Waste Management For Drilling
Waste Management For Drilling
Waste Management For Drilling
CELTIQUE ENERGIE
BROADFORD BRIDGE – 1
PERMITTING DOCUMENTATION
Table of Contents
Table of Contents ............................................................................................. 2
1 Introduction ................................................................................................ 3
1.1 Background........................................................................................................ 3
1.2 Referenced Documentation .............................................................................. 3
1.3 Document Structure .......................................................................................... 4
2.1 Overview ....................................................................................................... 5
2.2 Waste Generating Activities......................................................................... 5
3.1 Drilling fluids............................................................................................... 10
3.2 Drill Cuttings .............................................................................................. 11
3.3 Cement ........................................................................................................ 11
3.4 Natural gas (methane) ............................................................................... 11
4 Fluids & Chemicals .................................................................................. 13
5 Site Operation & Waste Treatment ......................................................... 18
5.1 General ........................................................................................................ 18
5.2 Drilling Fluids.............................................................................................. 18
5.3 Drill cuttings................................................................................................ 18
5.4 Cement ........................................................................................................ 18
6 Environmental Risk Management ........................................................... 19
6.1 Environmental Risk Assessment ................................................................... 19
6.2 Environmental Risk Mitigation........................................................................ 19
7 Control & Monitoring................................................................................ 20
7.1 Fugitive Air Emissions ............................................................................... 20
7.2 Mud .............................................................................................................. 20
7.3 Odour........................................................................................................... 20
7.4 Noise/Vibration ........................................................................................... 20
7.5 Accidents .................................................................................................... 20
7.6 Drilling Muds & Drill Cuttings .................................................................... 21
7.7 Cement ........................................................................................................ 21
7.8 Complaints .................................................................................................. 21
8 Proposed Plan for Closure ...................................................................... 22
9 Measures to Prevent Pollution ................................................................ 24
1 Introduction
1.1 Background
Celtique Energie Limited (subsequently referred to as Celtique) intends to construct a boring for
the purpose of searching for oil and gas resources at Broadford Bridge. This well is classified as
a Non-Inert Mining Waste Operation without a Mining Waste facility. This Waste
Management Plan supports Celtique’s permit application for this borehole under Schedule 20 of
the Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2010. The purpose of the Plan
is to demonstrate that Celtique will manage the wastes which result from its occupation and
activities at the site in an environmentally sound manner and that, wherever possible, it uses the
waste hierarchy to minimise the potential impact of the operation on its surroundings.
The process to drill the well and extract the trapped hydrocarbons will generate extractive waste
which falls under the scope of Directive 2006/21/EC (the Mining Waste Directive) and, as a
result, an environmental permit is required under Schedule 20 of the Environmental Permitting
(England and Wales) Regulations 2010 (as amended). Extractive waste is defined in
accordance with Environment Agency Position Statement MWRP PS 015 version 1.0 August
2010.
The exploratory drilling site at Broadford Bridge received planning permission from West
Sussex County Council (WSCC) in 2012 – permit WSCC/052/12/WC. This Waste Management
Plan reflects the agreed conditions from the planning permission and the statutory consultee
responses (which included both the Environment Agency and Natural England).
Celtique Energie is currently only applying for a Waste Management Permit to cover the
drilling of the Broadford Bridge-1 borehole. In the event that potentially economic
hydrocarbon reserves are identified, a separate permit application or a variation to this
permit will be made to address the testing of this well. Consequently, this Waste
Management Plan only covers the drilling of the borehole.
The Broadford Bridge-1 borehole is a conventional well and will not, at any stage, involve
hydraulic fracturing.
This document has been written to be as self-contained as possible resulting in some repetition
of the information contained in these referenced documents, particularly with regard to the
Environmental Method Statement (HSEC-BB-PD-01).
