Journal of Natural Environment

Experimental Investigation of Diatomaceous Earth Application in Drilling Waste Stabilization

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

Department of Petroleum Engineering, Faculty of Petroleum and Chemical Engineering, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.

Abstract

Drilling operation is one of the difficult and costly operations in petroleum industry. One of the challenges encountered with oil and gas industries is contaminations caused by drilling waste. Chemical compounds that used for adjusting the physical and rheological properties of drilling fluid and drill cuttings can have destructive effects on the environment. In this study, application of diatomaceous earth as a natural material for the treatment of drill cuttings was investigated on waste samples from Cheshme-Khosh field.
To evaluate the quality of the stabilized waste using diatomaceous earth, Sheen, Can and Retort tests were carried out. Moreover, the possibility of soil regeneration was investigated by wheat seed cultivation. The results of the experimental tests done on the stabilized waste showed that moisture adsorption and cuttings fixation was well done. Unlike other chemicals, no changes were observed in stabilized waste pH using diatomaceous earth. The optimum amount of diatomaceous earth for fixation of waste samples contain 65% and 78% solid particles were obtained 0.038 and 0.025 gr/cm3, respectively. Wheat seed growth in stabilized samples indicated the compatibility of the method with the environment. In this method, not only the drilling wastes contamination has been removed from the environment but also the soil regeneration becomes possible. The results indicated that the diatomaceous earth has a great potential for moisture removal and drilling waste stabilization

Keywords

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Journal of Natural Environment
Volume 73, Issue 1
April 2020
Pages 13-22