Safety considerations for the choice of drilling mud in offshore operations

Oil could be considered as one of the most noteworthy resources in the modern era. It does not only prescribe politics and relations among countries but also provide the raw material that moves a great number of other industries and generally the rest of the world. Oil is extracted from the earth by drilling wells, to reach the oil reservoirs. Drilling is the first and foremost aspect of a successful oil and gas producing procedure. This activity needs the use of a drilling fluid known as “mud”, which consists of complex mixtures of hydrocarbons. Specific detail and careful attention must be given to the safety and environmental parameters of this essential component for the drilling operation. In this thesis, a review and classification of main properties, exact components and safety factors of some commercial drilling muds are analyzed, aiming at choosing the appropriate drilling fluids according to safety, cost efficiency and environmental aspects.