Solidification/stabilization of drilling mud occuring from petroleum and natural gas drilling activities

This study aims to assess the disposability of water-based drill cuttings (WBDC), one of the most important wastes generated during hydrocarbon exploration and extraction, and their potential use as a construction material. The WBDC generated by Turkish Petroleum in Thrace Region, Turkey was examined in dried and wet forms. Both samples were first solidified/stabilized with CEM I 42.5 R Portland cement according to TS EN 196-1 (0.5 water/cement ratio) with various substitution ratios (4%, 8%, 12%, 16%, 20% for dried and 2%, 4%, 6%, 8%, 10% for wet drill cuttings). First, untreated drill cuttings characterized (XRF semiquantitative element, Regulation of Sanitary Landfilling of the Wastes criteria, and SEM analyses), and then solidified mortars evaluated via strength and durability test (ultrasonic pulse velocity, flexural and compressive strength, and atmospheric water absorption) results. The optimum substitution ratio considering both disposable amount and durability results was 8%. Subsequently, heavy metal leaching tests for all solidified samples and additional leaching tests (BTEX, PCBs, mineral oil, TOC and DOC) for samples with 8% substitution ratios were performed. All the solidified samples were found to meet the criteria for disposal in a 2nd Class Sanitary Landfill.