WO2005079992A1 - Procede et systeme de traitement de deblais de forage - Google Patents

Procede et systeme de traitement de deblais de forage Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2005079992A1
WO2005079992A1 PCT/US2004/001952 US2004001952W WO2005079992A1 WO 2005079992 A1 WO2005079992 A1 WO 2005079992A1 US 2004001952 W US2004001952 W US 2004001952W WO 2005079992 A1 WO2005079992 A1 WO 2005079992A1
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WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
cuttings
drilling fluid
drill
briquettes
disposal
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/US2004/001952
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Perry Lopez
Original Assignee
Perry Lopez
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Perry Lopez filed Critical Perry Lopez
Priority to PCT/US2004/001952 priority Critical patent/WO2005079992A1/fr
Publication of WO2005079992A1 publication Critical patent/WO2005079992A1/fr

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Classifications

    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E21—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; MINING
    • E21B—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
    • E21B21/00—Methods or apparatus for flushing boreholes, e.g. by use of exhaust air from motor
    • E21B21/06—Arrangements for treating drilling fluids outside the borehole
    • E21B21/063—Arrangements for treating drilling fluids outside the borehole by separating components
    • E21B21/065—Separating solids from drilling fluids
    • E21B21/066—Separating solids from drilling fluids with further treatment of the solids, e.g. for disposal
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B09—DISPOSAL OF SOLID WASTE; RECLAMATION OF CONTAMINATED SOIL
    • B09C—RECLAMATION OF CONTAMINATED SOIL
    • B09C1/00—Reclamation of contaminated soil
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B09—DISPOSAL OF SOLID WASTE; RECLAMATION OF CONTAMINATED SOIL
    • B09C—RECLAMATION OF CONTAMINATED SOIL
    • B09C1/00—Reclamation of contaminated soil
    • B09C1/08—Reclamation of contaminated soil chemically

