THE ECOTOXICOLOGICAL LABORATORY

The global starting point for the development and

application of environmentally sound chemicals
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Providingsolutions that ensure
a healthier environment
a laboratory can achieve, and are
required internationally to assure
the quality of ecotoxicological studies
used to document oilfield chemicals.
We also are a member of a number
of international committees, with
representation from the petroleum
industry, regulatory authorities and
chemical suppliers, where issues
related to the use and discharge of
chemicals are explored.

R E C O G N I T I O N
The quality of the tests conducted
at the M-I PRODUCTION CHEMICALS
Ecotoxicological Laboratory is inter-
nationally renowned for satisfying
the demands of both science and the
various regulatory authorities.
Whether animal or plant, our
testing program has it covered
If you want to determine a particular
chemicals capacity for biodegrada-
tion or its potential for bioaccumula-
tion, our Ecotoxicological Laboratory
is recognized worldwide for the vari-
ety and scope of its ecotoxicological
tests and reference data.
Acute toxicity. Our acute toxicity tests
use a marine algae (Skeletonema
costatum) to determine any detri-
mental effects of a particular chem-
ical on phytoplankton growth.
Procedure: Planktonic algae are
exposed to an increasing concentra-
tion of a chemical to determine the
concentration at which growth will
be retarded.
Mortality tests. For test subjects,
we use the pelagic crustacean
(Acartia tonsa), the juvenile flounder
(Scophthalmus maximus) and the
sediment reworked (Corophium
volutator).
Procedure: The individual species
are exposed to pure seawater or
sediments dosed with the chemicals
under study to investigate mortality
rates after specified periods.
High-Performance Liquid
Chromatography. Our HPLC bioaccu-
mulation test employs a lipophilic
column where the retention time for
a chemical is correlated to its ability
to bioaccumulate and/or penetrate
biological membranes, such as skin,
gills or intestines.
Biodegradability testing. Offshore
chemicals are added to pure seawater
only containing natural fauna of micro-
organisms. If the degradation is less
than 20% after 28 days, the substance
is regarded as persistent. When the
degradation is above 60%, the test
substance is readily biodegradable.

M I S S I O N
The M-I PRODUCTION CHEMICALS
*
Ecotoxicological Laboratory in Bergen,
Norway, performs a wide range of
analytical services. All are designed
to ensure that M-I PRODUCTION
CHEMICALS fulfill its mission to be
regarded by our customers, regulatory
authorities and employees alike as the
one, global chemical supplier that puts
a high priority on protecting the envi-
ronment as not only a part of our busi-
ness, but a way of life. The laboratory
operates in conjunction with the over-
all environmental goals of the entire
M-I SWACO
*
organization.

A P P L I C A T I O N S
The laboratorys first goal is to ensure
that all products from M-I PRODUCTION
CHEMICALS do no harm to the envi-
ronment. Our second goal is to pro-
vide our customers with a reliable
resource for maintaining their own
environmental compliance.

E C O N O M I C S
Just as the operational demands of
each field and well may differ, so, too,
do the environmental issues and their
economic impact for a specific project.
Local regulations vary from site to
site, as does the environmental focus.
Regardless of the circumstances, our
highly skilled and experienced scien-
tists work with customers, making
certain all pertinent regulations are
not only met but, if possible, exceeded.

C E R T I F I C A T I O N
Our studies are certified to the
widely recognized principles of
Good Laboratory Practice, which
is among the highest certifications
Procedure: We determine the
capacity of a chemical to biodegrade
by adding it to seawater then meas-
uring the percentage that is removed
through microbial activity.
Standardized reporting. The results
of all these tests worldwide are
recorded on the Harmonised Offshore
Chemical Notification Format (HOCNF)
data sheet, which is a widely accepted
system for disseminating ecotoxi-
cological data for chemicals used in
the oil industry.
Database. We have developed and con-
tinually update an oilfield-chemical
database that is recognized as one of
the most complete in the industry.
We guide customers through
the complexities of compliance
We work closely with our customers
to enhance their focus on environ-
mental matters. We conduct environ-
mental assessments that quantify the
potential risks and hazards associated
with a particular project. Our experts
will even serve as your onsite envi-
ronmental consultants, providing the
guidance necessary to ensure compli-
ance with all applicable regulations,
whether youre operating in 2,000 ft
(609.6 m) of water, in the desert or in
the middle of a rainforest.
Our in-house laboratory staff also
works with our clients in a wide
range of ecotoxicological studies.
Whats more, our commitment to
sharing what we have learned over
the years and continue to learn,
extends to customer seminars and
training programs where a wide
assortment of environmental issues
are explained.
No new chemical goes out
the door until we say its safe
Our Good-Laboratory-Practice-certified
Ecotoxicological Laboratory works
hand-in-hand with our research and
development department, conduct-
ing the tests necessary to ensure
that no new products will reach the
market without an environmental
seal of approval.
When R&D proposes a new chemi-
cal product, our ecotoxicological
manager is one of the first on the
scene, making sure the environmen-
tal impact of the proposal is under-
stood and minimized. Then our
ecotoxicological scientists immedi-
ately focus on the life cycle of the
raw materials fromthe basic
precursor, such as the monomer,
to disposal and degradation.
When our research and develop-
ment team comes up with an idea
for a new product or system, our
ecotoxicological manager is one
of the first on the scene, making
sure the environmental impact
of the proposal is understood
and minimized.
Whether a proposed chemical is
to be discharged offshore or dis-
posed of on land, we look closely
at its potential toxicity, accum-
ulation and biodegradation.
In order to assess any environ-
mental risks the new product may
generate, a balanced approach is
necessary to measure the overall
impact on the area where any
discharge will take place.
Our approach is your guarantee that
no product will be approved until
the environmental impact is fully
understood for the specific areas
in which it is to be used.
This partnership with our R&D
group has yielded many successful
innovations: biodegradable demul-
sifier bases, species-specific bacteria
controllers, biodegradable and low-
toxic corrosion inhibitors, and more.
Our strategy has propelled
M-I PRODUCTION CHEMICALS to the
forefront in the development and
application of green chemistry.
To find out more about how our
Ecotoxicological Laboratory is helping
operators the world over achieve their
environmental objectives, contact
your local M-I PRODUCTION CHEMICALS
representative.
M-I PRODUCTION CHEMICALS,
a business unit of M-I L.L.C.
P.O. Box 42842
Houston, Texas 77242-2842
www.miproductionchemicals.com
E-mail: mipc@miswaco.com
Technology Centers:
HOUSTON, TEXAS
Tel: 2815611300 Fax: 2815611441
STAVANGER, NORWAY
Tel: 4751577300 Fax: 4751570605
Technical Service Centers:
NISKU, ALBERTA, CANADA
Tel: 7809553388 Fax: 7809552064
ABERDEEN, SCOTLAND
Tel: 441224285500 Fax: 441224890904
BERGEN, NORWAY
Tel: 4755173850 Fax: 4755173851
DUBAI, U.A.E.
Tel: 97148833100 Fax: 97148837197
PERTH, AUSTRALIA
Tel: 61893254822 Fax: 61893251897
2003 M-I L.L.C. All rights reserved. *Mark of M-I L.L.C.
PBR.0501.0607.R1 (E) 1.5M Litho in U.S.A.
This information is supplied solely for informational purposes and M-I SWACO makes no
guarantees or warranties, either expressed or implied, with respect to the accuracy and use
of this data. All product warranties and guarantees shall be governed by the Standard Terms
of Sale. Nothing in this document is legal advice or is a substitute for competent legal advice.