A “waste” is defined in Annex 1 of Article 3(1) of the Mining Waste Directive as any substance
or object (in the three categories set out below) which the holder discards or intends to discard
or is required to discard. The three categories are:
Inert waste: Waste that does not undergo any significant physical, chemical or
biological transformations. Inert waste will not dissolve, burn or otherwise physically or
chemically react biodegrade or adversely affect other matter with which it comes into
contact in a way likely to give rise to environmental pollution or harm human health. The
total leachability and pollutant content of the waste and the ecotoxicity of the leachate
must be insignificant, and in particular not endanger the quality of surface water and/or
groundwater;
Hazardous Waste: Article 3(2) of the Hazardous Waste Directive lists properties of
wastes that render them hazardous. These properties are: explosive, oxidising, highly
flammable, flammable, irritant, harmful, toxic, carcinogenic, corrosive, infectious, toxic
for reproduction, mutagenic, waste which releases toxic or very toxic gases in contact
with water / air / acid, sensitising, ecotoxic, waste capable by any means after disposal
of yielding another substance which possesses any of the above characteristics;
Non-Hazardous waste: waste which is neither classified as inert or hazardous waste.
The extractive and non-extractive wastes generated in the drilling of the borehole are
summarised in Table 2.1 below and described in detail in section 4.
For greater detail regarding drilling operations the reader is referenced to document HSEC-BB-
PD-01 (Environmental Method Statement). However, information relevant to waste
management is presented below.
Drilling fluids: The volumes required to drill to the target depth are calculated in advance of
the drilling operation. The drilling process is monitored by the Drilling Fluids Engineer, and
along with the mud logging process this enables monitoring of volumes of fluids pumped
downhole and returned to be assessed.
The primary considerations when selecting drilling mud is to manage the safety of the well.
This aim is impacted by the particular well design, formations and geology to be drilled and
achieving the well objectives safely without environmental impact. The general principle
followed is that WBM (Water based mud) is used unless its use is not reasonably
practicable due to the need to ensure the safety of the well. Geological conditions are also a
key factor in preventing reactive clays swelling during the drilling phase causing the drill
string to become stuck. Environmentally compatible Oil based mud (OBM) is proposed
when reactive claystone sections are expected.
Consequently, for Broadford Bridge 1, WBM is used in the drilling of upper part of the well to
minimise impact on near surface aquifers. However, once the borehole has been drilled
below these aquifers and the interval cased off, it is necessary to use OBM to drill the
remainder of the borehole to improve well control in these sections and prevent safety
problems arising in the well (the use of WBM in these long sections of water reactive clays
and shales can result in drilling problems such as stuck pipe or casing pack-off and
potentially increase safety risks). There are also secondary environmental benefits from
using OBM in that total drilling time is reduced compared to Water Based Muds – thus
resulting in reduced indirect emissions at surface (e.g. reduced use of fuel for the drilling rig
or on site generators). In addition, OBM is reusable on subsequent wells whereas WBM is
not.
The intent is to recycle used WBM during the drilling. Drilling muds with added loss
circulation materials are used to prevent loss of drilling fluids into permeable formations.
OBM are re-used during the drilling and, once drilling is completed, returned to the supplier
for further reconditioning and re- use;
Drill cuttings: Only cuttings from the drilled borehole to the target depth are generated.
