Study on Possible Short-Term Environmental Effects of WBM Cutting Discharges inthe Frisian Front Area (North Sea)

摘要

The use of oil based muds (OBM) in drilling operations in the North Sea hasrecently been subjected to stringent requirements. In parts of the Dutch sector discharges of drill cuttings contaminated with OBM were prohibited by April 1992 and a complete prohibition of OBM cutting discharges has taken effect from January 1993. In the summer of 1991 two exploration wells were drilled in the Frisian Front area, using only WBM: at location L3-3 all drilled material was dumped on the seabed, at location L6-3 only the material from the top hole. The report presents the results of both surveys and gives some recommendations for future research.