Drilling Fluid Design and the use of Vermiculture for the Remediation of Drill Cuttings

Abstract

A wide variety of hydrocarbon-based drilling fluids are used in drilling operations and while the issues of biodegradability and toxicity have been extensively discussed with regard to the offshore environment, there are also concerns about the impact of these invert emulsion fluids on the terrestrial environment. In order to address these concerns, new drilling fluids and their associated treatment technologies have been designed that go beyond minimizing impacts of mud and cuttings as waste and move toward using them as a beneficial by-products. This paper discusses the selection of base fluids, salts, and other components combined with the use of earthworms to remediate the drill cuttings and create a beneficial by-product. Drilling performance of the fluid is reviewed as is biodegradation results from the field test vermiculture studies.