Reducing-size drill bits are used to reduce hole size and therefore reduce the volumes of
returned cutting. Where possible, cuttings solids are recycled into compost/soil
improver and eventually for land reclamation/improver;
Cement: Volumes pumped into the well are controlled to minimise returns at surface
Water based muds (WBM) are used for drilling through fresh water aquifer sections. Any
additives used when drilling these sections have all been assessed as non-hazardous
substances at the concentrations used (see Hydrogeological Risk Assessment HSEC-BB-PD-
06). WBM are treated for re-use during the drilling process site by removal of solids (through the
use of shale shakers and centrifuges) and the making up fluid losses. A WBM will produce a
volume of cuttings and liquid wastes of around 4 times the volume of the hole to be drilled. As
WBM is “used up” in the drilling process, it is sent for waste disposal at the completion of the
well
Environmentally compatible Oil based muds (OBM) are used to drill the lower sections of the
borehole. These muds have been assessed as presenting a hazard “so small as to obviate any
present or future damage” (see Hydrogeological Risk Assessment HSEC-BB-PD-06).The OBM
is treated for re-use during the drilling process by removal of solids (through the use of shale
shakers and centrifuges) and the replenishment of the oil phase. An OBM will produce a waste
volume of cuttings and liquid waste of around two to three times the volume of the hole to be
drilled. In addition, OBM can always be reused in other wells, they will be returned to the
supplier base for cleaning, restocking and reuse.
The drilling mud is used to remove drill cuttings from the well and bring them to the surface.
These drill cuttings (which are the broken bits of solid rock removed from the borehole) are
transported back to surface within the drilling fluids are separated at surface using a two stage
process. The first separation stage (shale shakers) vibrates the returned drilling fluid over a
screen basket separating large drill cuttings from the drilling muds. The cuttings flow from the
shakers via a screen mesh for waste storage in steel rectangular open tanks with a capacity of
up to 40m³. If required, further treatment utilising mud cleaners and centrifuges is used to
remove finer drill cuttings from the muds. these fine cuttings are also directed to these
rectangular open tanks. Drill cuttings are then taken off site for disposal via an authorised waste
contractor to an authorised waste facility. Records are maintained on a daily basis of the
quantities of drill cuttings from the well bore placed into cuttings skips pending off site removal.
Once the cuttings separation is completed, the drilling fluids are then temporarily deposited in
3
dedicated steel mud tanks with a total system volume (active / reserve) of 200m .
Where possible, WBM are reused at site for the next hole section (thus reducing the amount of
drilling muds required and reducing waste quantities) until the solids entrained become too
great for effective treatment. At this point they are replaced by fresh WBM and the “spent” WBM
is removed by vacuum loading road tankers to an authorised waste facility.
OBM continue to be reused throughout the well and, at completion, are returned to the mud
owner (Celtique is simply “renting” use of the fluid) for clean-up and re-use.
The returning drilling muds are either reused or sent off site for disposal via an authorised waste
carrier to an authorised waste disposal facility. The company looks to minimise waste from
these mud systems at all times and this is achieved through good mud management and best
drilling practices as well as choosing the appropriate mud systems for the hole to be drilled.
Potential loss of drilling fluids into the formation is continuously monitored during drilling by the
Mud Logging Unit using a Pit Volume Totaliser (PVT). In the event of a formation loss being
identified in the PVT, maintaining borehole stability and controlling fluid leak-off to permeable
formations is achieved with the inclusion of fluid loss control additives (lost circulation material –
LCM) into the drilling muds.
Both the WBM and OBM fluids have a range of additives to adjust their properties and make
them suitable for specific hole conditions – these are discussed in detail in Section 4.
Once each hole section has been drilled, steel casing is cemented in the wellbore in a series of
stages to protect groundwater and maintain wellbore integrity. The cement is pumped in slurry
form down the inside of the casing and rises up through the annular space between the drilled
hole and the casing, and once in place sets hard. The cemented slurry displaces the mud both
from the casing and the borehole to assure continuing well integrity, returning the drilling muds
to the surface. The process of replacing the drilling muds with cement slurry is to maintain
primary well control, create a complete cement sheath for well integrity and thus provide life of
well barriers. After circulating the cement slurry down the well bore and back up the casing
annuli a FIT (Formation Integrity Test) is conducted to confirm the integrity of the cement at the
casing shoe. The volume of cement used is carefully calculated and pumped volumes are
controlled to minimise returns at surface.
3 5 1
For the Broadford Bridge -1 well, the 13 /8”and 9 /8” casing will be cemented in place. A 8 /2”
hole is then drilled through the prospective reservoir. If hydrocarbons are found to be present
this is cemented in place and a 7” liner installed and perforated for well testing. Figure 2.1
shows a schematic of the borehole.
