Author/Authors :
Baikpour, Shahram Medical Geology Research Centre - Science and Research Branch - Islamic Azad University - P.O. Box 14515/775, Tehran, Iran , Noorani, Mohammad Javad Department of Natural Resources and Environment - Science and Research Branch - Islamic Azad University - P.O. Box 14515/775, Tehran, Iran
Abstract :
Drilling operations release considerable amounts of drilling fluids that contain pollutants such as
heavy metals and hydrocarbons. By means of the ICP-OES device, the concentration of metals in the
drilling mud deposited in the accumulation pools (around the drill rigs), the drilling mud used in the
well (initial, input, and output mud), the soil around the drilling rig, and the control sample can be
determined. Comparison of metal accumulation volume with current standards (upper crust and the
region’s soil) indicates that the initial drilling mud contains As, Cd, Mo, Cu, and Ag metals. Also, the
outflow and associated cuttings are contaminated with Sb, showing a geological formation origin for
this metal. In case of Pb, Ba, Cr, and Mn, the level of contamination is in a medium range wherein the
source of the contamination is recycled mud and drilling rocks in the previous phases. Contamination
of other metals is evaluated in the low range. Geo-accumulation index (Igeo), Enrichment Coefficient
(EF), and Contamination Factor (CF) are used to determine the level of pollution. Results show that
As, Pb, Ba, Mn, Mo, Cd, Co, Cu, and Zn have caused a lot of pollution in the area and their amounts
should be controlled.
Keywords :
geo-accumulation index , mud waste , contamination Factor , enrichment coefficient