Effects of oil and gas well-drilling fluids on the biomass and community structure of microbiota that colonize sands in running sea water

Well-drilling fluid and a number of known components (clay, barite, Aldacide, Surflo, Dowicide) were added to colonized marine sands exposed to running ambient sea water. Newly developed biochemical methodology enabled analysis of the biomass and community structure of the marine benthic microbial community in addition to studies of the benthic invertebrates. The tabulated results allow some assessment of the consequences of releasing drilling fluids in the marine ecosystem.