Several Processing Tips of Drilling Waste Management

Usually when we start addressing the array of drilling waste management strategies and technologies, it is important to understand the nature of drilling wastes and the process that generates the waste. Drilling fluids, solids control equipment and the drilling fluid circulation system all are critical parts of the drilling operation. Drilling fluids (sometimes call drilling mud) consist of a continuous liquid phase and additives which modify the properties of the fluid to achieve better performance. The critical functions of drilling fluid include removing cuttings from the well, maintaining wellbore stability, cooling and lubricating the bit and controlling subsurface pressure.

Once the drill cuttings are carried to the surface by the drilling fluid, they are separated from the fluid using mechanical solids control equipment. Once the drill cuttings are removed, the drilling fluid can be re-circulated down the drill pipe. Depending on the geologic formation, environment, application and well objectives, drilling fluid systems are customized to meet performance requirements.

In selecting a drilling fluid one must consider the formations that are being drilled through (e.g., whether there are unstable shale present), the wellbore complexity (e.g., whether the hole is vertical, directional or extended reach), casing design, and pore pressure analysis.While Water Based Mud maintain an important role in many drilling operations, NAFs offer a number of technical advantages over WBMs in difficult drilling situations (such as extended reach or drilling of high-temperature/high-pressure wells).

Environmental regulatory considerations play a significant role in both the selection of drilling fluids and the overall economics of drilling a well. The specific regulatory requirements of an area often dictate the technologies that can be used and what, if any, material can be discharged into the environment. This in turn, influences what and how wells can be drilled. The ability to discharge NAF cuttings significantly expands the inventory of wells that can be economically drilled in an area.