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a method and system for treating drilled earthen solids "drill cuttings" generated in the oil and gas exploration process to reduce surface moisture and to produce a predictable shape, size and form of the drill cuttings that have been removed from the well bore in order to be conveyed from a drilling vessel, for shipping or transporting purposes for final disposal.
  • Oil phase drilling fluids it has been a difficult environmental issue of treating and handling oil contaminated drilled solids.
  • the advantages of using an oil phase fluid outweigh the environmental and economic concerns for their use. Oil was first used for water and oil drilling in the early 1900' s as asphalt or coal tar to provide a viscous medium to remove cuttings from the bore hole.
  • Oil muds can be formulated for temperatures in excess of 500 degrees. Lubricity: Oil muds have inherently low frictional coefficients, which is especially useful in horizontal and extended reach drilling. Stuck pipe prevention: The low oil filtrate and excellent lubricity characteristics aid in reducing differential sticking in highly permeable formations and high angle holes . Down hole contamination: An oil mud will not dissolve water soluble formations such as salt or gypsum; also provides stability from acid gas bearing formations. Corrosion resistance: The nonconductive, external phase of an oil mud prevents maximum protection for drill pipe and casing.
  • illite Although illite is not as active (expanding, swelling) as the smectite group, illite will expand or destabilize over time. Oil based drilling fluid, with oil as the continuous phase and water tightly emulsified as droplets, does not provide a hydrating medium for the active clay content of marine shales.
  • Drilling rates So dramatically increased that the limitation is surface handling equipment for cuttings and annular loading (hole cleaning) .
  • Competent Borehole Reduced incidence of lost hole and minimal wash-out means an economic advantage in terms of lowered volume of treated mud, and reduced volume of cuttings for disposal.
  • Oil of any kind, is unacceptable discharge into a marine environment. Although cuttings with oil retention of 6-9% are allowed in the Gulf of Mexico and Canada (North Atlantic) , the North Sea is under zero discharge regulations with the Gulf of Mexico sure to follow suit. Controlling costs associated with disposal and handling of oil based mud and cuttings are and will continue to be a major factor in engineering and costing a drilling fluid system. Down hole fluid losses: Because oil based drilling fluid does not deposit an impermeable filter cake across porous/permeable formations, whole mud loss down hole is an expense that must be considered. Poor hole cleaning in deviated holes can result in un-remedial formation fractures due to "spiking" circulating pressure.
  • the solids control equipment which normally sits above the mud storage area, is essentially a system that is used to separate the drill cuttings and earthen solids from the drilling fluids. Disposal of these separated cuttings is problematic to meeting environmental regulations established by federal and state governing environmental agencies. When a drilling fluid system such as an oil-phase fluid system is used which coats the cuttings with an oily residue contaminant, i.e., hydrocarbons, (oil phase, synthetic or ester base) . The cuttings cannot be disposed of directly without additional treatment to meet regulatory guide lines.
  • the process is to include a pre-treatment process of the drill cuttings once they have been removed from the solids control equipment and is to be further processed through a mechanical drying mechanism or the like, reducing liquid content on the drill cuttings and further processed through a pelletizing/briquetting process.
  • the shaped cuttings are to be granulated in a dry form that will allow for further material handling of a known shaped product. Further to the handling of the shaped cuttings they may be pneumatically or mechanically conveyed in a dry form to on-board storage, i.e bulk storage containers cuttings boxes or the like and then conveyed to a vessel for transport to shore in the bulk container holds or cuttings boxes or the like on of the work boats.
  • Figure 1 illustrates a schematic flow diagram of the preferred embodiment of the process of the present invention.
  • process 10 includes a drilling rig 12 positioned in a body of water 14, with a drill pipe 16 extending into the earth below the body of water 14 drilling for hydrocarbons, such as oil or natural gas.
  • hydrocarbons such as oil or natural gas.
  • the drilling fluids are circulated down into the borehole in the direction of arrow 18, and then are returned up the annulus of the borehole, in the direction of arrow 20, carrying the drill cuttings for treatment and disposal.
  • the drilling fluid containing the drill cuttings are routed first, via line 22, to the standard rig solids control equipment and shakers 24, in order to undergo the initial separation of the solid cuttings from the drilling fluid.
  • the cuttings flow via gravity to the lower end 26 of the equipment to be received into a cuttings ditch or trough 28.
  • the cuttings are conveyed to a cuttings conveying system 30, which would normally comprise augers, vacuum system, and a slurry system, all provided in order to provide greater separation between the cuttings and the drilling fluid, which would be returned downhole for further use.
  • the wet cuttings which are being conveyed from the conveying system 30 would be conveyed via conveyer 36 to a cuttings dryer 38, which may be either a vertical or horizontal cuttings dryer 38, depending on the circumstances.
  • the effluent from the cuttings dryer 38 would be conveyed to an effluent recovery tank 40, where the drilling fluids or effluent would then be pumped via pump 41 from the tank 40 into a decanting centrifuge 42.
  • the drilling fluids, after being routed through the centrifuge 42 would then be returned to the mud pits 43 for returning the processed drilling fluid via return line 45 to the drill pipe 16, containing no cuttings, back down the borehole to pick up additional cuttings .
  • the dried cuttings which are dried in the cuttings dryer 38 are convey to the briquetting system 50, of the type manufactured by K-R. Komarek, and then to the granulating system 52, of the type which is manufactured by numerous manufacturers, and is well known in the granulating art, in order to granulate the cuttings for their being conveyed from the granulating system 52 via the rig pneumatic conveying system 54, to the rig bulk storage area 56 on the rig.
  • the granulated cuttings stored in the area 56 would then be conveyed to a onboard boat bulk storage area 58, or may be conveyed to a dockside storage area 60 for final disposition of the cuttings on land.
  • the drilling fluid is circulated from a drilling fluids storage area "mud pits" 43 on the surface of the drilling vessel, downward through the drill pipe 16, out apertures in the drill bit, and upward within the borehole to the surface.
  • the drill bit cuts the earthen formation creating earthen shavings (drilled cuttings) that are picked up by the drilling fluid.
  • This return drilling fluid (arrow 20) carries with it the drill cuttings from the bottom of the borehole.
  • the returning drilling fluid along with its entrained drill cuttings are flowed into the "solids control equipment', i.e.
  • the solids control equipment 24 which is typically situated above the mud storage area, is essentially a procedure that is used to separate the drill cuttings and earthen solids from the drilling fluids. Drilling fluid that have been returned from down hole have liquid to solids ratios that can range between 40-80% liquid with the balance being drilled solids. Once the solids control equipment 24 has processed the drilled cuttings, removing the majority of the drilling fluid they flow into a feed hopper "cuttings ditch" 28 or the like for collection purposes.
  • the processed cuttings typically will have on average of 20-40+-% oil on cuttings "OOC” ratio of drilling fluids retained on the drill cuttings once processed through the solids control equipment 24.
  • OOC oil on cuttings
  • the fluid laden drill cuttings are further processed through a mechanical drying system 38 that may be in a vertical or horizontal disposition, i.e "cuttings dryer", that will further reduce the oil on cuttings "OOC” and total moisture content ratio downward to 1.0% but not limited to 8.0%.
  • Both briquetting or pelletizing would be defined as an agglomerations process whereby an amorphous mass of finely divided particulates, such as dust, powder, fume, is formed into a pellet, a ball or a granule in the presence of moisture.
  • a solid or liquid binder can be added before or during pelletizing.
  • fines are moistened and rolled in an inclined, rotating drum or disc pelletizing apparatus, loose pendular funicular and capillary bonds are formed between the grains of the material, causing nucleation into small seeds and gradual growth by packing, densification and layering, as a dense solids bond replaces the loose solids-air-water-bond with a moisture film between particles.
  • pelletizer As more fines are continuously fed into the pelletizer, spherical pellets of proper size are discharged over the edge of the drum or pan, while smaller pellets and growing seeds are retained in the bottom.
  • the pressure required to form the drill cuttings into pellets or briquettes may be in the range of 7500 to 65,000 psi(5 to 450 megapascals) , preferably, for off shore applications, at a range of 55,000 (380 megapascals) but not limited to 65,000 psi (450 megapascals).
  • Pellet size is controlled by the angle and speed of the pelletizer, placement of the feed and location of the water sprays, as well as the amount of liquid added at any given location. Thus the retention time and availability of dry fines and moisture can be controlled.
  • the pellets are uniform in size due to natural classification action of the pelletizer. Sizing and forming the dried cuttings under pressure through the process allow the drilled cuttings to become a predictable material to deal with in a dry form. During the formation of the spherical pellets under pressure the hydrocarbon laden cuttings are compressed into a state that is no longer sticky or tacky to the touch as with the raw drill cuttings. The significance of the high pressure compression during the briquetting phase on the cuttings allows, that the hydrocarbon contained in the cuttings prevents the potential of cross contamination of storage containers . Following the formation of the cuttings into briquettes, the briquettes are then reduced to a granular form through the use of a granulator 52, again a system which is well known in the art.
  • the granulator 52 reduces the briquettes to irregular shaped particles, having a particle size in the range of -5 microns but not limited to +50 microns, at least to a size, which will enhance the granules capability to be convey pneumatically, due to their small size and lack of surface moisture.
  • the drill cuttings When the drill cuttings are formed into granules, they can be conveyed onboard the drilling vessel using the drilling rig on board pneumatically or mechanically conveying system 54 or the like to moved the processed cuttings in a dry form to onboard bulk storage 56 similar to cement or barite or the like. With dried cuttings processed and formed there are no free hydrocarbons on the cuttings to cause cross-contamination in the onboard bulk storage system.
  • the formed dry cuttings can be conveyed to onboard bulk storage of work boats that typically carry cement, barite or the like in cargo hold located below deck at the rig site. Once the boat returns to the shore side docks the processed cuttings can be pneumatically or mechanically conveyed or the like and stored in dockside storage 60 until the cuttings are sent for final treatment or disposition. All measurements disclosed herein are at standard temperature and pressure, at sea level on Earth, unless indicated otherwise. All materials used or intended to be used in a human being are biocompatible, unless indicated otherwise.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Environmental & Geological Engineering (AREA)
  • Geology (AREA)
  • Mining & Mineral Resources (AREA)
  • Soil Sciences (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Fluid Mechanics (AREA)
  • General Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Geochemistry & Mineralogy (AREA)
  • Earth Drilling (AREA)

