Oil-based fluids (OBF) in use today are composed of oil as the continuous phase and water as the dispersed phase in conjunction with emulsifiers, wetting agents and gellants. The oil base can be diesel, kerosene, fuel oil, selected crude oil or mineral oil. Emulsifiers are important to oil-based mud due to the likelihood of contamination.

 

The water phase of oil-based mud can be freshwater, or a solution of sodium or calcium chloride.

The Oil Water Ratio (OWR) is a figure representing the fraction of oil base fluid and water in the mud. Generally speaking, it is the ratio between the percent oil in liquid phase and the percent water in liquid phase. This figure is very important since it tells us how much water is present in the mud.

 

Oil-based fluids generally function well with an oil/water ratio ranging between 65/35 and 95/5, while the most commonly observed range is between 70/30 and 90/10.

 

While the mud circulates in the borehole, the water to oil ratio and the ultrafine solids content of the OBF increase. In order to return the mud to the recirculating mud system the excess water and the ultrafine solids must be separated from the mud. For that, Norwegian Technology AS has developed chemical additives and services for the destabilization of the OBFs, allowing for the separation and recovery for re-use of three different elements: oil, water/brine and sludge (solids).

 

Norwegian Technology AS provide also the most technologically advanced mobile separation equipment and operators to carry out the onsite treatment operations.

LAB test

Norwegian Technology conducts lab tests of customer samples in order to accurately identify the most appropriate chemicals, to optimize their dosing, to evaluate the reaction time at ambient temperature and, last but not the least, to draw a technical proposal highlighting the consequent cost savings
for the customer.

Project development

  • Chemicals and dosing pump mobilization.
  • If settling tanks are not present, installation of inline mixer and decanter.
  • Mixing of the chemicals.
  • Sedimentation in gravity settling tanks or solids separation by means of decanter centrifuge.

HSE

Each product comes with its own Safety Data Sheet (SDS), which is an important component of the product stewardship, occupational safety and health, and spill-handling procedures.

 

The SDS information include instructions for the safe use and potential hazards associated with the product. The SDS includes instructions related to storage requirements, protective gear, and physical, chemical and environmental data.

 

Norwegian Technology AS provides Oily Sludge Split chemicals for both offshore and onshore application. The different dosing procedures are determined by the characteristics of the sludge, the chemicals dilution usually varies between 0.5 and 2 litres per m3 of sludge.

Shipping

“Mud-Split” chemicals from Norwegian Technology AS can be shipped all over the world on customer request.

“The effectiveness of the treatment is accompanied by the positive economic returns provided by the recovery for reuse of the oil and the brine.”