USE OF OPTIMIZATION MODELING TO EVALUATE INDUSTRIAL-WASTE REDUCTION OPTIONS - APPLICATION TO A SOUR GAS PLANT

This note reports on a study of waste reduction options for the upstre am oil and gas industry and involves the application of a waste reduct ion optimization model to a generic sour gas plant. The waste reductio n optimization model is meant as an aid for decision-making relating t o the implementation of waste reduction options. The generic facility was developed from process knowledge provided by industry members of a project steering committee, as well as waste management information f rom industry manuals and represents a facility of average capacity and typical configuration. Several waste minimization options were modell ed for selected waste streams. The selected streams were chosen based upon waste flows and disposal costs and their potential for waste redu ction. The results of the modelling for the generic sour gas plant hav e shown that a set of cost-effective waste reduction options exist, th ere is significant potential for reducing the total quantity of waste to be managed and disposed of, and that implementation of the options would lead to considerable cost savings. The value and usefulness of t he modelling approach lie not only in the generated results, but also in the fact that to construct the model, relevant waste flows and ever y possible manner that these waste flows can be minimized or processed are systematically identified. Once modelled, the parameters can be r eadily manipulated to determine various possible waste management stra tegies. To effectively use the modelling approach, the waste reduction team should have knowledge of the plant processes, existing waste man agement practices and costs, information on potential waste reduction options and technologies, as well as experience in mathematical modell ing and analysis.