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Document Title:
Oil Field Produced Water Discharges into Wetlands in Wyoming.
AUTHOR(S):
Pedro Ramirez Jr
REPORT NUMBER:
R6/718C/02
PAGES:
1 - 15
PUBLICATION DATE:
August 2002
ABSTRACT:
Department of Environmental Quality's (WDEQ) National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System
(NPDES) permit program. Wyoming is one of a few states that allows the discharge of oil field
produced water into surface waters for beneficial use by livestock and wildlife. Sixty-six wetland
sites receiving oil field produced water discharges in Wyoming were surveyed to determine the
percentage of discharges in compliance with NPDES permit requirements and to determine the
amount of chronic oil releases associated with these discharges. Separator pits were also surveyed
to determine wildlife mortality and to assess implementation of wildlife deterrents. Although limited
in scope, this survey of oil field produced water discharges in Wyoming shows that: inefficient oilwater
separation is causing a chronic discharge of oil into some of the wetlands receiving oil field
produced water; and, over half (53 percent) of the sites surveyed used only flagging to deter
migratory birds from oil pits used to skim oil from produced water. Additionally, approximately 85
percent of the oil field produced water discharges surveyed went into ephemeral streams. Project #: 97-6- 6F34
PUBLISHED BY:
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
DOCUMENT LINK:
http://www.fws.gov/mountain-prairie/contaminants/papers/r6718c02.pdf, 2 MB
ADDITIONAL LINKS:
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service - Mountain-Prairie Region, Contaminants Program
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