OSPAR-OIC Intercalibration Study on metals in produced water samples: a QUASIMEME Laboratory performance Study

The Offshore Industry Committee (OIC) of OSPAR discussed in its 2008 meeting the reporting of inputs of metals from offshore installations. INPUT is currently compiling data and information on discharges and emissions to the OSPAR maritime area to be used in the Quality Status Report (QSR). This includes an assessment of the inputs of cadmium, lead, and mercury in produced water. Initial estimates were considered by OIC to be unrepresentative, since many of the analyses recorded values below the analytical detection limits of the techniques used. Given the urgency of producing reliable information that could be used to prepare estimates of inputs of cadmium, lead, and mercury for the QSR, OIC agreed to conduct a further study, using the assistance of Quasimeme, to ensure quality assurance from sampling to measurement and reporting. This report focuses on the intercalibration exercise.