Environmental advances in drilling fluids, completion fluid and waste operations applying novel technology for fluid recovery and recycling.

Abstract

Abstract This paper presents a conceptdesigned to meet and be compliant with the environmental legislation requirements of managing drilling fluids, completion fluids and waste from the oil and gas industry in the arctic and Barents Sea region. Data will be presented in this paper to document the reduction in direct environmental impact, reduced risk as well as the profitable returns; like cost savings for the operators and the drilling fluid supplier as a result from applying these novel technologies. A total drilling fluid and waste management concept for drilling and well operations was developed to merge the operators cost reduction strategies and reduced environmental impact withthe fluids and equipment supplier's technology and business incentives. Key elements in this concept was;the development of both water based and oil based environmental friendly drilling fluids for challenging arctic conditions,the EnviroUnit for separation, recovery and recycling on location,CleanCut for enclosed cuttings containment completely reliable with no operational downtime or due to harsh weather conditions when drilling operations are distant from shore and finallythe onshore EnviroCenter with capacity and technology to receive, treat, store, manufacture and deliver drilling fluids and related liquid and cuttings waste streams. Presented data show oil based drilling special waste reduction of over 90%. All recovered oil based drilling fluid has been recycled, upgraded and reused. A reduction in the new oil based drilling fluid consumption has been experienced reducing manufacturing, transport and storage cost. All separated waste water has been cleaned to well within the approved discharge regulations. Whenever possible, the total fluids and waste management concept should be applied. Oil recovered from cuttings transported onshore and processed via thermal treatment has been successfully recycled as drilling fluid base oil. This total fluids and waste management concept has been established as a business "standard". The success is however closely linked to the close team-work with the operator and across the traditional service lines of fluids; solids control, waste management, associated waste handling logistics, processing, treatment and disposal. It will achieve full environmental impact and benefit when applied to large-scale operation. Introduction As the Barents Sea region has been opened up for more drilling activities over the last few years, more stringent environmental regulations have been introduced. Zero discharge of harmful chemicals has led the industry to develop drilling and completion fluids that are greener and more biodegradable. Several new high performance fluids have been introduced to the marked to meet this critical parameters experienced in the northern areas. Offshore fluids operations will generate solids and liquids waste streams that in the past had to be transported to shore for treatment and disposal. Today the M-I SWACO offshore EnviroUnit can handle all these liquids waste streams on location and still be able to meet the offshore environmental discharge requirements of zero discharge of harmful chemicals. The weather and climate conditions need specific consideration when it comes to transport and logistics in arctic regions. M-I SWACO has developed new novel totally enclosed transport systems CleanCut that can operate in the most extreme conditions. Onshore the well established EnviroCenter base facilities can receive, process and manufacture new high quality drilling and completion fluids. The facility will also be able to receive and handle all the waste liquid for recovery and reuse as well as process drilled cuttings to recover oil and give dry material as input to other industry.