Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Fate of drilling waste discharges and ecological risk assessment in the Egyptian Red Sea: an aquivalence-based fuzzy analysis

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Stochastic Environmental Research and Risk Assessment Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Egypt is located in the Northeast of Africa where oil and gas (O&G) are produced offshore from the Gulf of Suez and the Southeast part of the Mediterranean. The O&G production in Egypt is distributed as follows: 70% from Gulf of Suez, 16% from Western desert, 8% from the Sinai Peninsula and 6% from Eastern desert. Past O&G activities, refining and transport have resulted in chronic pollution in Egyptian offshore and numerous environmental programs have been initiated to protect new development areas from the environmental impacts. The offshore drilling process uses drilling fluids (mud) and generates waste fluids and cuttings, which could be the largest discharges going into the receiving water bodies. There are several options to manage offshore drilling wastes: offshore discharge, offshore down-hole injection and onshore disposal. Water-based drilling fluids (WBF) are commonly employed for drilling in Egyptian offshore because of their expected environmental benign behavior. The main objective of this paper is to develop a methodology to determine the fate of heavy metals associated with WBF drilling waste in the marine environment and estimate the associated ecological risks. Proposed contaminant fate model is based on an aquivalence approach, which has been integrated with fuzzy-based analysis to study the uncertainties. This research concluded that the impacts of heavy metals associated with the drilling waste discharges in the receiving waters are minimal.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Alim S (1988) Application of Dempster–Shafer theory for interpretation of seismic parameters. ASCE J. Struct Eng 114(9):2070–2084

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Allen HE (2002) Bioavailability of metals in terrestrial ecosystems: importance of partitioning for bioavailability to invertebrates, microbes and plants. SETAC Press, Pensacola

    Google Scholar 

  • Alpers CN, Nordstrom DK (1999) Geochemical modelling of water–rock interactions in mining environments. In: Plumlee GS, Logsdon MJ (eds) Reviews in economic geology, vol 6A, the environmental geochemistry of mineral deposits: part A. Processes, methods and health issues. Society of Economic Geologists, Littleton, pp 289–324

  • Australian and New Zealand Guidelines for Fresh and Marine Water Quality (1999) National water quality management strategy. Australia and New Zealand Environment and Conservation Council

  • Booman C, Foyn L (1996) Effects of the water soluble fraction of crude oil on marine fish larvae and crustaceans. In: Reed M, Johnsen S (eds) Produced water 2: environmental issues and mitigation technologies. Environmental science research, vol 52. Plenum Press, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Canadian Council of Ministers of Environment (1997) A framework for ecological risk assessment: technical appendices, CCME, PN1274

  • Caruso BS, Cox TJ, Runkel RL, Velleux ML, Bencala KE, Nordstrom DK, Julien PY, Butler BA, Alpers CN, Marion A, Smith KS (2008) Metals fate and transport modelling in streams and watersheds: state of the science and USEPA workshop review. Hydrol Process 22:4011–4021

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dubois F, Parade H (1988) Possibility theory: an approach to computerized processing of uncertainty. Plenum Press, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Dyck R, Sadiq R, Rodriguez M, Simard S, Tardif R (2011) Trihalomethanes exposures in an indoor swimming pool: a level III fugacity model. Water Res 45(16):5084–5098

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Egyptian Environmental Law (1994) http://www.eeaa.gov.eg/English/main/law4.asp

  • Eni in Egypt (2009) http://www.bing.com/search?srch=106&FORM=AS6&q=Ieoc+Egypt+Branch

  • Ferson S, Joslyn CA, Helton JC, Oberkampf WL, Sentz K (2004) Summary from the epistemic uncertainty workshop: consensus amid diversity. Reliab Eng Syst Saf 85:355–369

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Guyonnet D, Côme B, Perrochet P, Parriaux A (1999) Comparing two methods for addressing uncertainty in risk assessments. J Environ Eng 125(7):660–666

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Guyonnet D, Bourgine B, Dubois D, Fargier H, Côme B, Chilès J (2003) Hybrid approach for addressing uncertainty in risk assessments. J Environ Eng 129(1):68–78

