Stabilization of Drilling Fluid Waste with Fly Ash

Abstract

Water based drilling muds typically contain clays, barite, lime, caustic soda and other chemicals, such as polymers. Land disposal of these wastes raises the possibility of groundwater pollution which can be abated if the waste is stabilized either by chemical reaction or by solidification through some form of cementation. Many ASTM high-calcium (Class C) fly ashes are cementitious and thus may be useful in stabilization of drilling mud. The basic idea is to stabilize the clay-containing muds using the model of soil and roadbed stabilization with high-calcium fly ash [1]. Fly ash that is not utilized is considered to be a solid waste, so this application would would actually constitute codisposal of two wastes.