Environmental Performance in Offshore Oil and Gas - Coursework Example

? The Impact of Drilling Fluid on Safety and Environmental Performance in Offshore Oil and Gas Production al Affiliation\ Course Name Date of Submission The Impact of Drilling Fluid on Safety and Environmental Performance in Offshore Oil and Gas Production The increased need for energy independence has seen a rise in offshore drilling activities in the recent past. Beckman (2013:3) observed that oil companies are increasingly exploring offshore drilling as a means of producing energy that can make countries energy independent. The increased exploration of offshore oil and gas has also resulted in the increased use of large amounts of drilling fluid (mud), including water-based, oil-based, and synthetic-based fluids to enhance the drilling activities (International Association of Oil & Gas Producers 2003:13). Drilling fluids are used in offshore oil and gas exploration for a number of reasons, including lubricating the drill bit, cleaning and conditioning the hole, maintaining the pressure of the borehole, as well as washing out rock cuttings out of the borehole to the surface. The drilling fluids is not normally used in its original state, instead, the fluids are mixed with some chemicals in order to maintain their properties. However, there has been an increased concern of the impacts of the drilling fluids and solid cuttings on the environment. GESAMP (1993:18) reported that these solid cuttings and drilling fluids contain hazardous chemical mixture that pose a danger to the environment, particularly to the marine life. As such, there is increased need for solid and gas drilling companies to ensure proper disposal of solid cuttings and drilling fluids as a means of conserving the environment. The main environmental issue linked to the drilling fluids concerns its negative impact on the performance and the continuous accumulation of solid cuttings (AUMS 1989:1). The aim of this paper is to examine some of the environmental issues related to drilling fluid management in light of the various types of drilling fluids. The paper will also explore the negative environmental impacts of improper disposal of drilling waste. Finally, the paper will conclude by discussing measures that oil companies need to take to mitigate the environmental impacts of the drilling fluids. The exploration of offshore oil and gas has intensified in the recent past. This is attributable to the increased need for energy independent. Even though the use of fossil fuel energy has been blamed for the increased production of greenhouse gases that cause global warming, its exploration is not about to end anytime soon. The world will still experience increased exploration of oil and gas (Reis 1996:6). However, the rate at which offshore exploration has increased in the recent past has caused many concerns, especially to environmentalists (Australian Petroleum Production & Exploration Association Ltd 1998:51). This is attributable to the magnitude of pollutants generated by the drilling activities. Normally, when exploring offshore oil and gas, engineers normally use the drilling fluid (mud) to lubricate the drill bit, wash out the solid cuttings, condition the hole, as well as to maintain the pressure of the borehole. This is very important for effective exploration of offshore oil and gas, according to Armsworthy, ? Cranford, ?and Lee (2005:8). The drilling fluids used in the exploration of offshore oil and gas are normally not pure. They often contain additives and chemicals meant to enhance the operational property of the final mixture (Cordah Environmental Management Consultants 2000:5). The operational properties enhance using chemicals and additives include density, reactivity, viscosity, ion-exchange parameters, salinity, and fluid loss. Obtaining the right property of the fluid is important for ensuring effective drilling operation. The main types of drilling fluids in use include water-based fluids and non-aqueous fluids. Water-based fluid is a drilling fluid which comprising of a mixture of water, barite and bentonite clay. This mixture helps in enhancing the density of the drilling fluid, to become hydrostatic head (Beak Consultants and Imperial Oil Limited 1974:3). However, other chemical substances are added to the mixture in order to obtain the needed drilling properties. The additives used in this case include lignosulphonate, anionic polymers, carboxymethyl cellulose, and polyglycols among other chemicals. The composition of water-based fluids depends largely on the density of the fluid. Non-aqueous drilling fluids comprise all non-water fluids in offshore oil and gas exploration. Like in water-based fluids, non-aqueous drilling fluids are also mixed with additives to enhance the property of the fluid (Humphries 2010:31). Emulsions are added to increase the stability of the water-in-oil emulsions. Just as with water-based fluids, barite is normally added to the non-aqueous drilling fluids to obtain sufficient density. Environmental Issues Energy is one of the most important resources for any country. This is because almost all operations of a country, including industries, automobiles and lighting depend on energy. As earlier stated, most companies are moving towards offshore drilling to explore oil and gas (Azar and Samuel 2007:84). Even though such exploration have come with many benefits, their impacts on the environment is devastating. The drilling fluids used in the exploration processes are mixed with some chemical substances, which are very toxic (Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers 2000:15). For instance, in order to obtain the right chemical property of water-based fluid, chemicals such as barite and bentonite clay are normally added. The same applies to non-aqueous drilling fluids, which contains additives, including lignosulphonate, anionic polymers, carboxymethyl cellulose, and polyglycols (Delvigne 1996:12). The release of these toxic chemical substances pollutes the environment, which interferes with marine life and the surface soil. Drill fluids and solid cuttings may be water-based or oil based with varying amounts of heavy metals and hydrocarbons. For instance, research has shown that oil-based drilling fluids are highly saturated with hydrocarbons, which could be as high as 60%. The same also applies to Spent drilling fluids and solid cuttings, which are contaminated with about 2% of waste volume. Candler et al. (1995:56) noted that the drill cuttings waste is produced in large quantities during the drilling exercise. For instance, in the Norwegian sector of North Seas drilling location, about 2.5 million tons of drill cuttings are produced every year. Testing done on the drill cuttings show that these cuttings contain a variety of organic and inorganic toxic substances, which are very