Waste strategies evolve as offshore operators in the Middle East seek to increase production while controlling costs and emissions. TWMA CEO Halle Aslaksen says drilling waste processing at the wellsite can help address those demands by reducing transport, easing operational bottlenecks and recovering base fluid for reuse.

In an Offshore interview ahead of ADIPEC 2026, Aslaksen described waste management as part of drilling performance rather than a disposal task after waste is generated. He said operators face a three-part challenge: increasing capacity, reducing environmental impact and keeping tighter control over costs.

Waste Strategies Evolve at the Wellsite

Traditional handling can involve lifting, storage, transport and onshore processing, Aslaksen said. Those steps add emissions, vessel activity and operational risk. Processing waste at source can remove many of them, while reducing logistics needs and preserving valuable base fluids for reuse.

Aslaksen said TWMA projects in the UAE have processed more than 600,000 tonnes of drilling waste at source across multiple fields since 2014. He attributed the results to the company, saying the work eliminated more than 70,000 kilometers of transport, reduced emissions by around 50% and recovered approximately $78 million worth of base fluid for reuse. He said total savings exceeded $200 million.

Those figures describe TWMA’s reported UAE work. Aslaksen said the processing approach can help operators manage costs and emissions, but its value depends on integrating waste treatment into the operation. That connection between planning and technology also appears in Mars Snacking’s digital transformation, which covers how a global company is using technology to support growth.

Planning Capacity Before Drilling

Aslaksen said larger and more demanding drilling programs make advance planning important. Operators need to estimate waste volumes, how quickly they will move through the operation, and whether available infrastructure has enough capacity and flexibility.

He warned that inadequate capacity can become another bottleneck as drilling activity expands. His recommendation is to assess processing capacity, infrastructure and staffing from the outset, so waste handling can keep pace with the work.

For Aslaksen, the next gains do not necessarily depend on entirely new technology. He sees an opportunity in broader use of at-source processing and more efficient operating practices. “One of the biggest opportunities in my opinion is quite simple, don’t touch it twice,” he said. “Process waste at source wherever you can.”

He also said operators are seeking digital tools that provide real-time visibility into waste operations. Remote monitoring, earlier issue identification and better operational decisions are among the benefits customers want, he said. The need for oversight around emerging systems has a parallel in executive education for AI governance.

Regional Infrastructure and Standards

Aslaksen described the Middle East as one of the most active drilling regions and said its infrastructure investment can help prevent waste management from constraining project execution. In the UAE, he said, increased drilling activity is accompanied by investment in processing capacity and supporting infrastructure.

He said a complete offshore waste system must connect the rig, processing, recovery and reuse, supported by people and facilities. He expects similar strategies to spread across the region and eventually other offshore markets as drilling activity expands.

Regulatory requirements still vary, but Aslaksen said expectations are converging around stronger environmental performance and treatment standards. He cited tighter requirements in Southeast Asia, West Africa and the GCC as drivers of greater consistency. How companies build safety practices into strategy is also explored in Fortune 500 safety culture strategies.

ADIPEC 2026 is taking place Nov. 2-5 in Abu Dhabi, and Offshore is an official media partner. Aslaksen’s recommendation is to process at source where possible and plan the supporting system around that work.