Resumen de The composition and beneficial reuse of drilling muds

Industrial Minerals

• An increased focus on hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, is driving demand for minerals such as bentonite and barite used in drilling mud. Drilling waste must subsequently be disposed of in a safe manner. Savannah Cooper of Worldwide Recycling Equipment Sales, takes a look at the environmentally friendly drilling mud recovery route.

  Drilling muds, or drilling fluids, are an integral part of the drilling process. These specialised fluids, which contain minerals such as bentonite, barite, calcium carbonate and graphite, are used to help in the process of drilling a borehole into the earth, which are created for oil and gas extraction, as well as a variety of other reasons. The various minerals added to drilling mud enable it to lubricate the drill bit and bring the drill cuttings up to the surface. Drill cuttings are bits of solid material that are created as the drill bit breaks the rock, and when these come up to the surface, the mud and cuttings are separated.

  Both drilling mud and drill cuttings contain traces of hydrocarbons, which can be hazardous to the environment. Fortunately, waste streams that are especially high in hydrocarbons, such as oil-based muds, are ideal candidates for thermal treatment technologies. Through processes like thermal desorption, hydrocarbons can be recovered from drilling muds, which can then be beneficially reused.