Cleaning of the ocean floor near offshore platforms in the Gulf coast

Journal Article · Sat Mar 01 04:00:00 EST 1986 · Energy Prog.; (United States)

OSTI ID:5476759

Fang, C S; Smith, Jr, S A

For decades in offshore drilling, the drill cuttings were separated from the circulating drilling fluid by the shale shaker and hydrocyclone, and discharged to the ocean. The drilling fluid itself was discharged to the ocean intermittently to maintain its required properties during the drilling process. These discharges contain many environmentally undesirable chemicals, such as hydrocarbons chemical additives and heavy metals. As a result, the ocean floor near some of the offshore platforms in the Gulf of Mexico are covered by contaminated sediment. Ocean current is not as effective in washing out the discarded ocean muds as previously believed. An attempt was made to clean some of the offshore platforms in the Gulf of Mexico. The quantity and characteristics of the drilling discharges are estimated the technology used to clean the ocean floor near platforms is described, and advanced treatments for hydrocarbon removal, chemical oxidation and activated carbon adsorption, are discussed. 8 references.

• Research Organization: Univ. of Southwestern Louisiana, Lafayette
• OSTI ID: 5476759
• Journal Information: Energy Prog.; (United States), Journal Name: Energy Prog.; (United States) Vol. 6:1; ISSN ENPGD
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
020900* -- Petroleum-- Environmental Aspects
510500 -- Environment
Terrestrial-- Site Resource & Use Studies-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
ACTIVATED CARBON
ADSORBENTS
ADSORPTION
CARBON
CHEMICAL FEEDSTOCKS
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CLEANING
DRILLING
DRILLING FLUIDS
ELEMENTS
FLUIDS
GULF COAST
HYDROCARBONS
LAND POLLUTION
MANAGEMENT
MARINE DISPOSAL
METALS
MINERAL WASTES
NONMETALS
NORTH AMERICA
OFFSHORE DRILLING
OFFSHORE PLATFORMS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OXIDATION
POLLUTION
PROCESSING
REMOVAL
SEA BED
SEDIMENTS
SOLID WASTES
SORPTION
USA
WASTE DISPOSAL
WASTE MANAGEMENT
WASTE PROCESSING
WASTES