Drilling muds deposit a thin layer of low permeability solids called a filter cake around the sides
of the borehole. Loss circulation materials are added to the drilling muds in permeable
formations to form a non-permeable layer that prevents any loss of drilling fluids into these
formations.
The WBM is recirculated and reused until spent. Treatment for re-use consists of removal of
solids (through the use of shale shakers and centrifuges) and fluid loss control (replacing lost
water). WBM treatment generally becomes uneconomical after a certain amount of use of the
mud, at which point the mud become waste.
The OBM is treated for re-use during the drilling process by removal of solids (through the use
of shale shakers and centrifuges) and the replenishment of the oil phase. Once drilling is
completed, this repeat process enables the remaining oil based muds to be returned to the
supplier for further conditioning and reuse.
Estimated waste quantities, classification and management controls are summarised in Table
3.1 (EWC Classification refers to the European Waste Catalogue) using the following logic:
The drilling fluid used determines the total amount of waste. It is assumed that this results in
3 3
a total waste volume of 390 m (factor 4 x volume of hole) when using WBM and 364 m
(factor 2.5x volume of hole) when using OBM;
The total anticipated volume of drill cuttings is very conservatively estimated to around
3
373m (based on around 70% greater than the hole volume), comprising approximately
3 3
140m inert (from WBM drilling) and 233m hazardous (from OBM drilling);
3 3
This results in fluid waste volumes of WBM of 250 m (390 - 140) and for OBM of 131 m
(364 – 233).
Table 3.1: Drilling fluids: Estimated waste quantities, classification and controls
Activity Waste EWC 2002 Classification Waste Management
Type Code Estimate Route
3
(m )
Drill to 2050 ft MD WBM 01 05 04 Non Hazardous 250 Collected and
transported offsite
for reclamation /
treatment
Drill from 2050 ft to OBM 01 05 05 Hazardous 131 Transferred
target at 9784 ft MD offsite for
treatment and
disposal
Where possible, these surface waste solids are recycled into compost/soil improver and
eventually for land reclamation/improver.
Estimated waste quantities, classification and management controls are summarised in Table
3.2 (EWC Classification refers to the European Waste Catalogue)
Table 3.2: Drill Cuttings: Estimated surface waste quantities, classification and controls
Activity Waste Type EWC 2002 Classification Waste Management
Code Estimate Route
3
(m )
Cuttings Waste gravel and 01 04 08 Non Hazardous 140 Collected and
from WBM crushed rocks other & transported
than those mentioned 01 04 09 offsite for
in 01 04 07 reclamation /
treatment
Cuttings Waste gravel and 01 04 07 Hazardous 233 Transferred
from OBM crushed rocks but (mirror offsite for
containing dangerous hazardous treatment and
substances from entry) disposal
physical / chemical
processing on n on
metalliferous minerals
3.3 Cement
Pumped volumes are controlled to minimise returns at surface. Returning cement cannot be
reused on site but, due to the small quantities involved, the solidified cement can be sent for
recycling to an offsite authorised waste facility.
Estimated waste quantities, classification and management controls are summarised in Table
3.3 (EWC Classification refers to the European Waste Catalogue)
Both types of drilling fluid (WBM & OBM) contain additives to improve drilling performance or to
address contingent impacts. Table 4.2 lists the base chemicals and potential additives that may
be used in the Broadford Bridge-1 well. Finally, Table 4.3 summarises planned chemical usage
in the well. Note that the Hydrogeological Risk Assessment (Appendix 2) expands on the
information in these tables and provides more detailed information and should be used as the
reference source if more information is required.
CMO 568 Lubricant Contingent use: Helps reduce torque, drag, and incidence of stuck pipe.
