Shell’s submission to the BOEMRE provides more details on discharge plans for their Beaufort Sea exploratory drilling, and confirms that all muds and cuttings generated in drilling below the 20″ casing will be transported out of the Beaufort for disposal. Shell also plans to transport gray water and sanitary wastes, bilge, and ballast water to approved discharge sites. This is about as close as you can get to true “zero discharge” when conducting exploratory drilling from a floating drilling unit.
Bud's Offshore Energy (BOE) 