The disposal of waste muds and cuttings has become increasingly difficult for operators worldwide. Disposal tasks are complicated by the great variety of operating environments as well as the multitude of local, state and national regulations governing any waste disposal.

This paper describes the successful disposal method used by ARCO Alaska, Inc. (AAI), on two exploratory wells drilled on the North Slope of Alaska in early 1988. The disposal method, below-grade freezeback, involves burying waste muds and cuttings in the permanently frozen ground known as permafrost. When buried, the waste freezes, becoming part of the permafrost. This disposal method utilizes the ability of the natural Arctic environment to isolate and permanently contain the waste muds and cuttings.

Keywords:
requirement, temperature data, elevation, tundra, permafrost, regulation, alaska, closure, waste management, upstream oil & gas
Subjects:
Environment, Waste management
Copyright 1990, Society of Petroleum Engineers
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