toxic, according to Canada-Nova Scotia Offshore Petroleum Board (2000:2). The release of these chemical substances from the drilling fluids affects negatively on the physical environment. Canadian Marine Drilling Ltd (2004:1) noted that, because drilling fluids contain toxic chemicals described above, there improper disposal have immediate negative impact on the marine life. Since the drilling is conducted in the sea, the discharge of the fluid mixed with toxic chemical substance may mix with water that the aquatic life depends on, resulting in death of marine life. There has been a growing concern of the diminishing number of marine life in areas where offshore drillings take place. This has been reported in countries, such as the U.S., Nigeria, Norway, and many other countries (DOE (2013:3). Environmentalist has blamed the death of aquatic life in these areas to the improper discharge of toxic drill fluid that contaminate waters, thereby killing marine animals. The disposal of the toxic drilling fluids also affects negatively the environment by making the flow of oxygen impossible. All marine life depends on oxygen in water for gaseous exchange (Azar and Samuel 2007:26). However, the discharge of oil fluids from the drilling activities at the offshore contaminates the waters, as well as blocking the free circulation of oxygen in waters. This makes breaching impossible to the aquatic life resulting in death. The Gulf of Mexico oil spill that killed several marine lives is a classical example of the negative environmental impacts of drill fluids on marine life (AMBIOS Environmental Consultants Ltd 1999:14). Following the oil spill, most aquatic animals at the Gulf of Mexico could not find enough oxygen to breathe, resulting in the death of most animals, including fish, duck, and other animals found in the area. Environmentalist has since been concerned about the offshore oil and gas exploration due to its negative impact on the environment. Environmentalists are also concerned that the chemicals and additives used in the drilling fluids exposes the rig workers health at risk. The chemicals used in the fluids are very corrosive and cause irritation when they are exposed to the human skin (ASME Shale Shaker Committee 2011:51). In addition, the fuses that come from the drilling activity also exposes the workers on site a risk of inhaling toxic chemicals that are harmful to their health. Wills attributes this to the fact that chemicals can cause heart problems and other chronic health diseases (2000:11) As such, proper safety measures must be guaranteed to ensure that workers health is not compromised by the toxic drilling fluids. The toxic drilling fluid discharges on the seas pollute the waters that people depend on for bathing and drinking. This increases health risk to the community around that depends on the waters around for drinking and bathing (Reis 1996:14). As earlier stated, the drilling fluids contain toxic chemicals that need not to be exposed to the human skin. As such, improper disposal of these toxic fluids may cause serious health risks to those who swim at the breaches where the waters are mixed with these toxic drilling fluids. Such cases have been reported among communities living in areas where offshore oil and gas exploration occurs. Global warming is also one of the most serious environmental issues that confront the world today. Global warning effect has been blamed on increased emission of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. Environmentalists have observed that offshore exploration of oil and gas results in emission of greenhouse gases that are responsible for global warming (DOE 2013:12). The gases come mainly from the drilling fluids mixed with additives that are released to the environment during the drilling process. Some of the effects of global warming include rising temperatures, sea levels, increased doubts in some parts of the world, heavy downpours and increased glacial movements just to name but a few (American Petroleum Institute 1995:44). These effects are impacting negatively on the environment, thus need control and mitigation. Conclusion Environmental pollution and other health and safety issues resulting from improper disposal of drilling fluids during offshore oil and gas exploration need to be solved by the oil industries. This will help in protecting the environment from degradation and pollution, thereby making the world better places to live. This may require replacing the drilling fluid and drill cuttings with alternative technologies that are environment friendly. In this regard, oil companies conducting offshore drilling to consider treating the drilling fluids before discharging the waste into the nearby waters. The oil companies should also consider using a technology that ensures that all drill cuttings are removed on to the sources to avoid accumulating underground that is dangerous to marine life. References AMBIOS Environmental Consultants Ltd. (1999) Impact of Offshore Disposal Solutions. London: United Kingdom Offshore Operators' Association. 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Beak Consultants and Imperial Oil limited (1974) Disposal of Waste Drilling Fluids in the Canadian Arctic. APOA project no.73. APOA, Calgary. Beckman, D. W. (2013) Marine Environmental Biology and Conservation. Hoboken, NJ: Jones & Bartlett Publishers. Canadian Marine Drilling Ltd. (2004) SSDC/MAT Environmental Protection Manual. Canmar. Canada Nature Network. 2004. Species at Risk Provincial Report 2004 (online) available from http://www.cnf.ca/pdf/ProvincialRCNS.pdf#search=%22nova%20scotia%20endangered %20species%20act%22 [20 Dec. 2013] Canada-Nova Scotia Offshore Petroleum Board (2000) Directory of Offshore Wells (online) available from 2013 http://www.cnsopb.ns.ca/resources/pdf/DirectoryWells.pdf [20 Dec. 2013] Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers (2000) Global Climate Change Voluntary Challenge Guide. Calgary, AB: CAPP. Candler, J. E., Sam, H., Marc, C., Wei, L. C., Michael, F., & M-I Drilling Fluids L.L.C. (1995) Seafloor Monitoring for Synthetic-Based Mud Discharged in the Western Gulf of Mexico. SPE Paper 29694, 3 (2), 14-48. Cordah Environmental Management Consultants (2000) Determination of the Physical Characteristics of Cuttings Piles, Using Existing Survey Data and drilling Information: R & D Programme 1.1. A Report for the UKOOA Drill Cuttings Joint Industry Project 5 (1), 2-28. Delvigne, G. A. L. (1996) Laboratory Investigations on the Fate and Physicochemical Properties of Drill Cuttings after Discharge into the Sea. Paper 3, E&P Forum Joint Study – The Physical and Biological Effects of Processed Oily Drill Cuttings, E&P Forum Report Number 2.61/202. 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Pet., for Ekologicheskaya Vahkta Sakhalina, Sakhalin Environment Watch: 2-18. Read More