Pond Boss Forums INTRO Questions & Observations sludge mud

Has anyone ever used the mud left over from a drilling rig's sludge pit to seal their pond and/or dam? What are the pros and cons?

Okay guys, I really need some answers her. Our build will be dug by this weekend or the beginning of next week. Have any of you even heard of using sludge or drilling mud to seal a pond??? Thanks for any replies. -Heidi Joe

I've tried bentonite several times. Maybe I didn't do it right but it didn't work for me.

heidi joe,
If your sludge pit is close enough to pump into your pond it may work, but I wouldn't want to put that stuff in my pond.
I would have the drill mud and cuttings analyzed and then only consider if a natural gas well.

Fluids can be sprayed onto a pasture without bad effects - but if it was an oil well, I would require it be trucked offsite

Thanks George and Dave
We are gonna use the mud but only on the dam and part of the bottom. Hopefully that will avoid sealing off any springs. The pit is right next to our pond and it was a gas well. It's been tested and has no oil in it. Keeping our fingers crossed. -- Heidi

heidi, i would think twice about what you are doing. i'm not so sure the mud would be a wise choice for the dam, unles you use it for the back side of the dam, and eventually it will dry out and you can "reshape it" or bull doze it. as far as "being sure not to seal off any springs", this has been a topic several times. if you have a weak spring in the deep part of the pond, you make create "reverse flow" and lose water rather than capture the spring water which i think you may be trying to accomplish. you might want to look up this topic. good luck. ilovefishingmark

heidi jo,
I agree with Mark to use the “sludge” only on the back side of the dam – if at all.

As you know, the mud (bentonite) you are talking about is primarily used as a drilling fluid to circulate the drill bit cuttings to the surface.
Chemical additives are constantly added and changed to control the viscosity of the drilling fluids during the drilling operation, depending upon formations and pressures encountered. Also to acidize and/or frac for completion treatment.

Talk to the mud engineer if still on site.

You may have experience in this area, but if not, be careful.
Some operators use “creative” ideas to dispose of this stuff. If it was their idea to use this on your pond, be very careful

Thanks for all of the info. They are not going to use the mud. It rained here this morning and there is no way to walk the mud around the dam (which may be a blessing in disguise) without causing all kinds of mess. The have let the water from the pit flow into the pond. They pumped out the original water and this is just rain water with a little mud residue in it. We'll see. We're expecting 3 days of rain! Thanks again.