BR102018013109A2 - USE OF TERPENES IN DRILLING SLAM RECOVERY PROCESSES - Google Patents

Abstract

use of terpenes in drilling mud recovery processes. drilling mud recovery processes where said mud is mixed with an aqueous solution containing terpenes, natural base surfactants and cationic or anionic polymers and subsequently separated into three phases - oil, water and solids - by means of a centrifuge.

Description

USE OF TERPENS IN DRILLING SLAM RECOVERY PROCESSES [001] The present invention is located in the field of operations, more specifically the separation operations, exactly a process and its variants of drilling mud recovery - mainly, but not limited to these - oil wells, and the use of terpenes in this process.

[002] During the oil prospecting, exploration and production process, well-known drilling fluids are used. Such fluids are used during the drilling of oil wells and have some basic functions such as, for example, keeping formation pressures under control, carrying cuttings to the surface, maintaining the mechanical stability of the well, cooling drills, transmitting hydraulic force to the drill , keep gravels in suspension when without circulation, among others. These fluids are also known as drilling mud. There are several types of fluids used, which can be water-based, oil-based or synthetic.

[003] Agents used to confer weight, viscosifiers, dispersants, deflocculants, agents used in the control of “fluid loss, emulsifiers, biocides, brines, lubricants, corrosion inhibitors, column liberators, pH controllers among other compounds that form, the vast majority of formulations owned by the major industries supplying these sludges to oil explorers. These formulations, created specifically for each drilling location, are part of the know-how and technology owned by these suppliers.

[004] The drilling mud used on platforms can be reused through a process of controlling residual solids (cuttings) and the physical and chemical characteristics of the compound before being reinjected. However, after a few cycles, this material loses its possibility of reuse and must be discarded. In the case of offshore drilling, this mud must be transported to the continent where it must have its proper destination. Environmental companies specializing in

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2/6 subject use chemical, physical and biological processes to treat this material which ultimately ends up being taken to industrial landfills where they will be deposited and monitored.

[005] Such processes are costly and require several process steps and chemical additions so that they can minimally be destined and / or treated.

[006] All existing treatment processes are currently carried out in specific facilities that are far from the generation points (in the onshore cases) or from the sludge receiving ports (in the cases of offshore operations). For this reason, in conventional processes there is always the need to transport the drilling mud - characterized as a hazardous waste, Class I - a fact that involves risks associated with accidents with this waste, as well as the emission of large amounts of CO2. In addition, when drilling mud is sent to landfills, considering that there is no treatment or destruction of the waste in these cases - these are only stored indefinitely, there is still a permanent risk of eventual packaging failures (leaks, overflows, ruptures) insulation blankets, etc.).

[007] In a detailed analysis of the state of the art, there is a gap with regard to sludge recovery and disposal processes, especially those in the oil industry, capable of treating drilling mud at the reception site on the continent and, eventually, inside or in the vicinity of the exploration platforms, avoiding the high cost of transporting drilling muds to the continent, treatment stations and disposal over long distances and that additionally mitigates the risks associated with storage in landfills of hazardous waste.

[008] In order to illustrate with some similarity the field of application - and not of the solutions presented - the document SG11201709488X, “Unit for treating a drilling mud and corresponding method”, deposited by Soletanche Freyssinet on May 20, 2015, reveals a treatment unit for a drilling mud comprising a primary tube for

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3/6 coagulated drilling, an in-line flocculation system for flocculating the coagulated drilling mud that flows along the primary pipe and a hydrocyclone provided by the primary pipe and located downstream of the flocculation system. The hydrocyclone comprises an overflow orifice for collecting a liquid drilling mud treatment product and a lower flow orifice for collecting a solid drilling mud treatment product. The overflow hole has an overflow diameter and the lower flow hole has a smaller diameter than the flow and the lower flow diameter is greater than 1.1 times the overflow diameter. Such a process does not use terpenes and, therefore, is substantially different from the innovation now proposed.

[009] US43 66063, “Process and apparatus for recovering usable water and other materials from oil field mud / waste pits”, required by Romeo Environmental Research on June 17, 1981, presents a process and apparatus for removing usable water and other components from sludge / waste mixtures containing water, solids, hydrocarbons and dissolved salt. The solids are separated from the waste water resulting in the recovery of a water stream containing hydrocarbons and dissolved salts. This stream is then separated into a recoverable hydrocarbon stream and a stream of water containing dissolved salts. A reverse osmosis medium is then used to separate the water stream containing salts dissolved in an environmentally safe water permeate stream for reuse and a concentrated brine stream. Such process only aims to recover water and brines, moving away from the characteristics of the innovation in question.