Abstract

L'invention concerne un procédé et un appareil permettant de traiter des déblais de forage à évacuer, qui comportent notamment des étapes et un appareil de séchage (38) des déblais, de formation de ces déblais en briquettes (50) ou en granules, et de granulation du matériau formé.
PCT/US2004/001952 2004-01-22 2004-01-22 Procede et systeme de traitement de deblais de forage WO2005079992A1 (fr)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
PCT/US2004/001952 WO2005079992A1 (fr) 2004-01-22 2004-01-22 Procede et systeme de traitement de deblais de forage

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
PCT/US2004/001952 WO2005079992A1 (fr) 2004-01-22 2004-01-22 Procede et systeme de traitement de deblais de forage

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2005079992A1 true WO2005079992A1 (fr) 2005-09-01

Family

ID=34887936

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/US2004/001952 WO2005079992A1 (fr) 2004-01-22 2004-01-22 Procede et systeme de traitement de deblais de forage

Country Status (1)

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Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4242146A (en) * 1979-01-08 1980-12-30 Mobil Oil Corporation Method for treating oil-contaminated drill cuttings
US20020153311A1 (en) * 1999-09-16 2002-10-24 Scotoil Group Plc Absorbent materials and production thereof

Patent Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4242146A (en) * 1979-01-08 1980-12-30 Mobil Oil Corporation Method for treating oil-contaminated drill cuttings
US20020153311A1 (en) * 1999-09-16 2002-10-24 Scotoil Group Plc Absorbent materials and production thereof

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