# Oilfield and mining chemicals: Regulation

How offshore rules push out toxic, persistent chemicals

Source page: https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/oilfield_chemicals/regulation/

What this tab covers How it is regulated and what could disrupt supply: hazard classification, rules in the EU, US and India, anti-dumping duties and other trade measures, and supply-risk notes.

#### Hazards

| Classification | UN number | Key risks |
|---|---|---|
| varies: corrosive acids, flammable solvents, toxic biocides and H2S scavengers; sodium cyanide acute toxicity cat 1 | varies (UN1230 methanol, UN1789 HCl, UN1689 sodium cyanide) | Spills on land and at sea, groundwater contamination from fracking fluids and produced water, cyanide incidents at gold mines. |

#### Main rules

| Where | Rule | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| **North-East Atlantic (OSPAR)** | Harmonised Mandatory Control Scheme; HOCNF data and PLONOR list for offshore chemicals | Pushes substitution of toxic, persistent offshore chemicals. |
| **US** | State fracking fluid disclosure rules (FracFocus); EPA effluent guidelines for oil and gas extraction | Disclosure of frac chemicals; limits on discharges. |
| **Global mining** | International Cyanide Management Code (voluntary) | Sets transport and handling standards for gold mine cyanide. |

#### India

| Rule | Effect |
|---|---|
| **Directorate General of Hydrocarbons and Oil Industry Safety Directorate standards; ONGC and OIL tender specifications (indicative)** | Set chemical approval lists for Indian fields. |
| **Environment (Protection) Rules effluent standards for oil drilling and gas extraction (indicative)** | Limit discharge of drilling waste and produced water. |

#### Trade measures

- No current anti-dumping duty on oilfield chemicals found in sources reached

#### Supply risk

Barite is concentrated (India, China, Morocco about 71%) (USGS MCS 2026 via barite tile) and is on the 2022 US critical minerals list (indicative). Gulf supply chains were disrupted by the 2026 Hormuz near-closure. Guar supply depends on Indian monsoons (indicative).

## Other sections

- [Summary](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/oilfield_chemicals/index.md)
- [Overview](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/oilfield_chemicals/overview/index.md)
- [Correlation](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/oilfield_chemicals/correlation/index.md)
- [Production route](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/oilfield_chemicals/routes/index.md)
- [Production](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/oilfield_chemicals/production/index.md)
- [Feedstocks](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/oilfield_chemicals/feedstocks/index.md)
- [Cycles](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/oilfield_chemicals/cycles/index.md)
- [Trading](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/oilfield_chemicals/trading/index.md)
- [Movement](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/oilfield_chemicals/movement/index.md)
- [Characteristics](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/oilfield_chemicals/characteristics/index.md)
- [Emissions](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/oilfield_chemicals/emissions/index.md)
- [Relationships](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/oilfield_chemicals/links/index.md)