Influent/effluent approach to mud formulation reduces toxicity

Journal Article · Mon Apr 10 04:00:00 EDT 1995 · Oil and Gas Journal

OSTI ID:33627

Burke, C J ^[1]

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1. Argonne National Lab., Washington, DC (United States)

An influent/effluent approach to formulating drilling mud reduces the toxicity of mud discharged offshore because potentially contaminating additives are considered and approved for the mud system design before the well is spudded. EPA has several regulatory approaches to limit toxicity in drilling muds on offshore drilling platforms and to reduce toxicity of drilling muds discharged offshore. EPA Region X for offshore Alaska uses an innovative approach that emphasizes pollution prevention. In contrast, other EPA regional offices use a more traditional command-and-control regulatory approach. The Region X approach includes collection of influent and effluent data, development of a comprehensive data base of technical information, and prescription of specific mud formulas. The paper discusses mud toxicity, the command and control versus the pollution prevention approaches, other controls, industry efforts, and results from these EPA guidelines.

• Research Organization: Argonne National Laboratory (ANL), Argonne, IL
• DOE Contract Number: W-31109-ENG-38
• OSTI ID: 33627
• Journal Information: Oil and Gas Journal, Journal Name: Oil and Gas Journal Journal Issue: 15 Vol. 93; ISSN OIGJAV; ISSN 0030-1388
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
56 BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE
APPLIED STUDIES
CHEMICAL COMPOSITION
DRILLING FLUIDS
OFFSHORE SITES
POLLUTION REGULATIONS
RESERVOIR ENGINEERING
TOXICITY
US EPA
WASTE MANAGEMENT