Press Room
May 28, 2003
New: The EQ Emblem for drilling fluids in offshore operations
“Ester Quality” guarantees greater environmental protection, safety, and technical performance on drilling rigs.
The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has raised the bar: Offshore oil and gas exploration has to become a lot more environmentally friendly. Up to now, there are only a few drilling fluids complying with the stringent EPA standards. Most of these compliant fluids contain esters based on renewable natural resources, developed by the German specialty chemicals company Cognis – and they all bear the EQ Emblem, now launched on the market. EQ stands for "Ester Quality." The Emblem was created by Cognis to identify the defined and original ester quality standard.
The drilling fluids containing esters based on renewable natural resources are developed by Cognis in collaboration with Baroid, the drilling fluids service company within the Halliburton Energy Services Group. Esters ensure that drilling fluids demonstrate outstanding biodegradability. Reducing the negative effects of oil and gas exploration in the delicately balanced marine ecosystem is the objective of the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) General Permit of the EPA. Proof that drilling fluids containing esters based on renewable natural resources comply with the EPA’s binding standards has been provided by the Leptocheirus Test. The Leptocheirus plumulosus, a tiny crustacean, plays an important role in all maritime toxicity tests, as it reacts most sensitively to pollution of the sea water.
Environmentally compatible, safe, powerful
Demands in regard to environmental compatibility in oil and gas exploration have increased distinctly in recent years. Drilling fluids bearing the EQ Emblem not only satisfy these demands, but also make work for the people on deck safer. Ester-based formulations do not smell, are not toxic upon inhalation, and do not cause skin irritations. These esters, obtained from natural resources such as palm kernel oil, are also used in cosmetic formulations. In drilling fluids, however, they achieve outstanding technical performance, even under extreme conditions. Even in deep and very cold water, they remain fully pumpable and efficiently lubricate the drilling bit in all strata of rock formation – even in the case of high-speed drilling operations. The ester-based formulation also provides drilling fluids with sufficiently low viscosity for the greatest possible equipment safety, even when subjected to high pressure and extreme temperature fluctuations. The original ester based on renewable natural resources for the formulation of drilling fluids comes from Cognis, which developed the first ester-based drilling fluid systems in collaboration with Baroid. The products have now been successfully used for over a decade on drilling rigs all over the world. Cognis also makes its esters available to all other service companies wishing to develop their own drilling fluids on the basis of the original ester.
Additional information
press kit oilfield chemicals
http://www.esterquality.com
About Cognis:
Cognis is a worldwide supplier of innovative specialty chemicals and nutritional ingredients with almost 9,100 employees in close to 50 countries. The company has dedicated its activities to a high level of sustainability and delivers natural source raw materials and ingredients for food, nutrition and healthcare markets, and the cosmetics, detergents and cleaners industries. Additionally, Cognis provides solutions for a number of other industries, such as coatings and inks, lubricants, textiles and plastics, as well as agrosolutions and mining chemicals.
Cognis is owned by private equity funds advised by Permira, GS Capital Partners, and Schroder Ventures Life Sciences. In 2001, Cognis recorded sales of 3.1 billion euros and an operating profit of 174 million euros.
Contact:
Dr. Stephan von Tapavicza, Global Business Director Oilfield Chemicals
Cognis Deutschland GmbH & Co. KG
Phone: ++49-211-7940-3057
Email: Stephan.vonTapavicza@cognis.com
Susanne Sengel, Corporate Communications Manager
Cognis Deutschland GmbH & Co. KG
Phone: ++49-211-7940-5431
Email: susanne.sengel@cognis.com
Susanne Marell, Vice President Corporate Communications
Cognis Deutschland GmbH & Co. KG
Phone: ++49-211-7940-5395
Email: susanne.marell@cognis.com