Shannan Casteel
Undergraduate Student (Professional Communication
Concentration)
Department of English
Tennessee Technological University
Cookeville, TN 38505

 Problem: Directional Drilling Fluids may be damaging to the environment
 Objective: To determine the effects of various Directional Drilling Fluids on the environment
 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

 Plan: Visit several drill sites with multiple recordable variables and make “Before &
After” observations to determine the effects of
Directional Drilling Fluids on the surrounding environment
 Expected Results: Relatively little or no environmental damage will occur

 Problem: Directional Drilling Fluids may be damaging to the environment

 Literature Summary:

Types of Drilling Fluids

Toxicity of Drilling Fluids
 Water Based
 Oil Based

Erosion Control

Possible benefit of drilling waste

Government Regulations





Black, A.J., L.H. Evans, Y.B. Tsvetnenko. 2000. Development of
Marine Sediment Reworker Tests with Western Australian
Species for Toxicity Assement of Drilling Mud. Toxicol 15 : 540-
548
Choi, Woo-Jung, Scott X. Chang, Ziying Hao. 2005. White
Spruce Response to Co-Composted Hydrocarbon-Contaminated
Drillng Waste: Effects of cmpost Age and Nitrogen Fertilization.
J. Environ. Qual. 34: 1319-1328.
Eide, I. 1990. A Review of Exposure Conditions and Possible
Health Effects Associated With Aerosol and Vapour From Low-
Aromatic Oil-Based Drilling Fluids. Annal Occupational Hygiene
34 : 149-157.
Fifield, Jerald S. 2005. Designing for Effective Sediment and
Erosion Control on Construction Sites. Environmental &
Engineering Geoscience. 11 : 177-190.





Snyder, Robert E. “Environmentally safe dirll wastes.” World Oil. Jan. 2002.
Upton, D. P. 2000. Optimization of cutting fluid performance. International Journal of Production
Research 38 : 1219-1223.
Urquhart, John C. “Back to the Future in Silicate
Drilling Fluids.” World Oil. Oct. 1998.
Wassenborg, Marc. “Fluids Management and Batch
Drilling Minimize Waste and Cut Overall Costs.”
World Oil. Oct. 2000.


Young, Steve. “High-performance waterbased mud improves results: Five component system matches invert emulsion mud.” World Oil. Apr. 2006.

 Drill Fluid Uses:

Drill head lubrication

Cutting

Transport waste to surface
 Problems stem from:

Erosion

Groundwater contaminants
 Miscellaneous

Some drilling fluids may aid tree-growth



Objective: To determine the effects of directional drilling fluid on its environmental surroundings.
Hypothesis: Fluid used for directional drilling has a minimal effect on its environmental surroundings.
 Null Hypothesis: Directional drilling fluid has an adverse effect on its environmental surroundings.

1.
2.
3.
6.
7.
4.
5.
Visit several Directional Drill sites pre-bore
Attend several DD-3238 Directional Drill work sites
Collect various information about the bore (i.e. length, diameter, obstacles, surroundings)
Note the differences between the sites
Make observations about the surroundings
Note any changes that have occurred post-bore
Draw conclusions concerning the effects of the
Directional Drilling Fluids on the surroundings

3
4
1
2
 Data Form
1 2 3
Data Unit #
4 5
Operator Mud Type Mud
Liters
Used
6 7 8 9 10
Mud
Liters
Recovered
Bore
Length
Drill Rod
Size
Duration of Bore
Location

 Research will allow contractors, operators,
EPA regulators, and anyone who is concerned to determine the best type of
Drilling Fluids to use for the least impact on the surrounding environment

Develop problem statement, hypothesis statement
Develop data form and experimental design
Visit drill sites and make observations
Analyze data
Draw conclusions
Week 1 Week 2 Week 3 Week 4 Week 5 Week 6 Week 7 Week 8

Personnel
Principal Investigator
Project Associate
Graduate Research Assistant
Subtotal
Staff Benefits
Subtotal
Equipment
Digital Camera
Gloves
Subtotal
Budget
Personal
Expenses Staff
$10,000.00
$0.00
$1,000.00
$0.00
$2,000.00
$0.00
$14,000.00
$0.00
$4,200.00
$0.00
$32,200.00
$0.00
$300.00
$0.00
$25.00
$0.00
$325.00
$0.00

Travel
Air Fare
Per Diem @ $100/day
Local Transportation
Subtotal
Total Direct Costs
Indirect Costs
Grand Total
$900.00
$900.00
$100.00
$400.00
$32,925.00
$900.00
$33,825.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00

 Questions?