Cuttings impoundment

Abstract

A method for disposing drill cuttings including transferring a plurality of drill cuttings from a drilling location to a disposal site. The drill cuttings being placed as a first layer onto a drilling cuttings pad located at the disposal site, and impounded onto the drill cuttings pad. Also, a method for disposing drill cuttings including transferring a plurality of drill cuttings from a drilling location to an onsite processing location. The plurality of drill cuttings then being processed into construction materials and used at the drilling location.

1 . A method for disposing drill cuttings comprising:
 transferring a plurality of drill cuttings from a drilling location to a disposal site;   placing the plurality of drill cuttings as a first layer onto a drill cuttings pad located at the disposal site; and   impounding the plurality of drill cuttings on the drill cuttings pad.   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising treating the plurality of drill cuttings with a solidification reagent. 
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the solidification reagent is selected from a group consisting of cement, kiln dust, fly-ash, and paint. 
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising sealing the plurality of drill cuttings. 
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the sealing comprises painting the drill cuttings with a latex-based paint. 
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising building a trench around the drill cuttings pad. 
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first layer is substantially pyramidal. 
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising placing a second layer of drill cuttings on top of the first layer of drill cuttings. 
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the disposal site comprises the drilling location. 
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first layer is a base layer. 
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the base layer comprises a clay bed covered with caliche. 
   
   
       12 . A method for disposing drill cuttings comprising:
 transferring a plurality of drill cuttings from a drilling location to an onsite processing location;   processing the plurality of drill cuttings into construction materials; and   using the construction materials at the drilling location.   
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the construction materials are one of a group consisting of berms, location base, production pads, and road base. 
   
   
       14 . A method of disposing drill cuttings comprising:
 transferring a plurality of drill cuttings from a drilling location to a disposal site;   impounding the plurality of drill cuttings into a monolith; and   placing the monolith on the surface of the disposal site.   
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the disposal site comprises the drilling location. 
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the monolith is generally pyramidal. 
   
   
       17 . A system for disposing drill cuttings comprising:
 a drill cuttings dispersal device to transfer drill cuttings from a cleaning site to a disposal site; and   a drill cuttings pad located at the disposal site;   wherein the drill cuttings dispersal device moves drill cuttings from the cleaning site to the disposal site;   wherein the drill cuttings are placed on the drill cuttings pad; and   wherein the drill cuttings are impounded on the surface of the disposal site.   
   
   
       18 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the disposal site comprises a drilling location. 
   
   
       19 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the drill cuttings dispersal device is automated.