Research Product

This report presents concentrations of specific metals and hydrocarbons in eleven drilling fluids (muds) taken from operating gas and oil rigs in the Gulf of Mexico. Each drilling fluid was analyzed chemically for heavy metal and hydrocarbon content in three distinct phases: (1) the bulk or whole mud, (2) a suspended phase derived from the bulk mud sample, and (3) a 'dissolved' or liquid phase. Aliquots of bulk muds were removed for barium analyses by instrumental neutron activation and for analysis for iron, aluminum, lead, zinc, cadmium, copper, strontium, and calcium by atomic absorption analysis. Analysis of the suspended particulate and liquid phases was similar. The aromatic and aliphatic content of the three phases were determined by extraction and the fractionation by column chromatography. The analysis for each of the 11 drilling fluids is presented in four parts: A. Drilling fluid concentrations, B. Whole drilling fluid organic concentrations, C. Particulate phase organic concentrations, D. 'Dissolved' phase organic concentrations.