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International Journal of Petroleum and Geoscience Engineering
IJPGE 2015, 3(1), 17-24
Toxic Comparison of Palm Oil-Based Drilling Fluid and Diesel-Based Drilling Fluid on Marine Organisms
a Young Researchers and Elite Club, Omidieh Branch, Islamic Azad University, Omidieh, Iran
b Department of Petroleum, Omidiyeh Branch, Islamic Azad University, Omidiyeh, Iran
ABSTRACT
Due to the poor environmental standing and biodegradation characteristics of conventional oil based muds, the research is conducted to develop plant and vegetable oil mud. For this study, oil extracted from palm is used as the base fluid for drilling mud sample. This study involves the basic rheological properties and the toxic tests. Two mud samples are formulated with different based fluids which are diesel and palm oil based. Toxicity laboratory tests are carried out on the two samples to certain their suitability properties for drilling operation and their degree of safety on marine organisms and environment. Toxicity studies by an independent laboratory on the drilling fluid for four replicates of solid after 10 days show esters (palm) drilling fluid gives higher survival rate compared to the diesel drilling fluid. Results of the suspended particulate phase bioassay reveal a significant difference in the survival and mortality rates of the organisms between the palm oil and diesel one. Results also show that properties and performance of ester, derived from palm oil is comparable with the diesel one. The outcome of toxicity test confirm palm to be safer and less harmful and also confirm this system will reduce the environmental problems and will prevent the long term pollutions on marine life, while diesel proved to be toxic.