The generic mud concept for NPDES permitting of offshore drilling discharges

Journal Article · Fri Mar 01 04:00:00 EST 1985 · J. Pet. Technol.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2118/11399-PA· OSTI ID:5397700

Ayers, R C; Anderson, P W; Sauer, T C

U. S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region II granted the first offshore drilling National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits to the Mid-Atlantic operators in 1978. The generic or standard mud concept was developed by the Offshore Operators Committee with EPA Region II to provide the agency with an understanding of and control over mud components and discharges without requiring the operators to perform redundant bioassay and chemical tests every time mud was discharged. The generic mud concept subsequently has been incorporated into permits issued by EPA Regions I, III, IV, VI, IX, and X. Eight basic mud types were defined that encompassed virtually all water-based muds used on the outer continental shelf (OCS). A bioassay test procedure, adapted from the EPA/U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' procedure for dredged material, was developed, and a test program was conducted on field mud samples representing each of the eight basic types. Operators were allowed to discharge muds of the eight types without conducting additional bioassays. Results of the test program indicate that all eight generic muds demonstrated low toxicity. The eight generic muds contain primarily major components and do not include specialty chemicals sometimes required to remedy special drilling problems (e.g., lostreturns material, lubricants, and defoamers). This situation is being handled by using an ''approved additive list'' that names additives that do not affect mud toxicity significantly. The API is developing a standard bioassay procedure based on the Region II protocol for testing specialty chemicals in standard muds, and service companies already are using parts of this procedure to gain approval for use of their products.

• Research Organization: Exxon Production Research Co.
• OSTI ID: 5397700
• Journal Information: J. Pet. Technol.; (United States), Journal Name: J. Pet. Technol.; (United States) Vol. 37:3; ISSN JPTJA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
020900* -- Petroleum-- Environmental Aspects
03 NATURAL GAS
030800 -- Natural Gas-- Environmental Aspects
BIOASSAY
DRILLING
DRILLING FLUIDS
FLUIDS
NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
OFFSHORE DRILLING
POLLUTION ABATEMENT
POLLUTION REGULATIONS
REGULATIONS
US EPA
US ORGANIZATIONS
WATER POLLUTION ABATEMENT