scholarly journals Documentation of Acidic Mining Exploration Drill Cuttings at the Pebble Copper–Gold Mineral Prospect, Southwest Alaska

Environments ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 6 (7) ◽  
pp. 78 ◽  
Author(s):  
David M Chambers ◽  
Kendra Zamzow
Keyword(s):  
Field Testing ◽  
Drill Cuttings ◽  
Drilling Waste ◽  
Copper Gold ◽  
Dead Vegetation ◽  
Exploration Drilling ◽  
Gold Mineral ◽  
Extent Of Damage ◽  
Drilling Wastes ◽  
Mining Exploration

During exploration drilling of the Pebble copper–gold–molybdenum (Cu–Au–Mo) deposit, drilling wastes were disposed of directly on the landscape or passed through unlined sumps prior to disposal. The ore and host rock are rich in sulfides, which weather to sulfuric acid with consequent metal leaching. Oxidized cuttings were visually evident, and confirmed with laboratory and field testing to have a pH of 2.7–4.3. At these sites, Cu and Mo exceeded or were at the high end of the natural background. With one exception, Cu was in the range of 545 mg/kg to 4865 mg/kg. Dead vegetation was observed at all sites with drill cuttings on the surface. Dead vegetation was also observed on sump soil covers, unrelated to drilling waste. Sites where vegetation had not re-established were from four to thirteen years old. The potential impact to surface and groundwater was not determined. Understanding the source and extent of damage from cuttings could lead to better site management.

scholarly journals Potential Impacts to Wetlands and Water Bodies Due to Mineral Exploration, Pebble Copper-Gold Prospect, Southwest Alaska

Environments ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 6 (7) ◽  
pp. 84
Author(s):  
Zamzow ◽  
Chambers
Keyword(s):  
Natural Waters ◽  
Mineral Exploration ◽  
Quality Criteria ◽  
Water Quality Criteria ◽  
Regulatory Oversight ◽  
Drilling Waste ◽  
Copper Gold ◽  
Exploration Drilling ◽  
The One ◽  
Drill Holes

There is little information in the literature about the impacts of mineral exploration drilling on natural waters. A copper-gold-molybdenum mining deposit in Alaska was heavily explored until 2012 and partially reclaimed; however, full reclamation of drill sites remained incomplete in 2016. Copper is sub-lethally toxic to salmon, a highly-valued resource in this area. Of 109 sites inspected, 9 sites had confirmed impacts due to un-reclaimed drill-holes or drill waste disposal practices. At seven sites artesian waters at the drill stem resulted in surface water or sediment elevated in aluminum, iron, copper, or zinc with neutral pH. Copper concentrations at artesian sites were <0.4, 0.7, 2, 7, 15, 76, and 215 µg/L; the latter four exceed water quality criteria. Drilling waste is known to have been disposed of in ponds and unlined sumps. At one of five ponds sampled, copper declined from 51 to 8 µg/L over nine years. At the one sump area with historical data, copper increased from 0.3 to 1.8 µg/L at a downgradient wetland spring over five years. This research identifies contaminant types and sources and can be used to guide future ecotoxicity studies and improve regulatory oversight.

scholarly journals PROBLEMS OF STORAGE, REFINERY AND DISPOSING OF DRILLING WASTE OF THE EXPLORATION AND PRODUCTION SECTOR OF KAZAKHSTAN. ARRANGEMENT AND OPERATION FEATURES OF SLUDGE COLLECTORS AND OIL STORAGE PITS

2021 ◽  
Vol 2 (446) ◽  
pp. 151-158
Author(s):  
O. V. Rozhkova ◽  
M. T. Yermekov ◽  
Ye. T. Tolysbayev ◽  
S. G. Maryinsky ◽  
A. V. Vetyugov
Keyword(s):  
Drilling Fluid ◽  
Production Sector ◽  
Textile Materials ◽  
Oil Storage ◽  
Drilling Waste ◽  
Exploration And Production ◽  
Oil Sector ◽  
High Level ◽  
Drilling Wastes ◽  
Water Waste

A lot of drilling wastes with various content of oil products is formed annually during production of hydrocarbons in the result of accidents at the facilities of transportation and oil production, soil is polluted. So, main contaminants of the environment are drilling wastes such as drilling, drilling waste water, waste drilling fluid and places of their disposition - sludge pits. Total amount of the oil slurry annually formed at enterprises of the oil sector of Kazakhstan is about 100 thousand ton, and resources of these wastes are estimated in more than 40 mln. ton. The wastes are placed in special sludge pits equipped with watertight screen. However, in spite of the available modern technologies for arrangement of waterproof finish of the drilling waste disposal facilities, high level of soil pollution is still observed. As a rule, pollutions are related to violation of the requirements of the standards during construction and operation of sludge pits, products pipelines, tailing dumps, sludge collectors and temporary storages. Therefore it is necessary to build reliable storages for temporary placement of the formed wastes until their delivery for recovery or disposing, during operation of which there will be no migration of pollutants to the environment. It is suggested to use bentonitic mats as waterproof finish of such facilities - this is innovative by properties, multifunctional composite material, which is combination of textile materials with the layer of the natural self- recovering mineral component - bentonite.

