Simulated drill cuttings provide useful media to incorporate into environmental studies for drilling fluids in the laboratory as field collected cuttings can be a challenge to acquire and can lack consistency. Simulated drill cuttings can match the performance seen in the field and are of similar nature to formulated sediment used in environmental studies. Researchers have included formulations for simulated drill cuttings in published literature previously and therefore allow for a variety of techniques to be interpreted and implemented.

This paper will review and evaluate previously published information for the creation of the simulated drill cuttings for environmental studies as well as newly designed techniques. The evaluation will cover the components and formulation, which can include limestone, clay, and sand, as well as identify proactive Health, Safety, and Environmental measures for the processes. Variation of techniques can be useful as the amounts of the finished material necessary for environmental studies can range in scale from tens of gallons for a bioremediation study to less than a gallon for a TCLP study. These details will provide researchers the insight gained to manage the need for simulated drill cuttings in environmental studies.

Primary Author / Conference Presenter:
Patrick Tyczynski
M-I SWACO a Schlumberger Company
Houston, Texas, USA

Co-Author:
John Candelr, M-I SWACO, a Schlumberger Company, Houston, Texas, USA