Evaluating the effectiveness of land farming oilfield waste

The treatment of oilfield wastes through bio-remediation technologies such as land farming, land spreading and land treatment are discussed. Petroleum hydrocarbons and other common oilfield substances such as amines, glycol, methanol, biocides and solvents can be degraded through landfarming operations. Land farming is an active bioremediation technology that treats contaminated soils, sediments or sludges by applying them to a clean soil surface and occasionally tilling them to enhance aeration and natural biological breakdown of the waste material. The related process of land spreading denotes a one time application and incorporation of a waste into an unprepared soil media without repeated tillage. Land treatment refers generally to in-situ treatment of contaminated material. The factors that help make land farming a success and the limitations of the process were described. The biodegradation process of hydrocarbons is a component of the carbon cycle. One of the end-products is carbon dioxide which is a greenhouse gas. It was noted that to date, no emissions restrictions have been placed on land farming operations in Alberta. Factors that drive the biodegradation process, i. e. aeration, moisture, temperature, nutrients, and the organic composition of the residues were reviewed. Land farming operations can be complex, often incorporating liners and other methods to control leaching of contaminants. The physical components of a land farm include: access ramps, grade, groundwater monitoring systems, irrigation systems, impermeable liners, leachate collection systems, run-off diversion berms, run-off water catchment, and a working area. refs., tabs., figs