Environmental control of drilling fluids and produced water

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

1-1-2016

Abstract

The chapter presents development of Environmental Control Technology (ECT) for oilfield drilling and production processes using the ECT methods of source reduction, source separation, internal recycling, and internal reuse, introduced in Chap. 2. The methods have been used to reduce volume and toxicity of drilling fluid’s discharge from the wellsite. The volume – reducing techniques include non-dispersive/inhibitive mud formulations, closed-loop and dry-drilling systems with dewatering process. Mud toxicity control employs the method of source reduction through substitution or replacement of toxic mud components and the method of source separation for de-oiling rock cuttings for overboard discharge to the sea. Also described are the ETC methods for reducing volume of produced water. The source reduction method is represented by the water shut-off technique for downhole plugging or permeability alteration, and by the downhole water loop (DWL) well completions that drain and re-inject the formation water underlying an oil pay zone. Application of the source separation concept has led to the development of the downhole oil/water (DOWS) or gas/water (DGWS) separation installations and the downhole water sink (DWS) well completions for water coning control.

Publication Source (Journal or Book title)

Environmental Technology in the Oil Industry

First Page

101

Last Page

165

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