Use of Drill Cuttings for Road Building

Abstract

The negative impact on the environment from drill cuttings resulting from drilling wells for oil production is assessed in this article. Environmental hazards are contaminants such as petroleum products, drilling fluid reagents, and chemical compounds of heavy metals that make up drill cuttings. To assess the negative impact, the heavy metal content indicators and chemical analysis parameters of drill cuttings were determined. It has been established that there are no excesses in the standards for the content of heavy metals in drill cuttings. The results of chemical analysis showed that there are excesses in values: MPC (Maximum Permissible Concentrations), COD (Chemical Oxygen Demand), oil content, solids, hardness, magnesium and calcium ions, chlorides. Two directions of utilization of drill cuttings were selected: the use of drill cuttings in the construction of the foundation of the road, and obtaining material based on drill cuttings to strengthen slopes. A technoground was obtained in the form of a lumpy material for placement in a barn and further excavation for filling embankments and strengthening soil. In preliminary studies, it was found that theb technoground sample with the following component composition has the most stable strength characteristics: cement - 20%; drill cuttings - 80%; liquid glass - 2% over 100% of the mixture.