초록 ▼

Drilling cuttings comprising usable gravel, silts, clays and spent drilling fluid are reclaimed and disposed of during or after the process of drilling a well by separating construction-grade gravel from the drilling fluid and washing the gravel, if necessary, prior to storage or placing it in use a

Drilling cuttings comprising usable gravel, silts, clays and spent drilling fluid are reclaimed and disposed of during or after the process of drilling a well by separating construction-grade gravel from the drilling fluid and washing the gravel, if necessary, prior to storage or placing it in use as construction material. Solids not reclaimed for construction use are formed as a slurry and conducted to an injection well by and through centrifugal pumps or mechanical agitators for dispersing the fine solids in the slurry to aid in the injection process. Gravel wash water may be used as a component of the waste slurry and the slurry may be conditioned for injection by the addition of surfactants and dispersants.

대표청구항 ▼

A method for minimizing drilling wastes formed during the drilling of a wellbore into the earth including reclaiming selected solids of a first selected size and comprising gravel entrained in a drilling fluid and disposing of certain other solids entrained in said drilling fluid, said method compri

A method for minimizing drilling wastes formed during the drilling of a wellbore into the earth including reclaiming selected solids of a first selected size and comprising gravel entrained in a drilling fluid and disposing of certain other solids entrained in said drilling fluid, said method comprising the steps of: conducting drilling fluid from said well being drilled including entrained solids forming drilling cuttings to screening means, screening solids of said first selected size and comprising gravel from said drilling fluid and reclaiming said gravel; separating said other solids forming a slurry containing said other solids, from said drilling fluid; forming a slurry containing said other solids, providing an injection well into an earth formation and defining a wellbore space; and conducting said slurry to said injection well and injecting said slurry into said wellbore space.