Dewatering cuts drilling mud and disposal costs

Journal Article · Mon Sep 30 04:00:00 EDT 1991 · Oil and Gas Journal; (United States)

OSTI ID:5570631

West, G ^[1]; Pharis, B ^[2]

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1. Profco Inc., Houston, TX (US)
2. Profco Inc., New Orleans, LA (US)

This paper reports on rig site dewatering of drilling fluids with recycling of processed water that can help an operator to comply with environmental rules by reducing volumes of waste and reducing long term liabilities. It can also reduce disposal costs and provide a cleaner drill site overall. Rig site dewatering is the process of injecting coagulants or flocculating chemicals into the mud entering a large clarifying centrifuge. This coagulates the fine, drilled particles allowing them to be separated from the fluid which can then be handled separately. Most of the environmental concerns during the 1980s involved hazardous materials and toxic wastes. Drilling fluids, many of which are chemically benign, have escaped many of the difficult-to-comply-with rules and regulations. During the 1990s, however, operators may be required to submit a written plan for liquid waste reduction for even nonhazardous materials. Many states and local agencies may institute total bans on oil field wastes. Drilling rigs typically produce about 1 bbl of liquid waste for every 1 ft of hole drilled. Thus, a typical drilling operation can produce a large quantity of waste.

• OSTI ID: 5570631
• Journal Information: Oil and Gas Journal; (United States), Journal Name: Oil and Gas Journal; (United States) Vol. 89:39; ISSN OIGJA; ISSN 0030-1388
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
020700 -- Petroleum-- Economics
Industrial
& Business Aspects
020800* -- Petroleum-- Waste Management
020900 -- Petroleum-- Environmental Aspects
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
540320 -- Environment
Aquatic-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (1990-)
CONCENTRATORS
CONTROL
COST
DEWATERING EQUIPMENT
DRILLING FLUIDS
ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY
FLOCCULATION
FLUIDS
GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS
GOVERNMENT POLICIES
HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
LIQUID WASTES
MANAGEMENT
MATERIALS
MINERAL RESOURCES
OIL FIELDS
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PETROLEUM DEPOSITS
POLLUTION CONTROL
PRECIPITATION
RECYCLING
REMOVAL
RESOURCES
SEPARATION PROCESSES
WASTE DISPOSAL
WASTE MANAGEMENT
WASTE WATER
WASTES
WATER
WATER POLLUTION CONTROL
WATER REMOVAL