The industry has had to react in recent years to significant major challenges, improving both the chemical stability of the emulsifier system and the impact on the environment. This latter factor covers both occupational health and environmental hazards resulting from contact with the fluids themselves and the wastes generated, mainly drilled cuttings. Under pressure from state environmental agencies, the industry, particularly offshore, is being pushed to use fluid system components exhibiting maximum biodegradability which should, in
addition, be achieved with minimum oxygen demand. The system components should also be non-bioaccumulative, and the complete systems should exhibit low toxicity on representative species (an alga, a crustacean, and a sediment re-worker or a juvenile fish).
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