Toxicological Evaluation of Thermal Treatment of Drilling Waste from Shale Gas Exploration in Poland

Abstract

The oil containing drilling waste is a worldwide environmental problem associated with oil and gas exploration. In Poland, the problem of the drilling waste has become important since starting of shale gas exploration. The results of thermal treatment of drilling waste from shale gas exploration are presented. It has been shown that organic content vaporized completely at temperature up to 500 °C. The main problem is high content of chloride, sulfate, sodium, potassium, magnesium in the waste and its water leachate. Toxicity tests confirmed that high salinity of the samples pose important risk for environment. Due to the high content of barium, the drilling waste may be utilized in production of cement with high chemical and heat resistance and opaque to X-ray. Thermal treatment process is a viable option for remediation of the drilling waste; however, the product of the process needs further treatment in order to remove its high salinity.

Purification of Oil-Containing Waste Using Solar Energy

“…In the work [10], the pyrolysis process as an alternative technology for the treatment of oil sludge is studied. Bentonite with different Fe/Al ratios was used as a pyrolysis catalyst.…”

“…In paper [10] thermal treatment of drilling waste from Poland shale gas exploration was studied. The result of study showed that thermal treatment allows to get rid of organic constituents of drilling waste, which are vaporized completely at temperature up to 500 °C.…”

Minimization of the Negative Environmental Impact of Oil Sludge by Using it in the Production of Bitumen

“…In Poland, the problem of the drilling waste has become important since starting of shale gas exploration. The results of thermal treatment of drilling waste from shale gas exploration are presented [23]. It has been shown that organic content vaporized completely at temperature up to 500 °C.…”