Environmentally Friendly Lubricant for Drilling Purposes

Abstract

Yellow grease is an inexpensive, environmentally friendly commodity that can be used as a lubricant on oil drilling sites as well as for many other applications. The present invention outlines use of yellow grease and a lubricant on drilling sites.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A method for providing an environmentally friendly, non-toxic, and non-hazardous drilling lubricant to a drilling fluid, the method comprising the steps of:
 a. collecting yellow grease from a yellow grease producer;   b. filtering non-grease components from the yellow grease;   c. optionally dewatering the yellow grease;   d. transporting the yellow grease to a drill site;   e. mixing the yellow grease with a drill fluid to form a drill fluid-yellow grease mixture; and   f. pumping the drill fluid-yellow grease mixture into the drill hole.   
     
     
         2 . A method for reuse of yellow grease, the method comprising the steps of:
 a. transporting the yellow grease to a drill site;   b. mixing the yellow grease with a drill fluid to form a drill fluid-yellow grease mixture; and   c. pumping the drill fluid-yellow grease mixture into the drill hole.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2  further comprising the steps of:
 a. reclaiming the drill fluid-yellow grease mixture from the drill hole; and 
 b. separating the solids of the drill fluid-yellow grease mixture from the liquid components. 
 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2  further comprising:
 a. adding water to the dewatered yellow grease; and 
 b. optionally adding a freezing temperature modifier. 
 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the temperature modifier is an acid added to a concentration of about at least 0.1% to about 10% 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the temperature modifier is citric acid added to a concentration of about at least 0.1% to about 10%. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the temperature modifier is citric acid added to a concentration of about at least 0.2% to about 5%. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the temperature modifier is citric acid added to a concentration of about at least 0.5% to about 2%. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the drill fluid-yellow grease mixture contains at least twenty percent yellow grease. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the drill fluid-yellow grease mixture contains at least thirty percent yellow grease. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the drill fluid-yellow grease mixture contains at least forty percent yellow grease. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the drill fluid-yellow grease mixture contains at least fifty percent yellow grease. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the drill fluid-yellow grease mixture contains at least sixty percent yellow grease. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the drill fluid-yellow grease mixture contains at least eighty percent yellow grease. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the yellow grease comprises less than about fifteen percent fatty acids. 
     
     
         16 . A drilling lubricant comprising a restaurant waste product. 
     
     
         17 . The drilling lubricant of  claim 16 , wherein the waste product is yellow grease. 
     
     
         18 . The drilling lubricant of  claim 17  wherein the waste product comprises about ninety-percent fatty acids. 
     
     
         19 . The drilling lubricant of  claim 17  wherein the waste product comprises less than about fifteen percent free fatty acids.