Treatment of Legacy Oil Based Mud OBM Drill Cuttings and Sustainable Use of Recovered Materials

Abstract

Abstract In 1990's due to lack of treatment facilities, Oil Based Mud (OBM) drill cuttings generated from drilling operations were dumped in an interim waste storage facility located in prime industrial area. Considering the complex nature of hazardous waste on land, treatment costs and future environmental liability involved, company evaluated number of treatment options and based on techno-economical and legal assessment, selected option of transferring OBM cuttings stored in pits for treatment using Thermal Desorption process. Thermal desorption is recognized as best environmental remediation process that uses heat to increase the volatility of contaminants to remove hydrocarbons and water from the solid matrix. The storage pits were remediated by removal of bottom contaminated soil upto 1% Total petroleum Hydrocarbon (TPH) and HDPE Liners. The treatment of legacy waste including clean-up of the old pits enabled site decommissioning for future industrial expansion in the area. The successful completion of project resulted in considerable economic benefit compared to other competent treatment costs and reduced environmental liability from legacy wastes. The paper presents the methodology adopted for treating OBM legacy waste and clean up of the site confirming to regulatory requirements.