Neutralization of Drill Cuttings Discharged into the Environment During the Drilling of Oil Wells

Abstract

The environmental impact of drill cuttings, which are drilling waste formed during the drilling of oil wells, was studied, and the methods of neutralizing this waste were investigated. The decomposition of drill cuttings with different emulsifiers was compared with the decomposition of drill cuttings with gas welding waste. The decomposition of drill cuttings with gas welding waste at different temperatures and the dependence of product yield on temperature were studied.The effect of different emulsifiers on the product yield and the yield of products obtained from the decomposition of different emulsifiers at the same temperature and at the same mixing time were compared. As an emulsifier, the comparison of gas welding waste with other emulsifiers showed that gas welding waste is as strong and effective as Ca(OH)2 and CaO:surfactant, and the obtained sediment has more strength, which expands the field of use of this sediment. The dependence of drill cuttings decomposition on temperature and mixing speed was studied. It was determined that at a temperature of 90°C and a mixing speed of 100 rpm, 97-98% yield can be obtained during 24 hours of storage. It has been defined that the decomposition of the drill cuttings with this emulsifier is appropriate both from an economic and ecological point of view.