The Effects of Directional Drilling Fluids on the EnvironmentShannan Casteel

Undergraduate Student (Professional Communication Concentration)Department of EnglishTennessee Technological UniversityCookeville, TN 38505

Introduction

Problem: Directional Drilling Fluids may be damaging to the environment

Objective: To determine the effects of various Directional Drilling Fluids on the environment

Introduction (cont.)

Literature Review

Literature Summary: Drill Fluid Functions (Eide 1990) Operator Intentions (Wassenborg 2000) Toxicity of Drilling Fluids (Young 2006)

Water Based Oil Based

Possible benefit of drilling waste (Bauder et. al. 2005)

Government Regulations (Urquhart 1998)

Introduction (cont.)

Drill Fluid Uses: Drill head lubrication Cutting Transport waste to surface

Possible Problems stem from: Erosion Groundwater contaminants

Alternatives to Directional Drilling Fluids Miscellaneous

Some drilling fluids may aid tree-growth

Introduction (cont.)

Hypothesis: Directional Drilling Fluids have relatively no effect on the environment

Null Hypothesis: Directional Drilling Fluids have a significant effect on the surrounding environment

Goals: To determine the effects of Directional Drilling Fluids on the surrounding environment

Methods & Materials

Comparative observations used by NWS in United States “Tornado Alley” for comparing tornado damage zones (NWS 2002)

Visited 5 Horizontal Directional Drill Sites Recorded data on Data Form Analyzed data and pictures and formulated

conclusions

Results

Amount of Fluid Used (See Chart 1): Bore Length Soil Type Operator Skill Type of Fluid

Erosion rare-Drilling fluids have no more effect than a steady rain

Alternatives to Drilling Testing inconclusive, more testing needed

Focus on Groundwater contaminants Concentrate on single fluid type

Drilling (Before)

Pictures (After)

Alternative

Video

DD-3238, Stuart, FL

Discussion

More Testing Needed Single Fluid Type Modified Experimental Design

Drill Fluid Functions (Eide 1990) Toxicity of Drilling Fluids (Young 2005)

HDD primarily uses Water-Based Fluids Oil Well drilling uses Oil-Based Fluids

Operator Intentions (Wassenborg 2000) Inexperienced operators use too much fluid Operators under severe timelines use too much fluid

End Presentation

Questions?