanced growth and productivity of surrounding pine plantations further document a "win-win" solution between the Cerro Negro Project operator and the plantation owners for the handling of these materials that would otherwise be considered a waste.