The Effect of Drilling Waste on Water Resources - The Elemental Composition of Waste

2017 ◽  
Vol 743 ◽  
pp. 338-341 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aleksandra Sergeevna Mishunina ◽  
Alena Andreevna Mekh ◽  
Egor Grigorevich Yazikov
Keyword(s):  
Oil And Gas ◽  
Oil Fields ◽  
Anthropogenic Sources ◽  
Natural Environments ◽  
Gas Wells ◽  
Drill Cuttings ◽  
Chemical Substances ◽  
Drilling Waste ◽  
Oil And Gas Wells ◽  
Tomsk Region

In order to maintain the volume of oil and gas supplies, the number of oil and gas wells increases every year, drilling platforms are built, which proportionally increases the amount of sludge and drilling waste mud, which must be recycled. The research gives light to the danger of introducing chemical substances into various natural environments from industrial and anthropogenic sources on an example of drill cuttings from oil fields of Tomsk region.

scholarly journals The Optimal Formula for Organic Oil Immobilization in Algerian Petroleum Drill Cuttings Using Solidification/Stabilisation Treatment

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Abbas Hadj Abbas ◽  
Abidi Saad Aissa ◽  
Khodja Mohamed ◽  
Sagala Farad ◽  
Hacini Messaoud
Keyword(s):  
Activated Carbon ◽  
Continuous Process ◽  
Oil Field ◽  
Drilling Process ◽  
Mass Ratio ◽  
Optimum Ratio ◽  
Drill Cuttings ◽  
Drilling Waste ◽  
Organophilic Clay ◽  
Optimum Formula

Abstract Hassi Messaoud oil field is one of the most important fields in Algeria and the world, because it covers an important quantity of total Crude Oil Production in Algeria. Furthermore, two-thirds of this oil field is underexplored or not explored. Therefore, the drilling process of petroleum wells in this field is a continuous process that results in significant drilling waste. This implies that, enormous noxious quantities of drilling waste are produced daily that require treatment via solidification/stabilization (S/S) process before being landfilled. These types of wastes have pollution concentration that significantly exceeds the safety standards. In this study, we focus on the factors affecting the solidification/stabilization treatment of the drill cuttings obtained from Hassi Messaoud oil field and the process optimization. The solidification/stabilization is performed using the cement as binder, sand, silicate, organophilic clay and activated carbon as additives. The study is divided in two steps: (i) aims to determine the optimum ratio of each element used in the S/S process for the organic element (hydrocarbon) elimination, (ii) aims to combine the optimum ratios found in the previous step to determine the optimal mixture. The obtained results in the first step showed that the optimum ratio for the cement-to-drill cuttings mass ratio is 0.09:1. For the additives-to-drill cuttings mass ratio are 0.04:1, 0.006:1, 0.013:1 and 0.013:1 for the sand, sodium silicate, Organophilic clay and activated carbon, respectively. An optimum formula is found which its main finding shows that the hydrocarbon content of our sample is dropped from 9.40 to 1.999%. Many tests results before landfilling were investigated such as matrix permeability, resistance to free compression and heavy metals rate before and after S/S process. Besides that, in the light of outcomes achieved by this assessment these harmful cuttings can be converted into a useful product that helps in reducing the environmental foot prints.

scholarly journals Effect of Drilling Wastes on Urease Activities and Substrate Induced Respiration (SIR) in Wetland Soil of Delta and Bayelsa States, South-South, Nigeria

2020 ◽  
pp. 34-47 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. Mirinn ◽  
E. P. Berezi ◽  
K. T. Nwauche
Keyword(s):  
Niger Delta ◽  
Positive Relationship ◽  
Wetland Soil ◽  
Mangrove Soil ◽  
Drilling Waste ◽  
Soil Urease ◽  
Substrate Induced Respiration ◽  
Mangrove Soils ◽  
Dry Soil ◽  
Drilling Wastes

The effect of drilling waste on urease activities and substrate-induced respiration in wetland soil of Niger Delta of Nigeria was investigated, using Fadama, mangrove and meander soils respectively. Urease activity and substrate-induced respiration (SIR) were measured after 1, 7, 14, 28, 42, 56, 70, 105 and 140 days of incubation to evaluate the effects of drilling waste on soil biochemical perimeters. Results obtained indicated that Fadama soil urease activities varied from 13.5 to 2.10 mg NH4 – Hg-1 dry soil in drilling waste. Mangrove soil varied from 13.5 to 2.22 mg NH4 – Ng-1 dry soil in drilling waste. Meander soil activities varied from 14.7 to 3.10 mg NH4 – Ng-1 dry soil in drilling waste. Also, the substrate-induced respiration in Fadama and mangrove soil range from 2.05 to 0.05 ml CO2 kg-1 24 h-1 in drilling waste respectively. Analysis of enzyme activities indicated positive relationship between urease activities and SIR (r = 0.78, p < 0.05 Fadama (r = 1, P < 0.05 Mangrove) and (r = 0.83, P < 0.05 Meander). There was also a positive relationship between 5%, 10% and 15% treatment levels in Fadama, meander and mangrove soils.