[010] In addition, protection US2013068530, “System and method of clarifying drilling mud and a hydrophilic liquid or solution for use in clarifying drilling mud”, owned by Scheide Jurgen D, deposited on September 21, 2011, provides for processes and systems with a hydrophilic liquid or solution to clear the drilling mud to separate diesel oil or other oil lubricants from the

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4/6 drilling so that diesel oil or other oil lubricants can be recycled to a well for reuse as a lubricant for drilling components, such as a drilling bit. The hydrophilic liquid or solution can be recovered and reused / recycled as well as in processes and / or systems as well. Such protection seeks results different from those proposed by innovation. [011] Finally, the reference MX2014002340, “Process and facility for treating waste drilling mud”, by Arkansas Reclamation Company LLC, with priority of October 30, 2009, presents a method of recycling and cleaning of drilling muds to the oil-based and piles contaminated with oil-based waste drilling mud. A unit to perform the method is also provided. The method includes removing the coarse solids from the mud, breaking the emulsion, separating the hydrophobic phase from the aqueous phase and the solid phase, vaporizing all residual oil and water from the solids and burning the vaporized oil. The method produces a solid soil product that is free from oil contamination, an oil product that is suitable for reuse, and clean air emissions. A heat sink can be used to efficiently vaporize the oil at low temperature. Optionally, the water fraction of the mud can be vaporized, the solutes and salts can be captured as evaporites and then mixed with the soil product. Such a patent uses different means than those proposed by the innovation.

[012] The inventions proposed are processes for the recovery of drilling muds with special emphasis on the use of terpenes.

[013] The advantages of these processes range from avoiding unnecessary CO2 emissions and the high cost of transporting drilling mud to potential treatment and disposal stations located over long distances, in addition to providing that oils separated from the sludge can be reinserted in the chain production of new batches of drilling mud, allow the disposal of water in the sea or in other suitable locations and reuse the solid material in the preparation of new

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5/6 lots of mud or generate a smaller amount of inert solids that can be sent to class II landfills.

[014] The system can be better understood as an aid to figure 1, which presents a flowchart of the process in its preferred configuration.

[015] In the preparation tank (5) of the chemical solution (solution A) in the desired concentration for injection and mixing in the drilling mud, water (3) and the formula (4) composed of natural solvents - terpenes, such as citrus, pine and eucalyptus derivatives, among other similar sources - added to surfactants. Solution A may vary between 1% to 40% of the concentration of the concentrated chemical depending on the observed characteristics of the specific sludge to be treated, such as turbidity and pH. After mixing the solution, it goes to the storage tank (6). Through an automatic dosing system, the drilling mud receives a quantity of solution A, which can vary from 1% to 50% of the volume in a static mixer. Then, the sludge (2) and solution A (6) are sent to the tank (7). This material undergoes a process of homogenization in the tank (7) that will also serve as the lung tank of the three-phase separation system, which can be used - but not limited to - a three-phase mechanical centrifugal separator. To increase the level of clarification of the residual water, a polymer solution (cationic or anionic) is added depending on the characteristics of the sludge, in dosages ranging from 10 mg / kg to 900 mg / kg. These oscillations are directly related to the amount of solids in the drilling mud. The drilling mud mixture (7) together with the polymer solution (11) is again mixed by an automatic dosing system in a line mixer. The 3-phase separator (12) then receives the solution and applying G-force, which ranges from 1,000 to 4,000 G, produces 3 output currents: recovered oil (13), water for disposal (15) and solids (14) . The water resulting from the separation process, alternatively, goes through a simple treatment process depending on its later use (16). Also alternatively,

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6/6 in cases of disposal at sea, oil removal must be observed and, in this case, a physical chemical treatment is applied. Alternatively, in cases where water is reused, it is necessary to remove chlorides, through a membrane filtration process.

[016] It is noteworthy that this innovative process, in addition to reducing transportation costs and consequently reducing associated CO2 emissions, may bring gains by reusing and reusing the existing compounds in the drilling mud for disposal.

[017] This innovation is not limited to the representations commented or illustrated here, but must be understood in its broad scope. Many modifications and other representations of the innovation will come to mind for those versed in the technique to which this innovation belongs, having the benefit of the teaching presented in the previous descriptions and attached drawings. Furthermore, it is to be understood that the innovation is not limited to the specific form revealed, and that modifications and other forms are understood to be included within the scope of the appended claims. Although specific terms are used here, they are used only in a generic and descriptive manner and not for the purpose of limitation.

Claims (6)

1. Sludge recovery processes characterized in that, in the preparation tank (5) of the chemical solution (Solution A) in the desired concentration for injection and mixing in the drilling mud, water (3) and the formula (4) are added ), which goes to the storage tank (6), where, through an automatic dosing system (not shown), the drilling mud receives a quantity of Solution A, which can vary from 1% to 50% of the volume in a static mixer; sludge (A) and solution A (6) are sent to the tank (7) where this material goes through a homogenization process in the tank (7) - which will also serve as the lung tank of the separation system in three phases, which can be used - but not limited to - a mechanical centrifugal separator, with the addition of a polymer solution - cationic or anionic (11), in dosages ranging from 10 to 900 mg / kg and sludge. The perforation (7) together with the polymer solution (11) is again mixed by an automatic dosing system in a line mixer and the 3-phase separator, which then receives the solution and applies force G, which varies from 1,000 to 4,000 G, producing 3 output currents: recovered oil, water for disposal and solids. 2. Process according to claim 1, characterized in that the water resulting from the separation process, alternatively, undergoes a treatment process [settling / polishing?]. Process according to claim 1, characterized in that, alternatively, remove oils by means of physical chemical treatment. Process according to claim 1, characterized in that, alternatively, chlorides are removed by means of membrane filtration. 5. Formula according to claim 1, characterized in that it is a solution of solvents of vegetable origin, in particular terpenes, between 1% to 40% concentration, added with surfactants. 6. Use of terpenes characterized by occurring in drilling mud recovery processes.