Three different synthetic polymers commonly used in drilling fluids (carboxymethyl cellulose – CMC,
hydroxyethyl cellulose – HEC and polyacrylamide – PAA) were analysed by off-line-pyrolysis–gas chromatography–mass
spectrometry (off-line-Py–GC–MS). The aim of this study was to determine specific
environmental marker compounds for the identification of contamination due to drilling activities. In a
first step, reference materials of the main constituents of commonly applied water-based drilling fluids
were purchased and analysed to identify potential indicator substances. For each polymer a set of two
to three specific pyrolysis products was determined. Afterwards, four CMC, one HEC and two PAA based
drilling fluids were pyrolysed in order to retrieve the previously identified compounds in drilling fluid
mixtures. All indicator compounds were identified. In a third step, spiking experiments on drill cutting
samples of various depths of one well proved the traceability of the applied polymers and verified the
applicability of the indicator systems in terms of sensitivity and specificity