Method for hydrocarbon removal and recovery from drill cuttings

摘要

The present invention relates to a system and a method for the extraction of hydrocarbons from drill cuttings in drilling mud. The system for extracting hydrocarbons from drill cuttings includes at least one extraction tank, a carbon dioxide tank fluidly connected to the at least one extraction tank, and at least one separation tank in fluid communication with the at least one extraction tank. The method for extracting hydrocarbons from drill cuttings consists of exposing the drill cuttings to liquid carbon dioxide, solubilizing hydrocarbons from the drill cuttings with the liquid carbon dioxide, heating the liquid carbon dioxide and the soluble hydrocarbons to convert liquid carbon dioxide to carbon dioxide vapor, separating the hydrocarbons from the carbon dioxide vapor, and collecting the separated hydrocarbons.

主权项

1. A system comprising;
at least one extraction tank; a carbon dioxide tank fluidly connected to the at least one extraction tank, carbon dioxide supplied to the at least one extraction tank to extract hydrocarbons from drill cuttings therein; at least one separation tank in fluid communication with the at least one extraction tank, carbon dioxide being separated from hydrocarbons at the at least one separation tank; and a pump in fluid communication with the extraction tank, the pump to displace residual carbon dioxide inside the at least one extraction tank to the carbon dioxide tank after a mixture of carbon dioxide and hydrocarbons is moved to the at least one separation tank.