Abstract—Waste management is one of the problems facing the oil and gas industry. This has often thrown the industry into numerous challenges ranging from technological development to ensuring a clean and safe environment. Oil and gas well drilling processes generate large volume of drill cuttings and spent mud. Onshore and offshore operators have used a variety of methods to manage these drilling wastes. This paper discusses the basic concepts for managing waste generated during drilling operations and provides systematic approach for pro-active waste management practices. It addresses the various stages in drilling waste management, and emphasizes the phases of waste identification, minimization, treatment and disposal as integral parts of waste management process.

Index Terms—Drilling fluid, mud additives, waste management, minimization, recycle, and treatment.

Authors are with the Department of Petroleum Engineering, Federal University of Technology, Owerri, Nigeria (e-mail: stanfuto1@yahoo.com; stanleynwakaudu@yahoo.com).

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Cite: S. I. Onwukwe and M. S. Nwakaudu, "Drilling Wastes Generation and Management Approach," International Journal of Environmental Science and Development vol. 3, no. 3, pp. 252-257, 2012.