Topic summary
Drilling fluids
Extracted from the Wikipedia article Drilling fluid.
Negative environmental consequences
Water-based drilling fluid has very little toxicity, made from water, bentonite and baryte, all clay from mining operations, usually found in Wyoming and in Lunde, Telemark. There are specific chemicals that can be used in water-based drilling fluids that alone can be corrosive and toxic, such as hydrochloric acid. However, when mixed into water-based drilling fluids, hydrochloric acid only decreases the pH of the water to a more manageable level. Caustic (sodium hydroxide), anhydrous lime, soda ash, bentonite, baryte and polymers are the most common chemicals used in water-based drilling fluids. Oil Base Mud and synthetic drilling fluids can contain high levels of benzene, and other chemicals