Propuesta límites permisibles para la identificación y remediación de suelos contaminados con hidrocarburos y para lixiviados de lodos y ripios de perforación. una propuesta para complementar el RAOH 2020 : Propuesta límites permisibles de lixiviados para la disposición final de lodos y ripios de perforación en superficie.

Abstract

In the process of drilling an oil well, it is essential to have drilling fluid, which is also known as drilling mud. This mud can be water-based, air-based, or oil-based, and its composition consists of various additives that are added to give it the properties required for a safe and efficient drilling operation. In addition to the additives, the mud also interacts with the geological formations found underground. As a result, the return of the mud to the surface carries compounds from these formations. The additives, in combination with what the mud brings up from the well, contain compounds that can be harmful to both the environment and human health. These range from heavy metals to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, all of which have adverse consequences for the environment and are harmful to people. Under the Replacement Regulation of the Environmental Regulation for Hydrocarbon Operations in Ecuador (RAOHE) issued in 2001, there were permissible leachate limits for the final disposal of drilling mud and cuttings. These limits aimed to mitigate the impact caused during the drilling phase of an oil well. However, the new Environmental Regulation for Hydrocarbon Operations in Ecuador (RAOH), published in 2020, does not include these limits. This document proposes a table with parameters and their permissible limits that characterize the quality for the final disposal of drilling mud and cuttings. Additionally, a comparison was made between regulations from various countries in the region, analyzing the relevance of adding parameters and updating their values.