Abstract

The present work summarizes and delineates the sources and types of wastes associated with oil and gas offshore drilling and production industry. The work is prepared using descriptive approach in addition to the information obtained from several site visits to different offshore rigs and platforms belonging to different oil and gas companies working in the Arabian Gulf area during the period from 2002 to 2010. It highlights the importance of developing and implementing waste management plans and actions to optimize the use of oil and gas offshore resources. It also demonstrates the waste management hierarchy which can be applied to minimize the negative impact of the offshore oil and gas industry to help in achieving environmental protection and sustainable development in this highly important economic sector