Synthetic+Drilling+Fluids-A+Pollution+Prevention+Opportunity+for+the+Oil+and+Gas+Industry

Veil/Argonne National Laboratory, John A., Christopher J. Burke/Argonne National Laboratory, and David O. Moses/U.S. Department of Energy. // Synthetic Drilling Fluids-A Pollution Prevention Opportunity for the Oil and Gas Industry //. Tech. Washington, DC: Argonne National Laboratory, 1995. Print ** Where does the author work, what else has s/he written about, and what are her/his credentials? ** The lead author, John A. Veil, works for the Department of Energy and other clients. He studies a variety of energy industry water and waste problems. He encompasses an evaluation of technology and analyses in regulations and policy in his studies. He was part of the faculty at the University of Maryland for the Department of Zoology. He also served on the board of the Journal of Petroleum Technology as the health, safety, and environment representative for five years. He has presented on several occasions, and he has written many more reports on environmental and energy concerns. ** What is the main topic or argument of the text? ** The report discusses the different types of muds available for underwater drilling. There are synthetic-based muds (SBMs) that the drilling industry had recently created. Traditionally, there have been two types of muds used in the past, water-based muds (WBMs) and oil-based muds (OBMs). The article further analyzes the operational, economic, and environmental aspects from all three types of muds. ** Describe at least three ways that the main topic or argument is fleshed out. ** Drilling fluids are important because they are used in transporting cuttings to the surface for proper discarding. They are necessary to cool and clean the drill bit. It is important to use them to maintain pressure balances between the surrounding geologic material and the borehole. The fluids serve as a lubrication, thereby decreasing friction in the borehole. Finally, the drilling fluid seals and stabilizes the borehole. Additives are incorporated into the muds to enhance certain fluid properties; however, some of these additives are more toxic than others. Through research, less toxic alternatives have become available. WBMs were the most common muds used in industry. They produce the most waste compared to OBMs and SBMs, and they are discharged onsite into the ocean. The set-back with WBMs is that they may not appropriate for certain applications. OBMs are more suitable than WBMs when it comes to drilling at high-angle, extended-reach wells, or in high temperatures or hydratable shales. OBMs are commonly used in the Gulf of Mexico. OBMs produce less waste, but they cannot be discarded into the ocean, for they contain oil. SBMs have properties that would deem it as appropriate as OBMs for wells. Less waste compared to WBMs is produced. Toxicity is decreased with SBMs. The only downside to SBMs is that they are more expensive compared to OBMs. ** What three quotes capture the critical import of the text? **  · “One prominent effect has been the development of innovative alternative SBM systems that can provide major benefits in terms of pollution prevention, operating costs, drilling efficiency, and performance.”  · “SBMs were developed to provide drilling fluids with performance properties similar to those of OBMs, but whose cuttings could be approved for discharge.”  · “Greater regulatory flexibility in encouraging innovation and new technology development can ease the introduction of alternative pollution prevention technology.” ** Explain how the argument and evidence in the text supports your research focus. ** The research focus is to assess the safety of underwater oil drilling. This paper discusses the drilling fluid necessary in offshore under-water drilling and characteristics that deem some muds safer than others. The choice of mud depends on the type of well to be built. ** List at least two details or references from the text that will be useful to other members of your research group. ** The EPA has effluent limitations guidelines (ELGs) that govern the proper disposal of drilling wastes. For the muds, the company needs to pass the static sheen test. There is a limitation of 30,000 ppm 96-hr LC50 in toxicity. There is also a limitation on cadmium and mercury fractions of barite used in the muds. The muds must be disposed while free of diesel oil. Muds must also be disposed within three miles of the shore.   