Drilling Fluids and Mud Program Inspection Checklist

Drilling fluids are critical to well control, borehole stability, and environmental compliance. This daily inspection verifies that mud properties, handling, and disposal meet operational and regulatory requirements.

  • Industry: Oil & Gas / Energy
  • Frequency: Daily
  • Estimated Time: 20-30 minutes
  • Role: Mud Engineer / Drilling Supervisor
  • Total Items: 32
  • Compliance: EPA 40 CFR Part 435 - Oil and Gas Extraction Point Source Category, OSHA 29 CFR 1910.1200 - Hazard Communication for Drilling Chemicals, API RP 13B-1 - Recommended Practice for Field Testing Water-Based Drilling Fluids, State Oil and Gas Commission Drilling Waste Disposal Requirements

Mud Properties

Verify mud properties per program.

  • Mud weight within well program specification?
  • Plastic viscosity and yield point within program limits?
  • Gel strengths (10-sec and 10-min) within program specification?
  • HPHT filtration and fluid loss within program limits?
  • pH and alkalinity within specification?
  • Chlorides and salinity within expected range?

Solids Control Equipment

Inspect solids control equipment.

  • All shale shakers operational with correct screen sizes?
  • Vacuum degasser operational and treating gas-cut mud?
  • Desanders and desilters operational and unloading solids?
  • Mud cleaner or centrifuge operational for low-gravity solids removal?
  • Low-gravity solids content within program limits?

Chemical Inventory and SDS

Verify chemical management.

  • Adequate chemical inventory on hand for planned operations?
  • SDS on file for all drilling chemicals per OSHA 1910.1200?
  • Appropriate PPE available for all chemicals in use?
  • Chemicals stored properly with compatible materials segregated?
  • Barite or other weighting material inventory adequate for kill operations?

Drilling Waste Management

Verify drilling waste compliance.

  • Reserve pit or closed-loop system functioning correctly?
  • Drill cuttings disposal method compliant with state requirements?
  • No unauthorized discharge of drilling fluids to surface or groundwater?
  • OBM/SBM cuttings oil-on-cuttings (OOC) within 6.9% limit per 40 CFR 435?
  • Drilling waste generation and disposal records maintained?

Mud Logging

Verify mud logging operations.

  • Mud logger on duty and monitoring returns?
  • Total gas and C1-C5 component monitoring operational?
  • Lag strokes calculated and being used for proper formation evaluation?
  • Cuttings samples being collected at required intervals?
  • Mudlog current and available in driller's data room?

Reporting and Documentation

Verify mud reporting.

  • Daily mud report completed and submitted?
  • Pit volume totalizer records current?
  • Mud material balance and chemical consumption records current?
  • Waste disposal manifests on file for all removed waste?
  • Operations in compliance with approved mud program?
  • Any deviations from mud program documented with drilling engineer approval?

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Why Use This Drilling Fluids and Mud Program Inspection Checklist?

This drilling fluids and mud program inspection checklist helps oil & gas / energy teams maintain compliance and operational excellence. Designed for mud engineer / drilling supervisor professionals, this checklist covers 32 critical inspection points across 6 sections. Recommended frequency: daily.

Ensures compliance with EPA 40 CFR Part 435 - Oil and Gas Extraction Point Source Category, OSHA 29 CFR 1910.1200 - Hazard Communication for Drilling Chemicals, API RP 13B-1 - Recommended Practice for Field Testing Water-Based Drilling Fluids, State Oil and Gas Commission Drilling Waste Disposal Requirements. Regulatory-aligned for audit readiness and inspection documentation.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the Drilling Fluids and Mud Program Inspection Checklist cover?

This checklist covers 32 inspection items across 6 sections: Mud Properties, Solids Control Equipment, Chemical Inventory and SDS, Drilling Waste Management, Mud Logging, Reporting and Documentation. It is designed for oil & gas / energy operations and compliance.

How often should this checklist be completed?

This checklist should be completed daily. Each completion takes approximately 20-30 minutes.

Who should use this Drilling Fluids and Mud Program Inspection Checklist?

This checklist is designed for Mud Engineer / Drilling Supervisor professionals in the oil & gas / energy industry. It can be used for self-assessments, team audits, and regulatory compliance documentation.

Can I download this checklist as a PDF?

Yes, this checklist is available as a free PDF download. You can also use it digitally in the POPProbe mobile app for real-time data capture, photo documentation, and automatic reporting.

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