Specialized lined landfill system for the stabilization and containment of drilling wastes and coal combustion residues

Abstract

Systems and methods of the present invention include a method for the treatment of drilling wastes and coal combustion residues, comprising combining at least a first drilling waste with coal combustion residues to form a paste, combining at least a second drilling waste with coal combustion residues to form a compactable fill, and placing the paste and the compactable fill in a landfill. Other embodiments include a method of treating drilling wastes and coal combustion residues, comprising combining at least one drilling waste with a coal combustion residue to form a paste. Further embodiments include containing the paste within at least one geotextile container. Still further embodiments include placing the geotextile container in a landfill.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A method for the treatment of drilling wastes and coal combustion residues, comprising:
 (a) combining at least a first drilling waste with coal combustion residues to form a paste;   (b) combining at least a second drilling waste with coal combustion residues to form a compactable fill; and   (c) placing the paste and the compactable fill in a lined landfill.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said first and second drilling waste is selected from the group consisting of drill cuttings, brine solution, concentrated brine solution, sludge, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first drilling waste in step (a) is selected from the group consisting of brine solution, concentrated brine solution, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the second drilling waste in step (b) is selected from the group consisting of heavy metal sludge, drill cuttings, brine solution, concentrated brine solution, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising adding an agent to at least one of steps (a) and (b), the agent selected from the group consisting of solidifying agents, flocculants, coagulants, and combinations of any thereof. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said coal combustion residue is selected from the group consisting of fly ash, bottom ash, boiler slag, scrubber residues, carbon capture brine, and combinations of any thereof. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the solidifying agent is selected from the group consisting of lime, Portland cement, lime activator, lime kiln dust, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein step (c) further comprises containing the paste within at least one geotextile container within the lined landfill. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising collecting leachate from the lined landfill. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9  further comprising treating the leachate with a method selected from the group consisting of evaporative treatment, membrane-type treatment, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         11 . A method of treating drilling wastes and coal combustion residues, comprising:
 (a) combining at least a one drilling waste with coal combustion residues to form a paste;   (b) containing the paste within at least one geotextile container; and   (c) placing the geotextile container in a lined landfill.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the geotextile container comprises a geotextile tube. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein said drilling waste is selected from the group consisting of drill cuttings, brine solution, concentrated brine solution, heavy metal sludge, and combinations of any thereof. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein said coal combustion residue is selected from the group consisting of fly ash, bottom ash, boiler slag, scrubber residues, and combinations of any thereof. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein step (a) further comprises combining the drilling waste and coal combustion residues with an agent selected from the group consisting of solidifying agents, flocculants, coagulants, and combinations of any thereof. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the solidifying agent is selected from the group consisting of lime, Portland cement, lime activator, lime kiln dust, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising collecting leachate from the lined landfill. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17  further comprising treating the leachate with a method selected from the group consisting of evaporative treatment, membrane-type treatment, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising combining the geotextile containers with compactable fill in the lined landfill, wherein said compactable fill comprises a combination of at least drilling waste and coal combustion residues. 
     
     
         20 . A system for treating drilling wastes and coal combustion residues, comprising:
 (a) a source of drilling waste;   (b) a source of coal combustion residue;   (c) a mixing plant for forming at least one of a paste and a compactable fill, the paste and compactable fill comprising the drilling waste and coal combustion residue; and   (d) a lined landfill for landfilling at least one of the paste and compactable fill.