Drilling Waste: Manage, Reduce, Recycle

The process of drilling oil and gas wells generates millions of barrels of drilling waste each year (more than a barrel worth of waste for every 2ft of oil and gas drilling), primarily used drilling fluids (liquids or liquid based) and drill cuttings (solids), especially oil-contaminated drill cuttings. These can be hazardous to the environment and need to be managed safely and effectively.

Previously, little attention was paid to the environmental management of drilling wastes. The rapid increase in E&P activities in order to fulfil the growing global energy demand has led to an increase in the amount of waste generated from drilling operations. Because of this, the drilling environmental regulatory requirements have become more stringent, technologies have advanced and many oil and gas companies have, willingly, embraced more efficient and environmentally friendly drilling waste management methods.

The three main aspects of drilling waste management are reduction, recycling and disposal. Drilling waste can be minimised by adopting more efficient drilling practices like directional drilling, drilling smaller diameter holes and using drilling techniques that require less drilling fluids. This can also be achieved by utilising muds and additives that are less harmful to the environment.

Another important aspect, and one very important for oil and gas companies in the region today, is recycling drilling waste and reusing it for construction and restoration purposes. They are also interested in learning about cost-cutting measures and opening new revenue streams.

Finally, disposal of drilling waste is generally seen, by the industry, as a last resort. Safe disposal is of utmost importance to protect the environment and the regulatory framework plays an important role in this.

The Drilling Waste Forum will tackle the regulatory challenges and dispel the misperceptions related with the various regulatory and compliance aspects of drilling waste minimisation, recycling and disposal. The event will bring together the various government agencies involved with management of hazardous and non-hazardous drilling waste, NGOs, E&P companies, consultants, drilling contractors and equipment manufacturers.