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RESTORED DRILL CUTTINGS FOR WETLANDS CREATION: RESULTS OF A TWO YEAR MESOCOSM APPROACH TO EMULATE FIELD CONDITIONS UNDER VARYING HYDROLOGI REGIMES

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It is well documented that Louisiana has the highest rate of wetland loss in the United States. Deep-water channel dredging and leveling of the Mississippi River since the 1930s have interrupted the natural delta cycle that builds new marshes through sediment deposition. Several sediment diversion and hydrologic restoration projects are currently in various stages of implementation under the Coastal Wetlands Planning, Protection, and Restoration Act (CWPPRA 1993). Many of the areas that are subsiding and deteriorating are isolated from riverine sediment sources; therefore alternative methods to deposit sediment and build marshes must be implemented. This project demonstrates that the earthen materials produced when drilling oil and gas wells can be used as a suitable substrate for growing wetland plants. Drilling fluids (muds) are used to lubricate drill bits and stabilize the earth around drill holes and become commingled with the earthen cuttings. Two processes (referred to in this report as A and 8) have been reported to restore drill cuttings to acceptable levels by removal of any toxic components found in drilling muds. The main objective of this project was to assess the potential of drill cuttings processed by these two methods in terms of their ability to support wetland vegetation and potential toxicity. It was our belief that if processed drill cuttings can be shown to pose no environmental hazard, support wetland vegetation, and compare favorably in cost to their current disposal, then their use in wetland creation and restoration projects should be considered.

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Last Updated September 29, 2016, 14:35 (LMT)
Created September 29, 2016, 14:35 (LMT)
Citation Gary P. Shaffer, Mark W. Hester, Shawn Miller, Dennis J. DesRoches, Rebecca F. Souther, Gary W. Childers, Frank M. Campo ---- Roy Long, RESTORED DRILL CUTTINGS FOR WETLANDS CREATION: RESULTS OF A TWO YEAR MESOCOSM APPROACH TO EMULATE FIELD CONDITIONS UNDER VARYING HYDROLOGI REGIMES, 2016-09-29, https://edx.netl.doe.gov/dataset/restored-drill-cuttings-for-wetlands-creation-results-of-a-two-year-mesocosm-approach-to-emulate-f
Netl Product yes
Poc Email Roy.long@netl.doe.gov
Point Of Contact Roy Long
Program Or Project KMD
Publication Date 1998-11-1