Green Drilling Technology Practice: A Synergistic Path of Mud Recycling, Noise Control, and Ecological Protection

Green Drilling Technology Practice: A Synergistic Path of Mud Recycling, Noise Control, and Ecological Protection

Under the backdrop of ecological civilization construction and the "dual carbon" goal, traditional drilling operations are facing profound pressure for green transformation. Practice shows that systematically integrating mud recycling, noise control, and ecological protection can effectively reduce the environmental footprint of drilling operations and achieve synergistic development of energy extraction and environmental protection. This has become an indispensable core competitiveness of modern drilling engineering.

Mud recycling is the cornerstone and core waste reduction link of green drilling. Drilling mud is costly and environmentally sensitive; its greening practice hinges on constructing a comprehensive management system of "tiered treatment and closed-loop recycling." First, a four-stage solids control system consisting of a vibrating screen, desander, desilter, and centrifuge purifies the returned mud in stages, removing cuttings and harmful solids and restoring mud performance. Second, the purified mud undergoes performance conditioning and regeneration, supplemented with key treatment agents (such as environmentally friendly thickeners and filtration reducers) to enable it to meet drilling requirements again. For waste drilling mud that cannot be recycled, technologies such as chemical solidification, microbial degradation, or dehydration and drying are used for harmless treatment. Some solidified products can even be used for well site road paving. This system not only increases the mud reuse rate to over 70%, significantly reducing the consumption of fresh water and raw materials, but also reduces waste generation and disposal risks at the source.

Noise control is key to the social permissibility and community coexistence of green drilling. Drilling noise mainly originates from diesel generator sets, mud pumps, and drilling rig drive systems. Its control requires a comprehensive strategy of "source noise reduction, propagation path blocking, and receptor protection." At the source level, low-noise generator sets and electric drilling rigs are prioritized, soundproof covers and vibration-damping bases are installed on equipment, and hydraulic systems are optimized to reduce fluid noise. Regarding propagation paths, movable sound barriers are installed, well site layout is used to keep noise sources away from sensitive areas, and tree belts are planted to form ecological sound barriers. At the management level, operating hours are optimized to avoid high-noise operations at night or during community rest periods, and a real-time noise monitoring and early warning system is established. These measures effectively control well site boundary noise within national standards, significantly mitigating disturbance to surrounding communities and wildlife.

Ecological protection is integrated throughout the entire drilling operation lifecycle and is the ultimate goal of green practices. This requires proactive and systematic ecological considerations, implementing a hierarchical "avoidance-mitigation-restoration-compensation" approach. During the site selection and design phase, existing roads and well sites are prioritized, avoiding ecological red line areas, water sources, and areas with high wildlife density. During construction, the work area is strictly limited, impermeable fabric is used to prevent oil leakage, and soil and vegetation are layered and stored separately. After operations are completed, ecological restoration is immediately initiated, including landform restoration, soil reconstruction, vegetation rebuilding, and biodiversity monitoring. For unavoidable ecological impacts, ecological compensation is achieved through the construction of ecological corridors and ex-situ restocking. This full life-cycle management aims to minimize the disturbance of temporary land use to the ecosystem and accelerate its natural recovery process.

Comprehensive coordination is the guarantee for the effectiveness of green technologies. The three key aspects mentioned above are not isolated but rather interconnected and mutually reinforcing, forming an organic whole. For example, efficient mud recycling reduces the risk of soil and water pollution from wastewater discharge, which is itself a form of ecological protection; good noise control benefits the habitat of regional wildlife, also falling under the category of ecological protection. Therefore, it is essential to integrate these technical solutions into unified operating procedures and a consistent culture through standardized management systems (such as HSE management systems), digital monitoring platforms, and comprehensive environmental training for all employees. Future green drilling will further develop towards "near-zero emission drilling," relying on more advanced electrified equipment, bio-based environmentally friendly materials, artificial intelligence optimization systems, and carbon offsetting mechanisms to promote the deep integration and sustainable development of oil and gas exploration and development with the regional ecological environment. This is not only a technological innovation but also a strategic choice for the industry to fulfill its environmental and social responsibility and gain long-term social recognition.