SPE 73931
Drilling and Waste Management
Anne Morillon/TotalFinaElf, Jean-François Vidalie/TotalFinaElf, Udi Syahnudi Hamzah/MPS-Pertamina ,
S.Suripno/TotalFinaElf Indonesie, Eddy K. Hadinoto/TotalFinaElf Indonesie
Copyright 2002, Society of Petroleum Engineers Inc.
This paper was prepared for presentation at the SPE International Conference on Health,
Safety and Environment in Oil and Gas Exploration and Production held in Kuala Lumpur,
Malaysia, 20–22 March 2002.
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Abstract
Oil and Gas Companies are increasingly confronted with
problems related to the disposal of drilling waste. To be in
compliance with regulatory constraints, and also to respect the
concept of environmental responsibility, Oil and Gas
companies need to set up a comprehensive environmental
management system. The following paper presents the
TotalFinaElf approach for the management of wastes produced
by drilling activities.
This approach implemented in all affiliates and particularly
by the Indonesian affiliate, includes a management plan
establishing appropriate procedures, environmental awareness,
training of personnel, and a whole set of technical measures:
- Installation of the site: all equipment must be designed so
that any effluent is caught and avoid it to be discharged
directly in the environment.
- Protection of surface and ground water: protection
through an accurate knowledge of the local geology and
hydro-geology validated by survey undertaken during the
environmental baseline study.
- Choice of drilling fluids: recommendation about the use
of Water Base mud or Low Toxicity Oil Base mud.
- Management of chemicals: an effective management
system of authorised chemicals is set up with a storage
system, safety data files and a good stock management
system.
- Reduction of waste volumes at source: water
consumption, optimised recycling of mud, reduction of
cuttings volumes.
- Treatment of drill cuttings: set up of a cuttings
management plan, inerting (stabilisation, solidification,
encapsulation), incineration, controlled landfill, thermal
desorption, cuttings re-injection, biological treatment.
This paper aims at demonstrating that there is no unique
solution for managing the drilling wastes.
Our Company with the collaboration of its Indonesian
affiliate gives constant and careful consideration to all
treatment processes and, through various research projects, has
a wide range of possibilities associated with the flexibility
required to find the right answers to the questions raised by the
“drilling waste” issue.
Introduction
As a general trend in the industry and particularly in oil and
gas activities, the problem of the waste disposal is becoming a
key element of a good environmental management system.
Four principal factors contribute to this:
- Regulatory constraints are becoming stricter, both on an
international and regional level, and all countries have
now environmental regulations, that are revised regularly.
- A basic principle that has common practice, is the
accountability of the producer of waste “from cradle to
grave”, i.e. full responsibility for wastes from time they
are produced through their elimination or recovery.
- Ever stronger pressure from the media on the theme that
is ultra-sensitive and where the explicit but restrictive
concept of “zero discharge” is evident.
- Greater scientific knowledge, making it possible to really
grasp the true environmental impact, especially trough
increasingly effective analytical techniques, with a finely
tuned ecotoxicological approach.
In this context, which is both complex and constantly
evolving, Oil and Gas companies have to establish limits of
flexibility, monitor trends and discover the ways open for
optimum progress.
A pro-active methodological approach for drilling waste
management is to be set up. This approach includes :
- An organisation chart with responsibilities and
accountabilities clearly defined,
2 A. MORILLON, J.-F. VIDALIE, U. S. HAMZAH, S. SURIPNO, E. K. HADINOTO
- A method for keeping watch on regulatory development,
- An environmental impact and risks evaluation, updated
operational procedures, monitoring program, schedule for
environmental audits and improvement plan.
The purpose of this paper is to present an example of Oil
and Gas Company approach, describing all the environmental
aspects that have to be considered in order to set up an adapted
and consistent drilling waste management.
Installation of the site
Offshore, the drilling rig must be fitted with a leak proof deck,
a means of recovering drips and slops and recycling wash
water, plus an integrated solids treatment line.
Onshore, the drill pad has to be fitted with a separate
drainage network for the various fluids :
- Drain system for collecting leaks and drippings from
machinery spaces.
- Recovery network connected to the mud pit
- A peripheral network collecting rainwater from the site
and fitted with a de-oiling tank.
These installations must be designed to catch all the
effluents and avoid them being discharged directly into the
natural environment. The design of the basins or tanks
receiving the effluents, used mud or cuttings must be carefully
studied and correctly sized. They must be completely leak
proof (use of a PEHD liner or geo-membrane, protected by a
geo-textile).
On certain sites, in particular in regions with high rainfall,
these basins must be covered to avoid dilution and
overflowing.
Protection of surface and ground water
This protection is provided not only by taking the proper
measures when installing the site and the drilling rig, but also
through an accurate knowledge of the regional and local
geology and hydro-geology.
This knowledge is often completed and validated with the
survey undertaken at the time of the point zero environmental
baseline study. The drilling program (choice of fluids, casing,
etc.) also covers these parameters.