DEXTRID E Filtration Control Agent General use: Used to lower filtration rates in water-based drilling fluids. Helps improve borehole stability and flocculate dispersed drill cuttings to
improve cuttings separation from the drilling mud.
EZ MUL NT Oil-Wetting Agent/ General use: Stabilises the oil-wetting emulsion in oil-based muds. Oil- wetting is a primary property of oil-based muds and indicates the tendency
Invert for the well-bore rock to be in contact with an oil-phase rather than a water- phase.
Emulsifier
GELTONE II Viscosifier General use: Viscosifier for oil-based drilling fluids. Required for hole cleaning during drilling and work-over operations. It is used to gel oil drilling
fluids for suspension of weighting agents in drilling fluids.
Lime pH Adjuster/ Water General use: Used to adjust alkalinity in oil-based muds.
Hardness
Reducer
LIQUITONE Filtration Control Agent General use: Provides filtration control and secondary viscosity in oil-based muds.
Products to be Product’s How is the product If the product is only to be used in certain eventualities, explain.
used in drilling Function used?
mud
MICA Lost Circulation Material Contingent use: Helps reduce wall-cake permeability and seepage loss.
OXYGON Oxygen Contingent use: Oxygen scavenger suitable for mono and divalent brines. Used to inhibit corrosion and maintain the alkaline pH in water-based muds
Scavenger/Corrosion
Inhibitor
PAC L Filtration Control Agent General use: Helps control filtration rates without significantly increasing fluid viscosity in water-based muds. In brines, it can be used as a thinner at
low concentrations and also as a shale stabilizer by encapsulating the shale to prevent swelling and disintegrations.
SODA ASH Water Hardness Reducer General use: Utilised to reduce drilling mud water hardness, especially where bentonite clay is used as a viscosifier. With excess hardness, the
bentonite is inhibited from yielding to perform its function to a sufficient level of effectiveness. Fluid viscosity is essential for the drilling operation.
SODIUM BICARBONATE pH Adjuster Contingent use: Used to adjust pH in water-based fluid systems when contaminated with cement.
STARCIDE Biocide Contingent use: Helps control bacterial contamination in drilling fluids (eg sulphate reducing bacteria) and prevents breakdown of organic colloids.
STEELSEAL 100 Lost Circulation Material Contingent use: Utilized to stop losses in porous and fractured formations in all types of drilling fluids. In water-based fluids, it performs as a solid
lubricant for torque and drag reduction. It provides lost circulation treatments for pore plugging as background material and small sized induced and
natural fractures. May be used in combination with other lost circulation materials.
STEELSEAL 400 Lost Circulation Material Contingent use: Utilized to stop losses in porous and fractured formations in all types of drilling fluids. In water-based fluids, it performs as a solid
lubricant for torque and drag reduction. It provides lost circulation treatments for pore plugging as background material and small sized induced and
natural fractures. May be used in combination with other lost circulation materials.
SUSPENTONE Suspension Agent Contingent use: Improves suspension qualities of oil-based muds. Reduces sagging or settling tendencies in deviated or high-angle wellbores.
TOTAL DF1 Base Fluid General use: Low aromatics base oil for oil-based fluids: “C11-C14, n-alkanes, isoalkanes, cyclics, <2% aromatics”.
The waste drilling muds will be removed by vacuum loading road tanker to an authorised waste
facility. The ultimate end waste management route for drilling muds will be dependent on the
material composition and it is anticipated that:
The mud storage tanks will subject to annual thickness inspections and weekly visual integrity
inspections.
5.4 Cement
Returning cement to the surface is temporarily stored into skips before being sent off site to an
authorised waste facility. Cement returns are minimised by controlling the volumes put into the
well.
The assessment concluded that with the implementation of appropriate risk management
measures, potential hazards from the activities are unlikely to be significant.
