Drilling Mud Recycling System for Resource Recovery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for managing drilling mud from earth boreholes are inefficient, as they often result in unknown chemical compositions being applied to agricultural land, posing environmental risks, and lack effective recycling solutions, leading to high costs and resource wastage.
Innovation Solution
A comprehensive method and system for treating and partially recycling drilling mud, involving a processing plant with input bunkers, separation stages, and a transport system that collects and processes mud, allowing for multiple uses of water and bentonite, and conditioning of mud into stable concrete-like products for reuse or landfilling, while ensuring environmental protection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If drilling mud is applied to agricultural land or stored in landfills, then disposal is achieved, but environmental risks increase and resources are wasted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a recycling system that recovers water and bentonite from used drilling mud through separation processes (screening, centrifugation, filtration). The recovered components are cleaned and reused in subsequent drilling operations, eliminating landfill disposal and agricultural spreading while conserving valuable resources.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the harmful waste product (used drilling mud containing contaminants) into a beneficial resource by separating and recovering clean water and bentonite. The system transforms the disposal problem into a resource recovery opportunity, where previously wasted materials become reusable assets.
2Quantity of substance
If drilling mud is disposed of entirely, then environmental protection is simplified, but costs increase and resources are lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the drilling mud into separate components through multiple separation stages: solid particles are removed by screening and centrifugation, while water and bentonite are separated through filtration and decantation. This segmentation enables independent recovery and reuse of each component, making the recycling process manageable despite the complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a multi-functional processing system that performs separation, filtration, cleaning, and reuse preparation in an integrated workflow. The same system handles both the removal of contaminants and the recovery of reusable materials, reducing overall operational complexity despite the multiple functions performed.
3Loss of information
If drilling mud composition is unknown, then analysis is avoided, but safe application to agricultural land cannot be ensured
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the unknown composition from a problem into an advantage by implementing a closed-loop recycling system that eliminates the need for agricultural application. The separation and recovery processes inherently concentrate and identify the main components (water and bentonite) while removing contaminants, making composition analysis unnecessary for safe disposal.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach conserves water and bentonite, reduces waste, ensures safe disposal, and provides a sustainable, economically viable solution for drilling mud management by converting it into reusable building materials and aggregates, while protecting the environment.
Implementation Method 1
a separator, in particular a centrifugal separator
Implementation Method 2
a filter, in particular a filter press or a membrane filter
Data Source
Figure 1
AI summary
The invention relates to a method for the processing and at least partial recycling of drilling mud generated during earth drilling. The drilling fluid is stored in a drilling fluid reservoir and transported to the drilling site. There, it is used as a lubricant and flushing agent during drilling operations and becomes contaminated with soil and rock components, forming drilling mud, which is then collected. The drilling mud is transported to a processing plant where the soil and rock components are at least partially separated from the drilling mud. The processed drilling fluid is then fed back into the drilling fluid reservoir and stored, while the separated soil and rock components are stored.