John Candler

Stephen Rabke

Gary E Fout

Jonathan Getliff

Greg McEwan

Kayli Clements

G Wray Curtis

Sonya Ross

Arvind D Patel

Jim Friedheim

Frederick B Growcock

Will Marchbanks

William Marchbanks

Fredrick Growcock

A biodegradable wellbore fluid with an oleaginous phase including a linear paraffin having 11-18 carbon atoms, a non-oleaginous phase, an emulsifying agent and optionally a weighting agent. Use of the fluid while drilling allows bio-remediation of drill cuttings using land spreading, bioreactors, conventional composting or vermiculture composting. The resulting product, especially when vermicomposed, is potentially useful as a soil amendment or plant fertilizer material.

Vermiculture compositions

A method for treating drill cuttings including depositing drill cuttings in a desalinization cell, the desalinization cell having a high end, a low end, and a cuttings pad. The method further includes washing the drill cuttings in the desalinization cell with a liquid phase and removing a cuttings runoff from the drill cuttings. Also, a method for treating drill cuttings including depositing drill cuttings in a desalinator, the desalinator having a geometric structure having a perforated side. The method further includes adding a liquid phase to the desalinator through the perforated side, washing the drill cuttings in the desalinator with the liquid phase, and producing desalinated drill cuttings and a cuttings runoff.

Cuttings treatment and reuse

A method of formulating and the resulting biodegradable wellbore fluid includes a first synthetic internal olefin fraction having from 16 to 18 carbon atoms (CIO), a second synthetic internal olefin fraction having between 15 to 18 carbon atoms (CIO), and a third synthetic internal olefin fraction having 15 to 16 carbon atoms (CIO). The components of the wellbore fluid are blended such that the desired characteristics of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon content, toxicity and biodegrability are balance to achieve compliance with environmental requirements for hydrocarbon based drilling fluids. One such illustrative embodiment achieves this result by utilizing a formulation in which the first internal olefin fraction is present in a range of about 45 to about 55 percent by weight of the wellbore fluid and wherein the second internal olefin fraction is present in range of about 20 to about 30 percent by weight of the wellbore fluid and wherein the third olefin fraction is present in range of about 20 to about 30 percent by weight of the wellbore fluid. Optionally, the illustrative fluid can include a Calpha olefin (CAO). In such instances, the Calpha olefin (CAO) is present in the range of about 10 to about 20 percent by weight of the wellbore fluid.

Environmentally compatible hydrocarbon blend drilling fluid

Growing community of inventors

Houston, TX, United States of America

John Candler