7.2 Mud
The site is located on a stone pad overlying an impermeable geotextile membrane, with an
established unmade access and egress track to the drilling location. A once daily inspection of
the road immediately at the juncture of the site entrance will be performed (and the details
recorded) to ensure that any potential mud deposits from road tankers visiting to collect
extractive waste does not become a problem. In the unlikely event of any build-up of mud and
debris, the area will be cleaned using a sub-contracted road sweeper service.
7.3 Odour
Based on prior experience, the extractive waste that will be generated is not malodorous and
nor are any of the associated processes that will be performed.
7.4 Noise/Vibration
Road contractors are required to manage HGV deliveries to avoid weekday peak hours and
school finishing times. Road tankers visiting the site to collect extractive waste may be fitted
with audible reversing alarms. Noise will be maintained within planning condition levels.
The site is not in close proximity to residential properties and the anticipated noise levels during
site construction and drilling (as calculated in the Environmental Statement) are not predicted to
be problem. In addition, the exploration site is screened by natural features (established
woodland) providing an additional sound attenuation.
As defined in the Site Monitoring Plan (HSEC-BB-PD-03), noise monitoring will be undertaken
at pre-determined locations around the boundary of the site and close to sensitive receptors
throughout construction and drilling activities. If any complaint is received an investigation will
be conducted into the causes of the complaint. The findings will as appropriate inform further
monitoring and risk control arrangements and may lead to additional mitigation measures.
Details of any such complaints and any remedial action taken or planned will be discussed with
the Environment Agency.
7.5 Accidents
The environmental risk of an accident is predominantly associated with the potential for spillage
of extractive wastes. Given that the site is constructed with a large impermeable geotextile
membrane providing spillage containment; that pipework and the associated storage tanks will
be inspected daily for leaks and damage; that the waste is non-hazardous; and that the site is
not situated in a Source Protection Zone (with no potable water abstraction activities in the site
boundary or immediately nearby) the environmental risk assessment has concluded the risk to
be low. Nonetheless, it is proposed that nearby surface water features will be sampled and
tested to identify the presence of extractive waste contaminants prior to construction starting
The results of this monitoring will be recorded and will inform the future monitoring for the site
closure plan. Details of all accidents, and our response, will be shared with the Environment
Agency and other regulators as appropriate.
The quantity of waste arising each day will be monitored and recorded, along with the quantities
dispatched off site for disposal. This data will be used to inform waste prevention and reduction
strategies. Fluid and solid drilling waste are sampled at the first available opportunity when
drilling commences for chemical analysis and any other additional waste acceptance criteria
that is requested by the offsite authorised waste facility.
7.7 Cement
The quantity of waste arising each day will be monitored and recorded, along with the quantities
dispatched off site to an authorised waste facility.
7.8 Complaints
If any complaints are received from stakeholders, including neighbours, they will be recorded,
investigated and responded to without delay in accordance with the Company’s existing
complaints handling procedures. Complaints will additionally be reported to the Environment
Agency, with whom actions to avoid a recurrence will be discussed and agreed
In the event that the borehole encounters hydrocarbons, the well will be temporarily suspended
and the drilling rig released. This temporary suspension will be carried out in compliance with
regulatory and industry guidelines to leave the well in a safe state and allow a subsequent test
of the reservoir to be made (this test will be the subject of a separate permit application and is
not covered by this “drilling” permit documentation). This temporary suspension involves the
following actions:
The last well construction operations with the drilling rig will leave the well with a 7 liner
cemented in position extending from some 500 ft above the shoe of the 9⅝”" casing to TD;
The well will be filled with inhibited kill weight fluid of sufficient weight (density) to assure
that the hydrostatic pressure in the well at the reservoir depth will be in excess of the known
reservoir pressure. This combination of cement and fluid provides two independent
pressure / isolation barriers between the reservoir and the environment;
In addition, the following actions will be implemented:
A tubing hanger will be landed and a back pressure valve installed into the hanger profile
and pressure tested;
The security of the surface equipment is provided by security barriers at the well site and
security guarding.