Waste handling methods

In 2020, the Company continued extraction of wastes from the old Solid Waste and Spent Drilling Liquids Storage Site for further treatment at the Thermo-mechanical Cuttings Cleaning facility and Rotary Kiln Incinerator and disposal at Solid Industrial Waste Landfill. The waste is disposed at the Landfill according to the RoQ environmental legislation requirements.

In 2021, 4,308 tonnes (as compared to 1,220 tonnes in 2019) were sent for treatment from the Solid Waste and Spent Drilling Liquids Storage Site. The increase in the wastes treated at the TCC results from the decrease in the drilling wastes and the capability to accept more wastes from the Site for treatment. In 2022, further processing of waste from the old site will continue.

KPO waste handling methods in 2021, in tonnes

Note:  the amount of waste is defined by weighing of each batch of waste at the Eco Centre weight scales prior to its transportation for treatment, segregation, removal, burial or other operations. Waste quantities are logged in the load supporting documents (control tickets, waste handover certificates) and further in the Company’s waste accounting database.

KPO waste is mainly produced during the wells drilling and workover activities. Concurrently, the water or oil base of the drilling cuttings depends on the type of the drilling mud used for well operations. The solid and liquid drilling waste generated in 2021 amounted to 6,647 tonnes (58% from the initially generated waste, i.e. initial waste volume before treatment). Due to COVID-19 restrictions in 2020 and 2021, the drilling operations were reduced.

Table below shows the main types of drilling waste broken down by the handling methods. As the Table shows, only water-based muds and cuttings are subject to disposal at the Eco-Centre cells 35 A/B, and the water-based drill cuttings to be buried at the Landfill. Oil-based drilling cuttings are subject to burying after pre-treatment and extraction of the oil base.

Waste generated from well operations, by handling method, 2019 — 2021

Within the contract terms, the Company hands over part of the waste for disposal to specialist contractors, who make their own decision on further waste handling methods once the waste has been accepted from KPO, and report on its transfer to third parties on a quarterly basis. Depending on the type, specialised enterprises hand over the waste for treatment with subsequent production of consumer goods, demercurization, regeneration, thermal treatment, incineration, physical and chemical treatment, dismantling into component parts with further transfer to concerned enterprises as recyclables.

Based on the Article 301 of the RoQ Environmental Code that prohibits disposal of waste plastic, plastic, polyethylene and polyethylene terephthalate packaging, waste paper, cardboard, paper waste, glass cullet, the Company carries out segregation of these types of waste in rented buildings with engagement of sub-contractors. These types of waste are handed over to specialized enterprises to be used as recyclables.

Since 2011 until the end of 2021, for the whole period of the waste paper segregation, about 740 tonnes of the waste paper has been collected and transferred to local enterprises for production of consumer goods.

The segregation of spent batteries was arranged in all KPO office premises. In 2021, 91 kg of batteries were collected.