Oil and the Environment: Can they really co-exist?
It would be wrong to suggest that oil co-exists with our environment. Nothing to do with co-existing – it would be wrong to call it OUR environment. The earth has been around long before humans, and so has oil, so I would say that yes, oil and the EARTH’s environment can co-exist. It’s adding mankind into the mix that stirs things up.
Oil is a natural by-product of decomposition combined with millions of years of heat and pressure. In its natural form and even under controlled use and refining, oil has been an amazing contributor to our standard of living – offering advancements in health, science and basically everything we do. However, mankind often reacts a bit slow to the adverse affects of oil on the environment. Oils spills, refining, industrial use and vehicular pollution can all overpower the Earth’s ability to co-exist with oil. Even very trace oil trickling into the waters can have adverse detrimental affects on the environment.
Luckily, as stewards of the Earth’s environment, we recognize these affects and have the science and power to study and enact regulation to help keep things in control. Advancements in sensing technologies enable the industry to keep tabs on their processes that historically may have been burdening the environment with trace oils and oil by-products.
As private and public entities continue to work together researching and developing new processes and technologies, we realize that the Earth, oil and mankind actually can co-exist.
Check out the upcoming webinar by Greg Reeves of Arjay Engineering, where the above is packaged into a concise review of oil basics and the lead up to regulations and products used for oil in water monitoring. The result of which allows industrial upstream oil production, refining and Petro-chemical manufacturing to partner and co-exist with the environment.
Spotlight interview questions:
What do you hope attendees will gain at your webinar?
For those involved with any type of environmental discharge compliance of wastewater, this webinar will provide insight into how regulation evolves and ultimately involves a multitude of players that all need to get along. Process industries can work with positive environmental interests if all participants have an open mind.
What discussions do you look forward to having with the attendees?
Any field experiences from attendees would be ideal to share. Dealing with various authorities, suppliers, and technologies can be daunting. Creative solutions to common issues are always interesting to share.
What do you enjoy most about your role?
I enjoy being involved with end users of equipment from their first introduction to an issue right through to a happy conclusion. A customer will usually have an ‘aha moment’, when they realize the solution is not as complicated as first perceived.
How did you get into the industry?
Arjay Engineering is a spin-off from my father’s original business that was focused on selling process and environmental products into Canada. After university, I had the opportunity to join the company to design and manufacture specialty instruments in-house. Arjay was quickly formed to manufacture and market these products worldwide.
Where is your favourite place in the world and why?
I have been lucky to have travelled to some places that are pretty unique to my home country of Canada. Be it Asia, the Middle East, Europe or South America, I would go back to any of them. Besides my weekend cottage getaway north of Toronto, Norway gets two thumbs up for great food, scenery and people. Shame about the prices!