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Oil Ex loration and Production Wastes Initiative _ Project Methodology <br />Produced water brought up to the surface is processed to remove the crude oil <br />product. Treatment of produced water makes use of vessels such as free water <br />knock -out tanks, heater -treater tanks, and water treatment plants. Prior to <br />disposal, produced water is typically contained in large storage tanks. <br />Methods of disposal encountered during the course of this study included <br />discharge into sewer and percolation ponds under permits issued by the <br />Regional Water Quality Control Boards (RWQCBs), injection into Class II <br />disposal wells, and recycling for other uses. The practicality of the method <br />depends largely on the regional characteristics. For example, percolation ponds <br />would not be likely in an urban setting. Methods of disposal encountered in Los <br />Angeles County were disposal into sewer and injection for enhanced recovery, or <br />waterflood. In Kern County produced water was disposed into Class II disposal <br />wells, percolation ponds, recycled for steam generation and injected into <br />steamflood wells, and some produced water was used in agricultural irrigation <br />canals. Table 1 lists data published by the American Petroleum Institute (API) on <br />the volume and methods of disposal for produced water associated with oil <br />production in California during 1995. <br />Table 1. Produced Water Generated by Oil Production in CA, 1995 <br />Produced water in CA, 1995 Volume 4Percentac <br />Reported volume produced water (1,000 barrels/gear) 713,904 <br />Estimated volume of produced water (1,000 barrels//year 1,684,2001 IS <br />Injected for enhanced oil recovery (barrels/day) j 365,844 51 <br />I�ected for disposal onsite (barrels/day) _ 179,573; 25 <br />In offsite (barrelslday� _ _ _ . _ �. 5,050 0.7 <br />NA = Not Applicable <br />Data source: API, 2000. <br />Statewide Compliance Division May 2002 <br />- 11 - <br />