12
In the Western Area of Interest, in the Western Algerian Basin, the exploration will be conducted
by Total, over an area of 10,000 m2, whose objective is also to identify sandstone and carbonate
reservoirs. In March 2019, Algeria gave the green light for the exploration and exploitation of
offshore hydrocarbons.
In addition to the climate change caused by the combustion of these raw materials, the
extraction of offshore hydrocarbons also has direct and indirect consequences on the ocean and
coastal areas. Several types of impacts and risks are thus caused by offshore drilling operations
such as noise pollution, discharge of solid and microplastic waste, loss of drilling fluids at depth
and the drilling mud discharges. This contributes to seriously disrupting marine and coastal
ecosystems.
In fact, in oil drilling operations, the drilling mud are complex fluids with several chemical and
mineral additives which performs essential and multiple functions, including drilling the well,
cooling the drill, transporting cuttings to the surface, and maintaining wall stability. Their type is
determined by the continuous section which can be fresh or brackish water (WBM, Water Oilbased mud), or oil (OBM, Oil-based mud). The composition of the mud is precisely adjusted by
adding organic and mineral additives such as weighting agents, surfactants and viscose,
depending on the mechanical constraints of the drilling as well as the physico-chemical
conditions of the formations crossed. The drilling mud composition is precisely adjusted by
adding organic and mineral additives such as weighting agents, surfactants and viscose. After
use in the various sections of the well, drilling waste composed of residual fluids and
contaminated cuttings constitutes the largest part of the drilling discharges (500-3000m3/well),
and presents significant potential impacts and risks for the environment throughout their life
cycle.
Several researchers and specialists have highlighted different types of damage to ecosystems
and human health as well as the risk of serious accidents throughout the life cycle of this
industrial activity. This is linked to several causes such as the transport and use of toxic and/or
hazardous chemicals, high pressure during drilling and losses of oil-based fluids in aquifers or
marine waters and sediments as well as the storage and treatment of drilling rejections (US.EPA.
2000; Gaurina et al. 2005; IOGP 2010).
As part of this work, the Life Cycle Analysis methodology was used as a relevant tool to assess
the environmental impacts and risks of the different stages of the life cycle of an exploration
well. The system analyzed is an exploration well located in the planned perimeter between
In the Western Area of Interest, in the Western Algerian Basin, the exploration will be conducted
by Total, over an area of 10,000 m2, whose objective is also to identify sandstone and carbonate
reservoirs. In March 2019, Algeria gave the green light for the exploration and exploitation of
offshore hydrocarbons.
In addition to the climate change caused by the combustion of these raw materials, the
extraction of offshore hydrocarbons also has direct and indirect consequences on the ocean and
coastal areas. Several types of impacts and risks are thus caused by offshore drilling operations
such as noise pollution, discharge of solid and microplastic waste, loss of drilling fluids at depth
and the drilling mud discharges. This contributes to seriously disrupting marine and coastal
ecosystems.
In fact, in oil drilling operations, the drilling mud are complex fluids with several chemical and
mineral additives which performs essential and multiple functions, including drilling the well,
cooling the drill, transporting cuttings to the surface, and maintaining wall stability. Their type is
determined by the continuous section which can be fresh or brackish water (WBM, Water Oilbased mud), or oil (OBM, Oil-based mud). The composition of the mud is precisely adjusted by
adding organic and mineral additives such as weighting agents, surfactants and viscose,
depending on the mechanical constraints of the drilling as well as the physico-chemical
conditions of the formations crossed. The drilling mud composition is precisely adjusted by
adding organic and mineral additives such as weighting agents, surfactants and viscose. After
use in the various sections of the well, drilling waste composed of residual fluids and
contaminated cuttings constitutes the largest part of the drilling discharges (500-3000m3/well),
and presents significant potential impacts and risks for the environment throughout their life
cycle.
Several researchers and specialists have highlighted different types of damage to ecosystems
and human health as well as the risk of serious accidents throughout the life cycle of this
industrial activity. This is linked to several causes such as the transport and use of toxic and/or
hazardous chemicals, high pressure during drilling and losses of oil-based fluids in aquifers or
marine waters and sediments as well as the storage and treatment of drilling rejections (US.EPA.
2000; Gaurina et al. 2005; IOGP 2010).
As part of this work, the Life Cycle Analysis methodology was used as a relevant tool to assess
the environmental impacts and risks of the different stages of the life cycle of an exploration
well. The system analyzed is an exploration well located in the planned perimeter between