Application of Microbiological Methods to Assess the Potential Impact of Produced Water Discharges

Abstract

The measurement of oil in produced water is important for both process control and reporting to regulatory authorities. The concentration of oil in produced water is a method-dependent parameter, which is traditionally evaluated using reference methods based on infrared (IR) absorption or gravimetric analysis, although Gas Chromatography and Flame Ionisation Detection (GC-FID) have recently become more accepted. This chapter will give a brief overview of hydrocarbon chemistry and discuss the definition of oil in produced water and the requirement for its measurement. Reference and non-reference (bench-top and online monitoring) methods for the measurement of oil in produced water are reviewed. Issues related to sampling, sample handling and calibration, as well as methods of how to accept a non-reference method for the purpose of reporting, are discussed