ENVIROUNIT Gives Offshore Operator Major Reductions in Onshore Disposal of Slop Water

The Situation

Norwegian regulations require that the hydrocarbon content of water discharged overboard must be lower than 40 mg/L. Drilling with Oil-Base Drilling Fluids (OBM) generates waste streams often referred to as “slop water.” A typical well will generate about 300 m3 (79,252 gal) of slop water — the byproduct of cleaning the drill floor, shaker room, pump room and mud pits. Due to contamination by hydrocarbons from the OBM, these slops are not suitable for overboard discharge. The cost of collecting this water, shipping it to shore and disposing of it as hazardous waste can be considerable.

The Solution

To address these concerns, M-I SWACO* worked with the off-shore operator to develop an

ENVIROUNIT to treat the slop water offshore to meet the discharge criteria, thereby reducing the costs associated with collection, transportation and onshore disposal. The ENVIROUNIT* consists of two 6.1-m (20-ft) containers that are fitted with processing tanks, pumps, agitators and filtration equipment. The system is designed to discharge water within the regulatory limits and to recover the OBM for re-introduction into the circulating mud system.

Chemical treatment starts the process of separating the water from the oil-base drilling fluid. The water then passes through filtration equipment to ensure that all traces of hydrocarbons are reduced to a level acceptable for discharge overboard.

For this particular well, M-I SWACO had the two containers installed on the deck of the rig, one atop the other, and used the entire time OBM was on the rig. Fully trained engineers from M-I SWACO operated the unit and assisted rig personnel in the operation and maintenance of the shale shakers and vacuum units.

The Results

The ENVIROUNIT operated on the rig for a total of 61 days, treating a total of 287 m3 (75,817 gal) of slops. Because of limitations in storage capacity and processing rate, some 60 m3 (15,850 gal) of slops had to be shipped to shore for disposal. In addition, another 11.5 m3 (3,038 gal) of waste in the form of sludge were hauled to shore for disposal. The hydrocarbon content in the water discharged to sea was measured by a third party, and was recorded at a maximum of 24 mg/L.

Summary

While previous wells generated an average of 300 m3 (79,252 gal) of slops that had to be hauled ashore for disposal, this well turned in some impressive reductions.

Questions? We’ll be glad to answer them.

If you’d like to know more about the ENVIROUNIT and how it’s performing for our other customers, please call the M-I SWACO office nearest you.