Experimental Study of Composting Oil Wet Drill Cuttings as a Drilling Waste Disposal Option

2007 ◽  
Vol 129 (4) ◽  
pp. 307-313 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roald Sørheim ◽  
John Eirik Paulsen ◽  
Arild Saasen ◽  
Jérôme Leleux ◽  
Arnaud Albouy ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Waste Disposal ◽  
Field Experiments ◽  
Deciduous Trees ◽  
Npk Fertilizers ◽  
Drill Cuttings ◽  
Landscape Plants ◽  
Drilling Waste ◽  
Disposal Option ◽  
Fertilization Effect ◽  
Fertilizing Effect

This paper presents the potential of composting oil wet drill cuttings as a drilling waste disposal option. The potential is substantiated by results from several laboratory and field experiments. Artificially oil wetted drill cuttings were prepared by adding commonly used base oils from Norwegian offshore operations to a representative clay. Degradation of the hydrocarbon components in the oily wet cuttings by vermicomposting was successfully accomplished. The composts were beneficially used as part of growing media for landscape plants; ryegrass, coniferous, and deciduous trees, and the fertilization effect was compared with commercial NPK fertilizers. The plant growth studies showed that the composts produced by treating artificial oily drill cuttings by vermicomposting had considerable fertilizing effect on ryegrass and trees.

Management of Drilling Waste in an Environment and Economic Acceptable Manner

2012 ◽  
Vol 518-523 ◽  
pp. 3396-3402 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fei Wang ◽  
Zheng Liang ◽  
Xiong Deng
Keyword(s):  
Waste Management ◽  
Human Health ◽  
Petroleum Industry ◽  
Drilling Fluids ◽  
Efficient Management ◽  
Drilling Waste ◽  
Health Related ◽  
Drilling Operations ◽  
Drilling Wastes ◽  
And Control

In upstream petroleum industry, one of the major operations that can potentially impact the environment is drilling. A major component of the wastes generated during drilling are the rock cuttings and the drilling fluids. The drilling fluids can have different chemical composition and various additives. Spilled or improperly disposed drilling wastes have the potential to harm plants and animals, and it should be managed to minimize risk to human health and the environment. The increasing environmental legislation surrounding drilling operations has led to a rapid rise in drilling waste management spending by operators. Managing wastes to minimize their harm potential to health and environment is the international concern and requires efficient management of wastes to reduce the environmental impacts. The management and control of waste which develops from the strategy can also have the beneficial effect of reducing the number of health related issues.This paper presents the waste management including recognizing the waste sources and methods which are used to minimize the impaction to environment and human health from drilling waste. This paper also reviews the strategy of drilling waste management which could reduce the number of health related issues as well as environment pollution.

scholarly journals The Effect of Amendment Addition Drill Cuttings On Heavy Metals Accumulation In Soils And Plants: Experimental Study And Artificial Network Simulation

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Justyna Kujawska ◽  
Małgorzata Pawłowska
Keyword(s):  
Neural Network ◽  
Heavy Metals ◽  
Artificial Neural Network ◽  
Plant Biomass ◽  
Organic Matter Content ◽  
Plant Materials ◽  
Drill Cuttings ◽  
Legal Standards ◽  
Artificial Neural ◽  
Drilling Wastes

Abstract A greenhouse experiment was carried out to evaluate the influence of drill cuttings addition on the accumulation of heavy metals in soil, in plant biomass (Trifolium pretense L.) cultivated on soils with the addition of this type of waste. The transfer and transformation of heavy metals in the soil with drill cuttings– Trifolium pretense L were discussed.Drilling waste in the amount of 2.5%, 5%, 10% and 15% of dry weight were added to acidic soil. The concentrations of heavy metals in the soil and plant materials were determined by an inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry method. Results indicated that drilling wastes addition had a positive influence on the growth of Trifolium pretense L. However, the concentrations of heavy metals increased in the prepared mixtures along with the dose of drilling wastes. The drilling wastes addition also changed the metal accumulation capacity in plant parts. Nevertheless, the concentrations of heavy metals in soils and above-ground parts of plants did not exceed the permissible values in respective legal standards. The values of the heavy metals bioconcentration coefficient in Trifolium pretense L at the highest dose of drill cuttings were as follows: in the above-ground parts Cd>Cu>Ni>Cr>Pb>Zn, in roots Cd>Ni>Cr>Zn>Pb>Cu.An artificial neural network model was developed in order to predict the concentration of heavy metals in the plants cultivated on the soils polluted with drill cuttings. The input (drill cuttings dose, pH, organic matter content) and the output data (concentration of heavy metals in the shoot cover) were simulated using an artificial neural network program. The results of this study indicate that an artificial neural network trained for experimental measurements can be successfully employed to rapidly predict the heavy metal content in clover. The artificial neural network achieved coefficients of correlation over 90%.

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