Efficiency, Economics and Compliance: A Practical Planning Tool for Optimizing Cuttings Treatment

The expanding focus on total cost of ownership (TCO) in the oilfield is driving the application of global best practices in drilling and completion operations. Measurable benefits can result from a proactive approach to separating, treating, and handling disposal streams that accounts for both short- and long-term effects and is tailored to the specific needs of projects in the Middle East. This paper provides a versatile decision-making tool to help determine the optimal processes for a variety of conditions based on efficiency, economics, and sustainability. The most effective treatment solutions and services seek to address multiple factors, including logistics and expenses, drilling efficiency and performance, remote locations with infrastructure limitations, and strict environmental regulations. Interdependencies between the fluids, equipment, and services will also influence the selection of appropriate separation and treatment processes. A useful decision tree is based on the critical goals of waste volume reduction and maximum recovery of valuable components. Making the right choices in both of these areas will provide effective long-term results and economic benefits. This paper summarizes multiple case histories that demonstrate successful cuttings and waste stream processing, including both land and offshore operations. In some cases, a mobile or well-specific treatment system works best; others rely on a central treatment facility to serve an entire field or multirig operation. The results achieved in each case contribute to a step-by-step planning tool in matrix format that can be used to design the best set of equipment and services for each location. The matrix accounts for many factors, including rig equipment and capacities, proposed drilling and completion fluids, lithology, risk assessment, system maintenance, potential process rates and throughput, mobilization, environmental regulations, and infrastructure requirements. The decision tree presented facilitates the treatment selection process by incorporating useful benchmarks for volumes, process rates, expected base oil/fluid recovery, installation costs/requirements, scalability, longevity, and decommissioning (and/or relocation of the treatment system). It provides a practical starting point for planning an efficient, fit-for-purpose treatment configuration, scaled to match operational needs, reduce total cost of ownership, and meet or exceed existing and future standards.