What Does
Land Farming Mean?
Land farming is a drilling waste management technique in which treated drilling fluid waste is spread over authorized farms and pastures for the purpose of disposal. Spreading the drilling mud over a land farm allows the drilling mud to dilute and break down. The additives in drilling mud such as polymers, emulsifiers, inhibitors, and weighting materials such as Barite, are a cause for concern if disposed without adequate treatment.
Trenchlesspedia Explains Land Farming
For oil well drilling utilizing oil-based mud 1-2 cubic meters of solid debris per meter length of drill will be generated. It mostly comprises of minerals mixed with the drilling fluid including additives, water and hydrocarbons. Hydrocarbons can be easily biodegraded by bacteria present in the soil, but there are some components of hydrocarbon that are resistant to bio-degradation.
High doses of application can cause an overload of hydrocarbons hindering the growth of vegetation. However; hydrocarbon concentrations less than 1 liter per square meter allows vegetation to grow.