Choice of drilling fluids
The environmental problems related to drilling fluids mainly
come from the use of Oil Base Mud (OBM). The evolution of
regulations concerning oily cuttings disposal has led the
development of new products more environmental friendly:
the OPF (Organic Phase Fluids) which include SBM (synthetic
base mud), LTOBM (Low Toxicity Oil Base Mud) and esters.
The choice of drilling fluids is now based on one hand on
technical drilling criteria and on the other hand on HSE
(Health, Safety and Environment) criteria.
- The environmental criteria include several characteristics
of the fluid: eco-toxicity (determination of lethal
SPE 73931
concentration on standard species of fauna and flora),
aerobic biodegradability (% in 28 days), anaerobic
biodegradability (% in 60 days), bio-accumulation
(POW log).
The results of these environmental criteria should be in
compliance with regulation, if any, and with the Company
specifications.
- The health criterion is also taking into account. The use of
fluids with high content of aromatics should be avoided:
the “working environment” becomes a real
important issue.
- The safety criterion has to lead the final fluid selection.
When the fluid comes out from the well the temperature
could actually be very high. Consequently the mud must have
a high flash point to avoid problem of fire. Typically the gas-
oil flash point is around 60°C and the OPF flash point is above
90°C.
Finally, the choice of the most adapted drilling fluid takes
part of the “Best practices to work” and it will facilitate the
cuttings management and disposal.
Management of chemicals
Alongside the “black-listed” products which operators must
obviously know, an effective management system of
authorised chemicals must be set up with:
- A storage system with clear products identification and a
retention pond
- Safety data files for each product handled (MSDS:
material safety data sheet), the manufacturers and
suppliers must be in position to provide the operator with
up-to-date sheets which comply with international
standards.
- A good stock management system in order to avoid any
pointless surplus by setting up a system whereby unused
stocks are returned to the supplier.
Reduction of waste volumes at source
Actions can be undertaken at three levels:
- Reduction of water consumption: a water-saving policy
can be established based on simple solutions such as the
use of high pressure hydro-jets for washing the rig floor
or the reuse by recycling treated water.
- Optimisation recycling of drilling mud (closed loop
system): it is fundamental that the rig be fitted with
complete systems for treating solids with effective shale-
shakers and a set of centrifuges in order to optimise the
recycling of mud and separation of ultra-fine particles.
- Reduction of cuttings volumes: this can be achieved by
using small diameter drilling programs and by using more
horizontal development wells.
SPE 73931 DRILLING AND WASTE MANAGEMENT
Drill cutting management
The cutting treatment and their disposal are an important issue
in the drilling environmental waste management plan. Cuttings
have to be identified and characterised (volume, oil content
etc.). The “5R’s” strategy from OGP guidelines should be
adopted (fig.1).
The choice of treatment solutions will obviously differ,
depending on whether the drilling operation is onshore or
offshore. Decision regarding this choice will be made on the
basis of several criteria which, in addition to the regulatory
recommendations, are:
- The nature of the cuttings (OBM, WBM, clay, sand,
granulometry, etc.),
- The environmental specificity of the site of disposal
(sensitivity, natural resources), available logistics, local
possibilities (onshore), as well as associated costs.
At the present time, a large range of treatment methods is
available. These methods could be classified as follows:
Inerting methods
The principle of these methods is to trap strongly the oil in
order to avoid any leachate release in the environment. It is a
basic and efficient technique that can be classified in
two processes:
- Stabilisation (fig.2) which simply means mixing the
cuttings with hydraulic binders such as lime, cement or
pozzolana. This method is used in Venezuela, on the field
of Jusepin.
- Solidification which consists in setting the cuttings in a
solid matrix of cement for limiting as possible the
leachibility.
Laboratory tests are necessary to develop and optimise the
formula and check its efficiency through standardised
leaching tests.
The inert materials can be reused for road foundations,
backfill for earthworks or, in certain cases, as building
materials. This option was applied in Indonesia on the site of
Handil (fig.3).
Thermal methods
- Incineration used on several sites in particular in
Argentina in the Cañadon Alpha field (fig.4), consists in
eliminating the organic components adsorbed on the
mineral phase. A rotating oven incinerator can reach
temperatures of 1,200 to 1,500°C and treat several tons
per day of cuttings producing ashes; a combustion unit
chamber should be used to re-treat the smoke and fume.
- Thermal desorption (fig.5) is less radical than incineration
and consists in heating the cuttings in a rotating oven to
about 400°C in order to desorb the organic pollutants.
Gases are treated by “post-combustion”, the treated
cuttings could be recycled and the base oil is recovered.
This treatment is used in Kazakhstan, in the Kashagan
field, with the objective of removing the oil from the
cuttings before disposal.
3
Biological treatment
This process makes use of the biodegradation capacity of
micro-organisms (bacteria and fungi) on hydrocarbons and
makes it possible to transform oily cuttings into non-toxic
residues, which can often be recovered for use in the domain
of agronomics.
Recent experiments of TotalFinaElf carried out on
farmland demonstrated the feasibility of the land farming
