Mercury is a neurotoxin. The presence of even a tiny amount of mercury in waste material can cause it to be classified as hazardous waste. According to the United Nations Environment Program about 9,000 tons of mercury waste are released into the atmosphere annually, with Southeast Asia having the highest levels globally. Mercury is a natural byproduct of hydrocarbon production and can accumulate in refineries. So how does the Association of Southeast Asian Nations oil and gas industry contend with mercury waste?
A group of researchers in Southeast Asia identified a knowledge gap specific to the management of mercury waste in the ASEAN oil and gas industry. In their literature review, they found only one other study on this topic. Their new research includes updated information (to May 2022) and a more detailed analysis. In their paper, “A Review of Mercury Waste Management in the ASEAN Oil and Gas Industry” in the Journal of Hazardous, Toxic, and Radioactive Waste, the authors delve into legal frameworks and mercury emission standards, as well as explore what is a typical example of mercury waste management. Generators of mercury waste will benefit from their case study analysis available at https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)HZ.2153-5515.0000737. The abstract is below.
Abstract
Given the annual generation of huge quantities of mercury waste worldwide, mercury exposure is a universal issue. Mercury waste from the oil and gas industry should be of concern, owing to the presence of mercury during the whole oil and gas life cycle, as well as the industry’s importance and magnitude. Particular attention should be given to mercury waste from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) oil and gas industry because of the high mercury concentrations in the regional petroleum deposits and the upcoming growth of the upstream and downstream subsectors. Therefore, this study aims to explore: (1) how mercury waste from the ASEAN oil and gas industry is managed and (2) the extent to which waste management facilities in the ASEAN can handle such waste. The paper starts with a description of some mercury forms occurring in oil and gas operations and the current situation of the ASEAN oil and gas sector. It then presents the legal frameworks and facilities for mercury waste management in the region and ends with a case study analysis of Best Mercury Technology (BMT) Thailand—a mercury waste management facility. The findings show that most countries lack specific laws on mercury waste management, while some have not legally identified mercury waste from the oil and gas industry and set thresholds for determining mercury waste as well as specific mercury emission standards for oil and gas activities. Other challenges include the lack of proper mercury waste management facilities or facilities that cannot recover mercury from the waste in some nations, including those having a strong oil and gas industry. The case study analysis demonstrates that BMT Thailand’s operations adhere to the national legal requirements as well as many international standards and conventions, indicating the availability of a world-class facility in the ASEAN to cater for the regional demand.
Read the full paper in the ASCE Library: https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)HZ.2153-5515.0000737.
