Stewardship of the environment in emerging nations

This paper discusses the development of an environmentally friendly synthetic oil-based mud (SBM) and its use on numerous exploration and development wells in Nigeria. The cost effectiveness of using the system along with environmental issues are discussed to show how using new technology can benefit both the operator and the host country. After four years of research and development, a fluid was developed that utilized a vegetable-based ester as the continuous phase. The ester based mud (EBM) was introduced into the North Sea in late 1989 and has since gone on to successfully drill hundreds of wells throughout the world. The EBM developed in 1989 has won environmental approval by Environmental Regulators in the most active drilling areas of the world. A truly unique characteristic of EBM is its ability to biodegrade under both aerobic as well as anaerobic conditions