SAR offers environmentally friendly and sustainable management and treatment of all types of drilling waste, with a focus on the best possible recovery and reuse.
Treatment of cuttings
SAR employs two technologies for processing cuttings: TCC® and ITDU®.
Both technologies are based on a thermal desorption process.
How does that work?
TCC® (Thermomechanical Cuttings Cleaner) is one of the most widely used thermal desorption technologies for processing cuttings.
TCC® technology converts kinetic energy (“heat of friction”) into thermal energy in a temperature-controlled desorption, which effectively causes water and oil to evaporate and then condense back into water and oil -- while preserving the quality of components.
Recovered base oil from TCC® is returned to customers and reused in oil-based drilling fluid (OBM) or used as an energy carrier.
Purified dry matter from TCC® (now purified for water and oil) has various industrial applications.
Recovered water from TCC® is sent for biological final treatment at SAR's contaminated water plant at Mongstad.
Did you know that:
- The process is controlled by a fully automatic PLC system
- Recovered base oil keeps very high quality and can be used in new OBM or as energy carrier
- Residual oil content in the dry matter is typically down to 0.2—0.3%
- Capacity: 4—6 tons per hour, depending on engine size and water content in the cutter
- The only thermal technology approved for offshore use in Norway
- SAR also has mobile TCC® units that can be quickly mobilized and demobilized for short-term projects
ITDU® (Induction Thermal Desorption Unit)
ITDU® is a technology under development at SAR, to be used for the treatment of oily soils and sludge, such as cuttings and drilling fluid residues (mudslop).
Unlike TCC® utilizes ITDU® inductors (“induction heat”) that convert induction energy into thermal energy in a temperature-controlled desorption. This causes water and oil to evaporate and condense separately back into water and oil — while preserving the quality of the components.
Recovered base oil from ITDU® is returned to customers and reused in oil-based drilling fluid (OBM) or as an energy carrier. Purified dry matter from ITDU® (now free of water and oil) has various industrial applications. Recovered water from ITDU® is sent for biological final treatment at SAR's water treatment plant at Mongstad.
Did you know that:
- The process is controlled by a fully automatic PLC system
- Recycled base oil keeps high quality and can be used in new OBM or as energy carrier
- Residual oil content in the dry matter is typically 0.2—0.3%
- Capacity: 4—6 tons per hour, depending on inductor size and water content
- ITDU® can be built as mobile devices for flexible use in short-term projects
- The processed masses meet the most stringent environmental requirements
Treatment of drilling fluid and sludge (Mudslop)
SAR offers a environmentally friendly and cost-effective solution for the treatment of oil-based slop and sludge (mud).
How does that work?
WOSS (Water Oil Solid Separation) separates the drilling fluid into water, oil and solids using decanting and separation technology (decanters and separators).
Recycled sludge (decanter sludge consisting of oil, water and solids) is further treated in the same manner as cuttings in TCC® and ITDU®, with similar result. Recovered oil is further processed in the liquefaction process in TCC®, and achieves the same quality as oil from cuttings processing. Purified dry matter has various industrial applications.
Did you know that:
- Used chemicals are environmentally friendly and biodegradable
- No organic solvents are used
- Low energy consumption
- Cost-effective process
- Flexibility to treat sludge with varied composition
- High recovery rate of oil
- Treated waste meets the most stringent environmental requirements
Wastewater treatment
SAR has proven technology of wastewater treatment from onshore industry, offshore oil and gas operations, ships and refineries.
SARs biological water treatment plant at Mongstad is Norway's largest treatment facility for contaminated water, with a concession for annual treatment capacity and discharges of up to 240,000 m³ In line with strict national requirements.
The uniqueness of the plant is its robustness and ability to handle a wide range and complex compositions of contaminated water. The water originates mainly from the offshore industry and includes, among other things, oil-contaminated water, ballast water, wash water, engine room slag and water with heavy metals.
How does that work?
Best Available Technology (BAT) is implemented to ensure optimal process conditions and environmental protection.
Pretreatment of wastewater is carried out chemically in a DAF plant (Dissolved Air Flotation), in which heavy metals, solids and hydrocarbons are removed. The sludge phase from the DAF treatment is further dewatered in decanters, while the water is returned to the biological treatment.
The biological treatment in an active sludge system (“Active Sludge” bioreactor) removes dissolved organic compounds, nitrogen and phosphorus from the pre-treated water. Electric blowers supply air to diffusers in the bioreactor (oxygen for the bacterial culture), the sludge settles in a clearance tank and is recycled back into the system. Excess sludge is removed and dewatered before further handling.
It Purified water is then filtered through a Dynasand filter which removes residual particles, before the water is checked and released to sea.
Did you know that:
- Chemical additives in the DAF process remove oil, heavy metals and particles
- The biological process employs a robust and unique bacterial culture
- SAR's treatment processes meet national requirements for discharges to sea
- Treated waste meets the strictest environmental standards