Drilling Waste Management Technology Descriptions

The first step in managing drilling wastes is to separate the solid cuttings from the liquid drilling mud. Once solid and liquid drilling wastes have been separated, companies can use a variety of technologies and practices to manage the wastes. For some applications, drilling wastes are solidified or stabilized prior to their ultimate management practice. The management technologies and practices can be grouped into three major categories: waste minimization, recycle/reuse, and disposal. Follow the links below to learn more about the specific technologies and practices in each category.

Waste Minimization

Practices that can reduce volumes or impacts of wastes.

• Drilling Practices That Minimize Generation of Drilling Wastes
• Directional Drilling
• Drilling Smaller Diameter Holes
• Drilling Techniques That Use Less Drilling Fluid
• Using Muds and Additives with Lower Environmental Impacts
• Synthetic-based Muds
• New Drilling Fluid Systems
• Alternate Weighting Agents

Recycle/Reuse

Practices that find another use for drilling wastes.

• Beneficial Reuse of Drilling Wastes
• Recycling Muds
• Roadspreading
• Reuse of Cuttings for Construction Purposes
• Restoration of Wetlands Using Cuttings
• Use of Oily Cuttings as Fuel

Disposal

Practices to get rid of drilling wastes.

• Onsite Burial (Pits, Landfills)
• Land Application
• Landfarming
• Landspreading
• Bioremediation
• Composting
• Bioreactors
• Vermiculture
• Discharge to Ocean
• Offsite Disposal to Commercial Facilities
• Slurry Injection
• Salt Caverns
• Thermal Treatment
• Incineration
• Thermal Desorption