Method Of Disposing Of Drill Cuttings In Roads

Abstract

A method of using oil-contaminated drill cuttings from drilling operations in roads and primarily in gravel or dirt roads to provide dust suppression or as a component of the top course of a road. In particular, the invention relates to various compositions and processes in which drill cuttings are mixed with virgin aggregates, asphalt compounds and/or recycled hydrocarbons including recycled rubber from tires and recycled asphalt shingles for incorporation into a road bed to provide a structurally satisfactory road and/or dust suppression. The invention thereby provides an effective use of oil-contaminated drill cuttings that would otherwise require remediation or disposal at a landfill.

1 . A method of disposal of hydrocarbon-contaminated drill cuttings in a road comprising the steps of:
 a. mixing hydrocarbon-contaminated drill cuttings with virgin aggregates and asphalt binder to form a blended mixture; and   b. incorporating the blended mixture into the road.   
   
   
       2 . The method as in  claim 1  wherein the degree of hydrocarbon contamination of the drill cuttings is less than 40% (w/w) (hydrocarbon/drill cuttings). 
   
   
       3 . The method as in  claim 1  wherein the degree of hydrocarbon contamination of the drill cuttings is 1-15% (w/w) (hydrocarbon/drill cuttings). 
   
   
       4 . The method as in  claim 1  wherein in step b the blended mixture is incorporated as the base course of a road. 
   
   
       5 . The method as in  claim 1  wherein step b includes incorporating the asphalt aggregate mixture onto the top course of a road. 
   
   
       6 . The method as in  claim 1  wherein the blended mixture of hydrocarbon-contaminated drill cuttings to virgin aggregate is 5-25% (w/w). 
   
   
       7 . The method as in  claim 1  wherein step a) comprises pre-mixing the hydrocarbon-contaminated drill cuttings with an elastomeric material to stabilize the drill cuttings prior to mixing with virgin aggregate. 
   
   
       8 . The method as in  claim 7  wherein the elastomeric material is 1-25% (w/w) of the mass of the drill cuttings. 
   
   
       9 . The method as in  claim 7  wherein the elastomeric material is 5-10% (w/w) of the mass of the drill cuttings. 
   
   
       10 . The method as in  claim 7  wherein the elastomeric material is selected from any one of or a combination of recycled rubber crumb and recycled asphalt shingles. 
   
   
       11 . The method as in  claim 1  wherein the asphalt binder is selected from a hot mix, anionic cold mix, cationic cold mix, non-ionic cold mix or asphalt emulsion binder. 
   
   
       12 . A method of stabilizing oil contaminated drill cuttings or earthen material comprising the step of blending 1-25% (w/w) rubber crumb or asphalt material with the drill cuttings or earthen material. 
   
   
       13 . The method as in  claim 12  wherein 5-10% (w/w) rubber crumb or asphalt material is blended with the drill cuttings or earthen material.