BP
Treating waste water
Country of operation: USA
Background
BP is very aware of its responsibility of being a 'green' company, and is constantly aiming to improve the effect BP operations have on the environment. Staff are encouraged to develop new and exciting ways of helping to protect the environment.
One example of where BP is responsible for protecting the habitat is around its petrochemical plants.
What are petrochemicals?
Petrochemicals are any of a large class of chemicals (other than fuels) derived from petroleum and natural gas.
This includes a large range of organic compounds and some inorganic compounds e.g. carbon black, sulphur and ammonia.
Like crude oil and natural gas, most petrochemicals consist mainly of carbon and hydrogen and are called hydrocarbons.
Petrochemicals are used as raw materials include propylene, ethylene, butadiene, toluene, benzene, xylene and naphthalene.
- plastics (e.g. polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene)
- soaps and detergents
- solvents
- drugs
- fertilizers
- pesticides
- explosives
- synthetic fibres and rubbers
- paints
- epoxies
- flooring and insulating materials
- luggage
- recording disks and tapes.
- explosives.
Water is used during the many processes which take place at a petrochemical plant. BP found efficient ways to clean the waste water, and reduce the waste biomass (Glossary) sludge, before the water is returned to the river. The freshwater ecosystem would be harmed by the introduction of polluted water.
The Cooper River Plant in the US discharges about four million gallons of water each day into the Cooper River. The area is of great natural beauty. BP is responsible for ensuring that the waste water it produces is cleaned to a very high standard to prevent pollution.