Ecotoxicology Tests and Services

Biodegradation of Drilling Fluids:

• Drilling fluids may have the ability to persist in the environment. To assess their persistence, GEOTECH offers both aqueous-phase and solid-phase biodegradation tests. The aqueous-phase biodegradation test following, ISO 11734, eg, uses anaerobic micro-organisms obtained from digesting sewage sludge and determines the rate of degradation of the drilling fluid. Aerobic biodegradability tests according to OECD protocols can also be carried out.
  
  The solid-phase biodegradation test offered by GEOTECH is representative of conditions found on the sea floor surrounding drilling operations. This solid-phase biodegradation test has been based on a test developed by Munro et al. (1997) and specifically modified for drilling fluids used in tropical and subtropical areas. This test uses a standard inocculum of aerobic and anaerobic micro-organisms cultured in the laboratory from cuttings piles located on the North West Shelf, Western Australia. The solid-phase biodegradation test analyses total degradation of the drilling fluid, taking into account both aerobic and anaerobic degradation. This test generates a biodegradation curve that can be used to calculate the half-life of the drilling fluid.
  

Characterisation of Produced Formation Waters:

• GEOTECH has the capabilities to comprehensively characterise produced formation waters. This include organics such as phenols, hexane, MEK, BTEX, PAHs etc. metals, organotins and radionucliotides. GEOTECH can also provide all the necessary sampling equipment.
  

Learn more about Ecotoxicology services from Intertek Geotech.

• Laboratory-Based Bioassays
• Chronic Bioassays