process. It is possible to overcome the large surface areas
required for land farming by pre-treating the materials by
composting and activating aerobic biodegradation by regular
turning (windrows) or by forced ventilation (biopiles).
A first experiment of this type was carried out successfully
with the assistance of IFP (Institut Français du Pétrole) and the
Museum National d'Histoire Naturelle. An industrial pilot
capable of processing several hundreds of cubic meters is
being installed on our Indonesian affiliate site. This three
year-program (2000-2002) is underway in close co-operation
with the Indonesian Authorities and the University
laboratories, (fig.6-fig.7).
Cuttings re-injection
This solution is operational in the North Sea, and our
experience is based on the re-injection of cuttings from
Dunbar and Alwyn platforms. The cuttings re-injection (CRI)
consists in a slurrification phase with cuttings crushing and
mixing with sea water and polymer, followed with the re-
injection of the slurry at high pressure, either directly into the
well annulus or into a suitable formation using hydraulic
fracturing technique. An research and development project is
on going with the objectives of improving the procedure of re-
injection and anticipating the capacity of disposal.
Controlled land filling (fig.8)
This is not actually a method of treatment, but rather a system
for disposing of ultimate wastes produced by physical or
thermal pre-treatment.
The stockpiling of inert, or partially inert, wastes can be
considered, as long as the landfill has been designed according
to good E&P practices regarding the leak proof qualities and
the leachates.
In the Mabruk field (Libya), a controlled landfill was
designed and set up. A combination between a bottom liner
overlaid by a geological barrier was set up to prevent
contamination of soil. A top liner was drawn over the waste
during the non-active period and will be installed permanently
after fill up and closure of the compartments. Two collection
pits have been installed to ensure efficient collection of
possible rainwater and subsequent leachates. The case of
Mabruk illustrates the possibility for a remote site to
compensate for the absence of local utilities by integrating an
inexpensive controlled landfill in its waste management plan
4 A. MORILLON, J.-F. VIDALIE, U. S. HAMZAH, S. SURIPNO, E. K. HADINOTO
The issue of drill cuttings discharged on the seabed
Within the scope of the evolution of the regulations regarding
the dismantling of platforms at the end of their useful life, Oil
and Gas companies are now required to deal with the cuttings
piles that have accumulated at the bottom of the platform legs.
It is within this framework that the association of the North
Sea oil companies ,“UKOOA”, launched an operation named
“Drill Cuttings Initiative”. This scientific and technical
study address:
- A site status survey,
- A program with the purpose of understanding the
behaviour and the environmental impact of existing
cuttings piles,
- An evaluation of technical options (re-injection,
biodegradation, encapsulating or just leaving alone), to
issue recommendations on the best options.
Oil and Gas Producers association (OGP) co-ordination
meetings are also monitoring the progress of this project,
which integrates university research work. On our side, we are
launching a research program on the drill cuttings piles re-
colonisation.
This research and development project, applied to existing
piles around platforms in warm seas will complete the drill
cuttings behaviour study of the UKOOA program.
Conclusion
As can be seen, waste management in the drilling activity is
the real issue regarding environmental concerns. Our
experience has shown that the best way to optimise technical
parameters, environmental parameters and costs is to consider
every steps (installations, drilling fluids, cuttings disposal…)
since the drilling program preparation.
There is no unique solution. The objective consists in
finding the best option perfectly adapted to the specificity of
the drilling campaign considered. For this purpose,
TotalFinaElf with the collaboration of its Indonesian affiliate
gives constant and careful consideration to the study of each
solution. Through various research and development projects
we try to find or to improve new technical options.
Feeling that we are responsible of the waste that we
produce and considering the wide range of technical option
SPE 73931
and possibilities of flexibility, we think that we can find the
appropriate answers to the questions raised by the drilling
waste issue.
Acknowledgements
Our special thanks to the Drilling department and particularly
to Alain Duchesne, for having shared his experience in drilling
fluids and cuttings disposal, to Claude Chaineau and Jean-
Claude Settier, for valuable discussions about biological
treatment, and finally to our Indonesian affiliate for receiving
our biological pilot.
References
1. 7th annual international conference
Minimizing the Environmental Effect of Drilling Operations-
Aberdeen 25-26 march 1999.
2. Ph Geneste, M Grandprat, C Sutton, JF Vidalie and M Drapier
Site Specific and Integrated Waste Management Plan for Oil and
Gas Exploration Production- SPE conference (49544)
Abu Dhabi- Oct.1998.
3. A Ladousse, C Tallec, C Chaineau and JF Vidalie
Landfarming of Drill Cuttings – SPE conference (358979)
New Orleans – June.1996.
4. UKOOA decommissioning committee
Drill Cutting Initiative: R&D program – March 1999.
5. Jean-François Vidalie
La Gestion des Déblais de Forage
Pétrole et technique n°422- Oct.1999.
6. JA Veil
Innovative Regulatory Approach for Synthetic–based Drilling
Fluids- SPE Texas (52737)- March 1999.
7. C Chaineau, JF Vidalie, P Geneste, J Ducreux and D Ballerini
Bioremediation of a Crude Oil-pollutes clay soil in a temperate
zone – SPE 61282- Stavanger- June 2000.
SPE 73931 DRILLING AND WASTE MANAGEMENT 5

