Well drill cuttings disposal
US6381899B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 30, 2000 |
| Grant date | May 7, 2002 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 30, 2020 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10S71/904
- WIPO fieldCivil engineering
- WIPO sectorOther fields
Abstract
A method for converting well drilling cuttings that carry petroleum hydrocarbons to an environmentally friendly humus-like product wherein salt, if present, is washed therefrom, the washed cuttings mixed with a feedstock having a carbon and nitrogen content sufficient to encourage a biopile composting reaction, forming an environmentally acceptable plant growth enhancing humus-like product by continuing the biopile composting reaction until (1) the biopile is reduced in weight and/or volume to a total biopile weight and/or volume that approaches the original weight and/or volume of the drill cuttings before the feedstock was added thereto, and (2) the total petroleum hydrocarbon content of the biopile is reduced to an environmentally friendly level for spreading on the earth's surface.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.