STABILIZING CONTAMINANTS IN DRILL CUTTINGS

摘要

Drill cuttings obtained from oil and gas wells contain contaminants such as heavy metals and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Such contaminants complicate the disposal of the drill cuttings. The drill cuttings can be reused in load bearing applications such as road subgrades and drill site pads by combining the drill cuttings with soil and a soil stabilizer. The soil stabilizer includes sulfuric acid and citrus stripper oil. Once the soil stabilizer is added to the soil-cuttings mixture, the mixture is compacted to reduce the voids. The soil stabilizer liquefies minerals in the soil-cuttings mixture which liquids fill in any remaining voids. The result is a consolidated treated soil that greatly reduces the leaching of the contaminants therefrom.

主权项

1. A method of stabilizing and consolidating a soil containing contaminants such as heavy metals, comprising the steps of:
a) obtaining drill cuttings from an oil or gas well, the drill cuttings containing the contaminants; b) mixing the drill cuttings with soil to form a soil-cuttings mixture; c) mixing sulfuric acid, citrus stripper oil and water in a predetermined volumetric proportion to the soilcuttings mixture to form a treated mixture that is satisfactorily packable; and d) packing the treated mixture to consolidate the soil and drill cuttings, wherein the leaching of the contaminants from the drill cuttings is reduced compared to the leaching or the contaminants from the untreated drill cuttings.