---
kind: "section"
citation: "30 C.F.R. § 250.457"
title: "30"
number: "250.457"
heading: "What equipment is required to monitor drilling fluids?"
url: "https://uscodex.org/cfr/30/250.457"
---

# §250.457. What equipment is required to monitor drilling fluids?


Once you establish drilling fluid returns, you must install and maintain the following drilling fluid-system monitoring equipment throughout subsequent drilling operations. This equipment must have the following indicators on the rig floor:

- (a) **Pit level indicator to determine drilling fluid-pit volume gains and losses.** This indicator must include both a visual and an audible warning device;
- (b) Volume measuring device to accurately determine drilling fluid volumes required to fill the hole on trips;
- (c) Return indicator devices that indicate the relationship between drilling fluid-return flow rate and pump discharge rate. This indicator must include both a visual and an audible warning device; and
- (d) **Gas-detecting equipment to monitor the drilling fluid returns.** The indicator may be located in the drilling fluid-logging compartment or on the rig floor. If the indicators are only in the logging compartment, you must continually man the equipment and have a means of immediate communication with the rig floor. If the indicators are on the rig floor only, you must install an audible alarm.

## Notes

### Authority

Authority: 30 U.S.C. 1751, 31 U.S.C. 9701, 33 U.S.C. 1321(j)(1)(C), 43 U.S.C. 1334.

### Source

Source: 76 FR 64462, Oct. 18, 2011, unless otherwise noted.