ABSTRACT
T.H.E. Consultants, 4850 Fairlawn Court, Boulder, Colorado 80301, USA
J. E. O'REILLY Exxon Production Research, PO Box 2189, Houston, Texas 77252-2189,
USA
E. Y. CHAI
Shell Development Company, Westhollow Research Center, PO Box 1380, Houston, Texas 77251, USA
and
L. R. LAMOTrE
2739 Barbara Lane, Houston, Texas 77005, USA
ABSTRACT
Since January 1, 1987, the US offshore petroleum industry in the Gulf of Mexico has been faced with compliance toxicity testing of discharged drilling fluids using a test method specified by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The toxicity of the suspended particulate phase (SPP) is evaluated using juvenile mysid shrimp (Mysidopsis bahia) in a static 96-h LC 50 test. For the discharge to be in compliance, the measured LC50 value must be greater than 30 000 SPP.
