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Offshore disposal of oil-based drilling-fluid waste: An environmentally acceptable solution

Journal Article · · SPE Drilling and Completion (Society of Petroleum Engineers); (United States)
DOI:https://doi.org/10.2118/23373-PA· OSTI ID:5465276
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Oily cuttings and waste fluid are byproducts of oil-based drilling muds. In such difficult drilling environments as the Gulf of Mexico, where oil-based fluids often are preferred, personnel safety, environmental, and economic concerns are exacerbated by the necessity to transport these cuttings and fluids to shore for disposal. This paper describes a process for on-site preparation and subsequent disposal of a slurry of cuttings by annular pumping. The disposal includes all cuttings and waste oil mud generated during drilling with oil-based fluids. Wastes are displaced down a casing annulus and into permeable zones below the surface casing setting depth. Descriptions of environmental and safety problems arising from onshore disposal, benefits of annular pumping, and equipment used for slurry preparation and pumping are described. This technique eliminates the need for platform cuttings storage, cuttings transportation to shore, and the environmental effects of onshore disposal.
OSTI ID:
5465276
Journal Information:
SPE Drilling and Completion (Society of Petroleum Engineers); (United States), Journal Name: SPE Drilling and Completion (Society of Petroleum Engineers); (United States) Vol. 8:4; ISSN 1064-6671; ISSN SDCOE5
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
020300* -- Petroleum-- Drilling & Production
020800 -- Petroleum-- Waste Management
03 NATURAL GAS
030300 -- Natural Gas-- Drilling
Production
& Processing
030700 -- Natural Gas-- Waste Management
ATLANTIC OCEAN
CARIBBEAN SEA
DISPOSAL WELLS
DRILLING
DRILLING FLUIDS
FLUIDS
GULF OF MEXICO
INJECTION WELLS
LIQUID WASTES
MANAGEMENT
NATURAL GAS WELLS
OFFSHORE DRILLING
OIL WELLS
REINJECTION
SEAS
SURFACE WATERS
WASTE DISPOSAL
WASTE MANAGEMENT
WASTES
WELLS