Tips for drilling mud application

However, after a few years of researching the impacts of drilling mud, Chad Penn, associate professor in Oklahoma State University’s Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, has a few things to keep in mind before dumping the mud all over certain properties.

The research started three years ago by applying the drilling mud to wheat fields at the OSU North Central Research Station in Lahoma, Oklahoma.

“Initially, for the first year, there was no statistical difference between plots that had received water-based mud and those that had not,” he said. “After the first year, we didn’t really see reductions in yield and everything was fine.”

Year two of the research began to show some longer-term effects. Penn and his team did not apply mud the next year, but did maintain the plots and continued to monitor them. Bare spots in the fields began to form from the excessive sodium absorption ratio.

“The soil became saturated with a bit too much sodium in these plots,” he said. “While that isn’t a problem for wheat that is already established, it created a very difficult environment for the wheat seed to germinate, so it turned out when Google took their aerial imagery in March 2014, we could actually see the overlay of the plots.”

This year, most of the bare spots have gone away, due, in part, to all the rainfall most of the state has experienced. The water helps move out the salt.

Because wheat is an annual crop, a seed has to be sown every single year. That is not the case with grass, so Penn said pastureland could handle an evenly spread out load of drilling mud the best.

“The most important thing to consider is the quality of the applicator,” he said. “There are many different land application companies in the state and some of them are very high quality and extremely professional.”

At the same time, there is evidence of a lot of land application companies that do not have very good quality control and as a result there are a fair number of sites that end up having problems. Penn suggests checking with neighbors to see what their experience was like.

The drilling mud research is ongoing in Lahoma. The next variable tested will be the effectiveness of tilling part of the plot.

###

Oklahoma State University, in compliance with Title VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Executive Order 11246 as amended, and Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (Higher Education Act), the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, and other federal and state laws and regulations, does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, genetic information, sex, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, disability, or status as a veteran, in any of its policies, practices or procedures.  This provision includes, but is not limited to admissions, employment, financial aid, and educational services. The Director of Equal Opportunity, 408 Whitehurst, OSU, Stillwater, OK 74078-1035; phone 405-744-5371; email: [email protected] has been designated to handle inquiries regarding non-discrimination policies: Director of Equal Opportunity. Any person (student, faculty, or staff) who believes that discriminatory practices have been engaged in based on gender may discuss his or her concerns and file informal or formal complaints of possible violations of Title IX with OSU’s Title IX Coordinator 405-744-9154.

REPORTER/MEDIA CONTACT:
Sean Hubbard
Communications Specialist
Agricultural Communications Services
145 Agriculture North
Oklahoma State University
Stillwater, OK 74078
Phone: 405-744-4490
Fax: 405-744-5739
Email: [email protected]