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New technologies will allow continued use of oil-based mud

Journal Article · · World Oil
OSTI ID:39906
 [1]
  1. BP Norge UA, Stavanger (Norway)
Continued access to Low Toxicity Mineral Oil-Based Muds (LTOBMs) is a pre-requisite for optimum drilling operations and, consequently, reduced drilling costs for most North Sea wells. LTOBMs reduce trouble costs and improve ROP. Reverting to water-based muds, or using pseudo OBMs, is expensive and, in the former case, leads to performance impairment. However, oily cuttings cannot be discharged overboard due to environmental considerations. A number of technologies have been promoted by BP Exploration to either clean oily cuttings, allowing their discharge, or dispose of them in other manners. Both thermal and solvent-extraction cuttings cleaning processes have been evaluated. The option of cuttings reinjection has also been fully developed and implemented in the field. This article discusses thermal and solvent-extraction cuttings cleaning, compares the economics of different approaches and offers an opinion on the merits of the technologies relative to the alternatives of reverting to water-based fluids or using the pseudo OBMs.
OSTI ID:
39906
Journal Information:
World Oil, Journal Name: World Oil Journal Issue: 3 Vol. 216; ISSN 0043-8790; ISSN WOOIAS
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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