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hauck M, Huijbregts MAJ, Armitage JM, Cousins IT, Ragas AMJ, van de Meent D (2008) Model and input uncertainty in multi-media fate modeling. Benzo[a] pyrene concentrations in Europe. Chemosphere 72(6):959–967

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Huang H (1992) Transport properties of drilling muds and detroit river sediments. Ph.D. Thesis, University of California, Santa Barbara, USA

  • Klir GJ, Yuan B (1995) Fuzzy sets and fuzzy logic—theory and applications. Prentice-Hall, Englewood Cliffs

    Google Scholar 

  • Lyman WJ, Reehl WF, Rosenblatt DH (1990) Handbook of chemical property estimation methods. American Chemical Society, Washington, DC, USA

  • Mackay D (1991) Multimedia environmental models: the fugacity approach. Lewis Publishers, Chelsea

    Google Scholar 

  • Mackay D (2002) Multimedia environmental models: the fugacity approach, 2nd edn. Lewis Publishers, Chelsea

    Google Scholar 

  • Mackay D, Diamond M (1989) Application of the QWASI (quantitative water air sediment interaction) fugacity model to the dynamics of organic and inorganic chemicals in lakes. Chemosphere 18:1343–1365

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mackay D, Joy M, Paterson S (1983) A quantitative water, air, sediment interaction (QWASI) fugacity model for describing the fate of chemicals in lakes. Chemosphere 12:277–291

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mackay D, Sang S, Vlahos P, Gobas F, Diamond M, Dolan D (1994) A rate constant model of chemical dynamics in lake ecosystem: PCBs in Lake Ontario. J Great Lakes Res 20(4):625–642

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Maest AS, Kuipers JR, Travers CL, Atkins DA (2005) Predicting water quality at hardrock mines: methods and models, uncertainty and state-of-the-Art. Kuipers & Associate and Buka Environmental, Butte

    Google Scholar 

  • Meinhold AF (1998) Framework for a comprehensive environmental assessment of drilling fluids. National Petroleum Technology Office, Office of Fossil Energy, U.S. Department of Energy, Tulsa

  • Neff JM (2005) Composition, environmental fates, and biological effect of water based drilling muds and cuttings discharged to the marine environment: a synthesis and annotated bibliography. Petroleum Environmental Research Forum and API, Duxbury

  • Nordstrom DK (2007) Modeling low-temperature geochemical processes, Chapter 5. In: Heinrich ÂÂ, Holland HD, Turekian KK (eds) Treatise on geochemistry. Pergamon, Oxford

    Google Scholar 

  • Paquin PR, Santore RC, Farley K, Di Toro DM, Wu KB, Mooney KG, Winfield RP (2003) Metals in aquatic systems: a review of exposure, bioaccumulation, and toxicity models (aquatic metals). SETAC Press, Pensacola

    Google Scholar 

  • Perkins EH, Nesbitt HW, Gunter WD, St-Arnaud LC, Mycroft JR (1995) Critical review of geochemical processes and geochemical models adaptable for prediction of acidic drainage from waste rock. Canadian Mine Environment Neutral Drainage (MEND), report 1.42.1

  • Price WA (2009) Prediction manual of drainage chemistry from sulphidic geologic materials. Canadian Mine Environment Neutral Drainage (MEND), report 1.20.1

  • Reish DJ, Kauwling TJ, Mearns AJ (1976) Marine and estuarine pollution. J Water Pollut Control Fed 48:1439–1459

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Reish DJ, Kauwling TJ, Mearns AJ, Oshida PS, Rossi SS (1977) Marine and estuarine pollution. J Water Pollut Control Fed 49:1316–1340

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Reish DJ, Kauwling TJ, Mearns AJ, Oshida PS, Rossi SS, Wilkes FG, Ray MJ (1978) Marine and estuarine pollution. J Water Pollut Control Fed 50:1424–1468

