During crude oil drilling operations fluid drilling mud and cuttings are generated. The fluid drilling mud generally consists of a colloidal suspension of clays (usually bentonite) in water with various chemical compounds added for specific purposes at a given site.
Safe disposal of undesirable drilling mud not re-used is presently a big problem worldwide. The current practice in on-shore operations is to dump it in temporary or re-injection dry well, which of course, overflows into the surrounding land as a pollutant. In off-shore drilling, however, this is deposited into the surrounding waters where it also causes pollution. Results of Laboratory analysis have shown that drilling mud is phytotoxic to maize. It causes abnormal growth and death of the seedlings. However, treatment with OBD-Plus® biodegrades it and renders it non-toxic and safe for discharge into the environment. The OBD-Plus® treated drilling mud supports good growth of crops as shown by a trial on maize.
Showing the Laboratory application of OBD-Plus® technology to drill waste.
Showing the treated Drill Waste with OBD-Plus® technology now Planted with Corn to show it soil enhanced nutrition capability to the drill mud for environmental sustainability.
DM + OBD: Corn grown on treated drill mud with improved soil nutrient.
DM: Corn grown on untreated drill mud with poor nutrient to support Plant.
Prof. B.A. Oso demonstrates drill cutting treatment using OBD-Plus