Fig.1 : Key waste handling, minimisation and disposal decision , “5 R’s strategy”

INVENTORY

CHARACTERISE

SEGREGATE

REDUCE / REUSE / RECYCLE / RECOVER

Is there a residue ?
No
«5 R ’s»
Yes
strategy Yes
STOP Treatment required ? TREATMENT
No

RESIDUE DISPOSAL

Fig.2 : Inerting treatment : lime stabilisation

600

500

400 Leachate oil content (ppm )

300 Standardsppm)

200

100

0
référenc 10% 15% 15% 15% LHF 15%
Lime Lime cemen pozzolan
6 A. MORILLON, J.-F. VIDALIE, U. S. HAMZAH, S. SURIPNO, E. K. HADINOTO SPE 73931

Fig.3 : Inerting treatment : solidification and treated cuttings re-use in Indonesian affiliate

Fig.4 : Cuttings incineration in “Terra del fuego” (Argentina)

SPE 73931 DRILLING AND WASTE MANAGEMENT 7

Fig.5 : Cuttings thermo-desorption

Fig.6 : Industrial pilot of oily cuttings composting (IPOC) : Senipah- Indonesia

Sump tank Oil trap

Control + Impermeable surface
Discharge Rain waters (peripheral ditch) (liner + concrete)

Water recycling on the biopile Open drain (oily waters) Biofilter Material storage

Aspersion Air
blower

Slope WINDROWS (410 m3) BIOPILE (300 m3) WINDROWS (150 m3)

0---5 m

STORAGE PITS (500 m3)

8 A. MORILLON, J.-F. VIDALIE, U. S. HAMZAH, S. SURIPNO, E. K. HADINOTO SPE 73931

Fig.7 : Industrial pilot of oily cuttings composting (IPOC) : Senipah- Indonesia

Storage pit
Windrow preparation
OBM Drilling cuttings

Windrow construction

IPOC AREA
SPE 73931 DRILLING AND WASTE MANAGEMENT 9

Fig.8 : landfill design layout

CIRCU RUN OFF WATER

LAR R
OAD PERIPHERAL DRAINAGE

NON OPERATING CELL

OPERATING CELL

CO INERTED LEACHATE DRAINAGE

VER WASTE

TOP SOIL GEOMEMBRANE/ CLAY LAYER

GEOTEXTILE +
TOP LINER (ACTIVE BARREER)
COMPACTED CLAY

ADEQUATE GEOLOGICAL LAYER : PASSIVE BARREER

[Thickness : 5 m, permeability : 1.10-9m/s]