Oman Tests a Greener Cure for Oilfield Waste

A Norwegian firm’s green chemistry trial in Oman targets safer, more sustainable water treatment for regional oilfields

6 Jun 2025

M Vest Water, the Bergen-based water treatment company, is preparing a large-scale trial in Oman of a biodegradable formula aimed at improving how oilfields handle produced water, the contaminated liquid that emerges with oil and gas.

The two-week qualification, scheduled for the third quarter of 2025, will test the group’s nature-based product, NORWAFLOC, at one of the country’s largest produced-water facilities. The plan is to treat about 110,000 cubic metres a day by replacing existing chemicals used in de-oiling and demulsification. The objective is to show that the biodegradable alternative can match or exceed the performance of conventional compounds while reducing overall chemical use.

Produced water is among the biggest operational challenges for oil and gas companies in the region, both because of its volume and its complex mix of contaminants. M Vest Water says NORWAFLOC is made from natural, highly biodegradable components and aims to achieve similar oil-removal results with a smaller environmental impact.

The timing of the trial reflects Oman’s broader sustainability agenda and a regional interest in recycling and reuse of industrial water. Officials and operators have sought solutions that can cut waste volumes and improve treatment efficiency at source, especially as Gulf producers expand efforts to limit environmental effects from oil operations.

Broader deployment of nature-based chemistries will depend on reliable supply chains and on demonstrating consistent results across varying water qualities and operating conditions. Scaling production of biodegradable inputs remains an operational hurdle for suppliers.

Still, the qualification marks a shift toward viewing produced water as a potential resource and may support wider adoption of lower-impact treatment methods across Middle Eastern oilfields if performance targets are met.