Organized by the SPE Water Life Cycle and Strategy Technical Section
Webinar: Revolutionizing offshore produced water treatment: a seabed biofilm reactor approach
Date/Time: October 30, 2025 at 9:00 am CT (add to your calendar!)
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Abstract
The produced water (PW) from offshore operations is currently being discharged to sea without treatment for dissolved pollutants. Conventional technologies remove dispersed oil, but water-soluble oil components and production chemicals are being discharged to sea, which represents a significant risk to the marine environment. Oil and gas operators are required to reduce the environmental impact to As Low As Reasonably Practicable (ALARP) applying the Best Available Technology (BAT). However, space and weight constraints on offshore platforms have hindered the adoption of more advanced treatment solutions. To overcome these limitations and enhance current BAT standards, we propose a novel treatment approach: a biofilm reactor installed on the seabed. This system treats produced water before it is discharged, offering a practical and scalable solution that aligns with environmental regulations in the North Sea and offshore operational constraints.
Moderator
Patricia E. Carreras is the general director of the energy consulting company Blue Moon Strategies. She has more than 25 years of international experience leading and advising majors and independent energy companies on field development planning leveraging reservoir simulation. Additionally, she is a public speaker, mentor, and coach on sustainable development, leadership, D&I, and cross-cultural effectiveness. Carreras is an active member of the SPE, holding international and local volunteer roles. She was a 2023-2024 SPE Distinguished Lecturer.
Carreras holds a bachelor's degree from the University of Buenos Aires and a master's degree from Texas A&M University, both in Petroleum Engineering. She successfully completed sustainability training courses at the University of Cambridge (UK). She got her Maxwell Leadership certification in 2024.
Speaker
Ana Rita Lourinho Ferreira is an Environmental Engineer with a PhD in Environmental and Sustainable Engineering from NOVA University of Lisbon (2018). Her research focuses on advancing innovative and sustainable technologies for the removal of organic and inorganic pollutants, alongside the recovery of valuable resources from diverse environmental matrices.
For the past five years, Ana has been working at the Technical University of Denmark with industry-driven research projects aiming at sustainable wastewater treatment solutions. One of the main focuses has been the design and development of a viable treatment technology for offshore platforms aiming to meet future stringent environmental regulations and achieve zero harmful discharge into the marine environment.
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