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what are the effects of drilling muds on the marine environment?

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1. Benthic marine life will be covered by additional layers of mud, and receive even less light or oxygen since the muds below tend to be desoxygenated. The situation near the drill hole will revert to a situation similar to the mouths of major rivers, where detritus and fine material get deposited. For some organisms it means the end of the world, for others it offers colonization opportunities.
2. In addition to Jorganos's answer, I would also say that it veries greatly considering what type of drilling mud is being used in that application. There are two basic types of drilling mud, oil based and water based. Obviously if oil based mud were to be released into a marine environment, then it would have signifigantly different effects. It also varies according to what chemicals have been added to the mud. Without knowing what type of mud is being used, I don't know. I will tell you this though, every rig I have been on has taken alot of caution to not spill any drilling fluid into the environment. It can and does happen on occation, but that is rare, and usually very limited. If you would like more information you might contact a drilling fluid company like MI drilling fluids, or Bariod drilling fluids.