When this occurs it may take a number of days, possibly months, to flowback the loss volume. This is especially critical when a heavy weight completion fluid such as zinc bromide is used during the completion. When such fluid loss takes place, especially when the fluid contains "priority pollutants" such as zinc, the fluid must be treated to meet specific toxicity requirements prior to discharge.

For well treatment, completion and workover fluids, the discharge of priority pollutants is prohibited except in "trace amounts" (Per Federal Reg. - NPDES Permit GOM 290000). Our zinc treatment process reduces toxicity levels to below regulatory limits, allowing discharge of waste fluids on-site. Our selective precipitation process is followed by flocculation and filtration. In most instances we realize a 95 percent reduction of wastes and achieve a discharge value of less that 10 ppm of total zinc.