Water use and disposal

Our target is to use water resources rationally with the aim to preserve them. KPO controls the use of clean water within the Company by undertaking a set of measures on conservation of water resources and re-use of treated water, wherever possible

Tab. 34. Targets in environmental protection

In 2020, the total KPO water consumption was 470,601 m³, of which technical water made up 388,172 m³, and potable water – 82,429 m³.

In 2020, the volume of water used by KPO for production needs was 10.6 % lower than in 2019. The domestic needs’ water consumption was lower too versus 2019. The reduction of water consumption was related to the drilling scope cut. Therefore, less water was used to produce drilling mud.

The main source of water supply for production needs in the Karachaganak field is the holding pond No 1 at the Konchubai Gully, while for household and domestic needs it is the Zharsuat water intake. The source of water supply for household, domestic and production needs of the Bolshoi Chagan OPS is the Serebryakovskiy water intake, while for the Atyrau Terminal is the Kigach water intake.

Graph 23. KPO water consumption, 2018–2020

Konchubai Gully is not part of the list of fishery waters based on the WQO Administration Resolution dated 22.12.2014 (No 325). The Konchubai Gully is not fed by groundwater; it collects water only during springtime by snow melting and rainfalls. According to the Special Water Use Permit valid until 24.05.2025 for water intake from the Konchubai Gully for industrial needs, the KPO annual intake limit constitutes 741,432 м³. The Permit is issued by the RSE ‘Zhaiyk-Caspian Basin Inspectorate for Water Resources Management and Conservation of Water Resources Committee of the RoQ Ministry of Environmental Protection, Geology & Natural Resources’.  The holding pond № 1 at the Konchubai Gully is operated in line with the Operating Rules for ensuring optimum water use conditions, integrity of structures, environmental protection, and also as per the Process operating procedure for safe operation and maintenance of the holding pond’s hydraulic structures.

Water intake from other sources is ensured through contracts with water suppliers.

The potable water is used exclusively for domestic needs of the KPO facilities. At the Bolshoi Chagan Oil Pumping Station (OPS) the potable water is supplied by the RSE ‘KazVodKhoz’ WQO Branch and, due to absence of alternative sources of water supply, is used only to fill the fire water tanks for fire safety purposes.

Table 35 shows KPO water consumption breakdown by source.

Tab. 35. KPO water consumption in 2018–2020 broken down by source, m³

Note: water consumption is metered using meters with measurements entered in the logbooks and further in the KPO water consumption metering database.

Discharge of treated wastewater

KPO uses special man-made facilities for collecting treated domestic and industrial wastewater and storm runoffs. These facilities exclude a possibility of contaminants soaking into the soil and groundwater and allow collecting the treated wastewater for their re-use for technical needs, thereby reducing the fresh water intake. The types of wastewater collection facilities were shown in the 2018 Sustainability Report (Tab. 40, p. 105).

Formation water produced with hydrocarbons and process wastewater are treated and injected into the deep-lying formations of the Karachaganak Field Subsurface Wastewater Disposal Polygons No 1 and No 2. Wastewater injection is the international practice of disposing wastewater that allows preventing the formation of salt-containing waste on the surface during the treatment. Owing to the reliable water shutoff and soil properties, which are perfect for the injection of wastewater, the migration of wastewater into upper aquifers is ruled out.

According to the RoQ legislation, the volume of discharged wastewater and amount of discharged contaminants are estimated and justified in the Company project documentation and regulated by special permits. Wastewater generated as a result of the KPO economic and operational activities is not discharged into the natural water bodies.

Table 36 shows the KPO discharge volumes in 2018–2019 by wastewater types and receiving facilities

Tab. 36. Total discharge volume and contaminants by wastewater type and receiving facility, 2018–2020, m³

Note: the volume of water discharge is metered using meters with data entered in the logbooks and further in the KPO water consumption metering database. The amount of contaminants discharged is determined by calculation as the product of the actual concentration of the contaminant before the discharge and the actual volume discharged.

Comparing to 2019, the volume of wastewater discharged by Company in 2020 increased by 8.6 %. Of that, in 2020, the volume of injected industrial wastewater increased by 10.5 % as compared to 2019. The increase in industrial wastewater was due to increase of produced water. The types of treated wastewater and contaminants were presented in the 2017 Sustainability Report (p. 93).

In 2020, the discharge of contaminants amounted to 46,006 tonnes (which was 15.9 % more compared to 2019 – 39,683 tonnes). Of them, 45,961 tonnes were discharged within the maximum permissible discharge (MPD) limits, while the excess discharge amounted to 45 tonnes.

Excessive discharge of contaminants was due to insignificant exceedance of the annual MPD limits in terms of sulphide content in wastewater injected into Subsurface Waste Water Disposal Polygons No 1 and No 2. Excessive discharge of contaminants with domestic wastewater to the holding ponds was not observed. As provided by the RoQ Tax Legislation, the Company effected necessary payments for the discharges of contaminants.

Overall, wastewater injection has no effect on the environmental components such as soil, flora and fauna, as wastewater is injected into effectively isolated deep horizons with high-mineralized groundwater that is not used for domestic and potable, balneological, and process needs, irrigation or livestock farming.

Reuse of treated wastewater

In order to reduce fresh water intake for such works and operations like drilling, drilling muds preparation, watering of planted trees, dust suppression on roads and constructed sites KPO uses treated domestic, production storm wastewater and storm runoffs. The wastewater is re-used at the Company facilities in line with the 2018–2022 Operating Procedure.

The volume of wastewater reused for technical needs by KPO in 2020 amounted to 4.8 % of the technical water consumed from the Konchubai Gully. In 2020, the Company reused 18,313 m³ of treated wastewater for technical needs, mostly for dust suppression. Decrease in 2020 compared to 2019 was due to reduction of the drilling scope at KOGCF and the absence of the need to make drilling mud. Table 37 shows the activities that utilize treated wastewater.

Tab. 37. Reuse of treated wastewater in 2018–2020, m³

Note: the volume of reused water is measured indirectly in m³ (motor hours, tank truck volume, number of trips, pumping capacity, etc.) with the completion of a control ticket and data entered in the logbook.