ECUADOR PLANS BIG POLLUTION CLEANUP
PetroEcuador's Petroproduction unit has let a 2 year contract to a U.S. company to clean up massive hydrocarbon pollution in Ecuador.
Officials say environmental damage caused by the pollution is of crisis proportions.
Environmental studies commissioned by World Bank say more than 4.4 million bbl of hydrocarbons have been spilled across Ecuador in hundreds of minor mishaps. Recovery is planned at 483 earthen pits, ponds, and lagoons.
American Fluids International Inc. (AFI), Midland, Tex., expects to start moving employees, equipment, and material to Ecuador by mid-May and to begin cleanup early in June. Among other things, AFI will process recovered materials at staging points, deliver pipeline quality oil to Petroproduction, and remediate damaged sites.
AFI expects to recover 75-92% of the released hydrocarbons. Recovery success will vary because materials spilled at different sites vary in makeup. About 80% was released during production, 15% at two refineries, and 5% during transportation.
AFI's recovery project in Ecuador is one of the first country-wide cleanups reported in Latin America. Forecasts show revenue from sales of recycled hydrocarbons will far outweigh cleanup costs.
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