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Reish DJ, Rossi SS, Mearns AJ, Oshida PS, Wilkes FG (1979) Marine and estuarine pollution. J Water Pollut Control Fed 51:1477–1517

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Reish DJ, Geesey GG, Kauwling TJ, Wilkes FG, Mearns AJ, Oshida PS, Rossi SS (1980) Marine and estuarine pollution. J Water Pollut Control Fed 52:1533–1575

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Reish DJ, Geesey GG, Oshida PS, Wilkes FG, Mearns AJ, Rossi SS, Ginn TC (1981) Marine and estuarine pollution. J Water Pollut Control Fed 53:925–949

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Reish DJ, Geesey GG, Wilkes FG, Oshida PS, Mearns AJ, Rossi SS, Ginn TC (1982) Marine and estuarine pollution. J Water Pollut Control Fed 54:786–812

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sadiq R (2001) Drilling waste discharges in the marine environment: a risk-based decision methodology. Ph.D. thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland, Canada

  • Sadiq R, Husain T, Bose N, Veitch B (2003a) Distribution of heavy metals in sediment pore water due to offshore discharges: an ecological risk assessment. Environ Model Softw 18(5):451–461

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sadiq R, Husain T, Veitch B, Bose N (2003b) Distribution of arsenic and copper in sediment pore water: an ecological risk assessment case study for offshore drilling waste discharges. Risk Anal 23:1309–1321

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Seaconsult Marine Research Limited (2000) Modeled predictions of well cuttings deposition and produced water dispersion of the proposed white rose development. Husky Oil Operations Ltd

  • Tesfamariam S, Sadiq R (2006) Risk-based environmental decision-making using fuzzy analytic hierarchy process (F-AHP). Stoch Environ Res Risk Assess 21(1):35–50

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tesfamariam S, Rajani B, Sadiq R (2006) Consideration of uncertainties to estimate structural capacity of ageing cast iron water mains—a possibilistic approach. Can J Civ Eng 33(4):1050–1064

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • US EPA (1976) Quality criteria for water. US Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC

    Google Scholar 

  • US EPA (1993) Development document for effluent limitations guidelines and new source performance standards for the offshore subcategory of the oil and gas extraction point source category. EPA-821-R93-003. US EPA, Washington, DC

  • US EPA (1998) Guidelines for ecological risk assessment, risk assessment forum. EPA-630-R-98-002F. US Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC

  • US EPA (2000) Environmental assessment of final effluent limitations guidelines and standards for synthetic-based drilling fluids and other non-aqueous drilling fluids in the oil and gas extraction point source category. EPA-821-00-014,. US Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC

  • US EPA (2007) Framework for metals risk assessment. Report EPA 120/R-07/001. Office of the Science Advisor, Washington, DC

  • Zadeh LA (1965) Fuzzy sets. Inf Control 8(3):338–353

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zadeh LA (1978) Fuzzy sets as a basis for a theory of possibility. Fuzzy Sets Syst 1(1):3–28

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

The authors acknowledge the help of Mr. Getnet Betrie (UBC, Canada) for performing some part of fuzzy-based analysis. Acknowledgements are also due to Dr. Mohamed Khairi (Faculty of Science, Alexandria University, Egypt) for lab analysis. Authors also like to thank Mr. Hossam Khalid (MI-Swaco Egypt) for providing WBF mud reports data.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering Department, Faculty of Engineering, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt

    Ahmad Agwa, Heba Leheta & Ahmed Salem

  2. Okanagan School of Engineering, The University of British Columbia, Kelowna, BC, Canada

    Rehan Sadiq

Authors
  1. Ahmad Agwa
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Heba Leheta
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Ahmed Salem
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Rehan Sadiq
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Rehan Sadiq.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Agwa, A., Leheta, H., Salem, A. et al. Fate of drilling waste discharges and ecological risk assessment in the Egyptian Red Sea: an aquivalence-based fuzzy analysis. Stoch Environ Res Risk Assess 27, 169–181 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00477-012-0574-0

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00477-012-0574-0

Keywords

Search

Navigation