Method Of Disposing Of Drill Cuttings In Roads

Abstract

A method of using oil-contaminated drill cuttings from drilling operations in roads and primarily in gravel or dirt roads to provide dust suppression or as a component of the top course of a road. In particular, the invention relates to various compositions and processes in which drill cuttings are mixed with virgin aggregates, asphalt compounds and / or recycled hydrocarbons including recycled rubber from tires and recycled asphalt shingles for incorporation into a road bed to provide a structurally satisfactory road and / or dust suppression. The invention thereby provides an effective use of oil-contaminated drill cuttings that would otherwise require remediation or disposal at a landfill.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]The present application is a continuation of pending International patent application PCT / CA2007 / 001166 filed on Jun. 29, 2007, which designates the United States and claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. §119 (e) of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60 / 806,124, filed on Jun. 29, 2006. The present application also claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. §119 (e) of the U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60 / 825,707 filed on Sep. 14, 2006. All prior applications are herein incorporated by reference in their entirety.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0002]The present invention relates to a method of using oil-contaminated drill cuttings from drilling operations in roads and primarily in gravel or dirt roads to provide dust suppression or as a component of the top course of a road. In particular, the invention relates to various compositions and processes in which drill cuttings are mixed with virgin aggregates, asphalt compounds and / or rec...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0018]In yet another embodiment, the invention provides a method of stabilizing oil contaminated drill cuttings or earthen material comprising the step of blending 1-25% (w / w) (more preferably 5-10% (w / w)) rubber crumb or asphalt material with the drill cuttings or earthen material.

Problems solved by technology

In the past, the disposal of drill cuttings has been a significant issue for drill site operators.

In the past, it has been understood that as a result of the wide range of contaminants in drilling fluids, that the drill cuttings from a well could not be used within roads due to the leaching of volatile organics and metals from the road to the surrounding environment.

Local remediation is expensive requiring specially designed containment systems to be built on-site that require regular and on-going monitoring of soil contamination levels.

However, both on-site and off-site disposal will often lead to environmental contamination as the various contaminants within the drill cuttings may ultimately leach into the local soil or groundwater, particularly for example as the stabilizing sawdust decomposes.

Moreover, both techniques are expensive in terms of handling.

Further still, the use of sawdust as an agent to stabilize drill cuttings substantially increases the volume of the drill cuttings as in order to stabilize drill cuttings prior to transportation, it is necessary to mix the drill cuttings with approximately a double volume of sawdust, thus tripling the volume of disposal material.

In addition, the use of sawdust for disposal is not an effective or high-value use of sawdust and that may also contribute to the unnecessary consumption of trees.

The use of landfills is also not a desired long term solution.

With increasing difficulty in licensing new landfills, there is greater pressure to utilize existing landfills as efficiently as possible and to extend the life of these facilities.

As noted above, in the past, the use of drill cuttings in roads has not been permitted due to the understanding that the contaminants will leach from the road to the ground.

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