It sounds too good to be true. But the science is proven and the proof shows up on your bottom line. It's now possible for oil companies to significantly reduce costs for drilling fluids and waste management while achieving optimal results.

You've read about these exciting fluid-management techniques in World Oil Magazine. And the forward-looking professionals of Edmonton-based Katch Kan Limited are demonstrating the efficiency of such strategies every single business day, throughout the Western Canadian drilling season and around the world.

"Although Katch Kan takes environmental issues very seriously, the origins of our Zero Spill System (ZSS) really had more to do with safety and workplace cleanliness than anything else," explains Katch Kan's president and CEO, Quinn Holtby.

"But now, in light of tougher environmental requirements as well as the company's sense of fiscal responsibility, our system has evolved from a workplace advantage into an environmental necessity."

Years of research have paid off for Katch Kan Limited and its president and CEO Quinn Holtby.

As explained in World Oil Magazine by a team of highly-qualified experts in the fields of drilling, oilfield solids control and waste management, such state-of-the art strategies dramatically reduce reclamation costs while keeping well bore fluid discharge to a minimum.

In an effort to improve solids, control efficiency and gain control over drilling waste streams while ensuring compliance with ISO-14001 requirements, pilot projects have recorded impressive key performance indicators, including dramatically lower volumes of fluid disposal, fewer HSE incidents and lower TFM service costs, as well as reduced third-party costs.

World Oil Magazine writers cited a program conducted by Brunei Shell Petroleum (BSP) as an ideal demonstration case, implementing these fluid management services in the Anduki, Rasau Land and Seria campaigns.

Writers Mike Ward, Jerrod Breaux, Brian Campbell and Simon Seaton cited seven areas of improvement that were carried out on 27 wells in three land drilling campaigns using water-based muds.

As they explained in their exciting article, such breakthrough fluid management services provide viable solutions to mud and personnel issues as well as chemical treatments, solids control optimization, water recovery and treatment - in short, virtually all aspects of drilling fluid procedure. In support of BSP operations, the fluid management team compiled and executed written procedures to identify waste streams and disposal options, including manifests to enable mass balance of waste volumes. An ISO-14001 audit team reviewed and accepted each of these procedures.

Key to the fluid management program was a centrally-located wastewater treatment plant, as well as the all-important process for drying drill cuttings prior to landfill disposal. To ensure accurate results, the wastewater treatment plant was staffed by fluid management personnel.

Meanwhile, a third-party company was asked to take charge of the drying facility.

It carefully tracked all volumes and logistics, recording them in the fluid management database.

Once results were in, the numbers were nothing short of staggering. After studying performance records from 12 months of work, BSP estimated a monthly saving of $24,000 per rig, solely attributable to the ongoing use of fluid management services. Those cost savings included staff, wastewater treatment plant operations and reporting on environmental compliance.

And customers of Katch Kan are reporting similar success stories. Holtby proudly points out that his company delivers a return on investment that exceeds 200 per cent per day, even on sites relying on water-based drilling muds.

Katch Kan's experts do it by RE-ducing, RE-cycling and RE-using raw materials and water on every single job.

A completely ISO 9001-2000 and ISO 14001 certified company, Katch Kan was founded by Holtby on the heels of his own career in the field.

A study done by Pemex of Mexico concluded a return on investment of 430 per cent over a 51/2-month hole. For more information on the study, call Katch Kan at 1.800.840.2877.

Holtby's passion was the development of safer and more efficient methods of containing drilling fluid while boosting protection for his hard-working crews. Years of research and development have paid off for Holtby and his team.

Katch Kan products are now used by wise producers throughout Western Canada and have made a hit in more than 25 countries on five continents.

When Holtby tries to encapsulate the Katch Kan philosophy, he sums it up with three words: Reliable, responsible, responsive.

Katch Kan sees itself as an industry leader in providing its customers wish fresh, innovative and EFFECTIVE solutions for their environmental protection and safety challenges.

Of course, there is much more to learn about Katch Kan Limited's product line of cradle-to-grave solutions. Bottom line is, they work. And they can save your drilling operation significant amounts of money.

To learn how, please contact the company using this toll-free number: 1.800.840.2877. Meanwhile, be sure and browse the website: www.katchkan.com.