Patent ID: 7272912
Filing Date: 2007-09-25
Classification: A01C,B09C,C02F,C05D,C05F,E21B,Y02P,Y02W

Abstract:
1. The method for producing fertile indigenous top soil from water-based drilling mud at a well site wherein the fertile indigenous top soil possesses similar microbial and enzyme characteristics as soil at the well site, comprising: admixing, at a well site, effective amounts of spent water-based drilling mud, mature compost, organic fertilizer, and top soil from the well site to provide a mixture having a pH in the range of from about 7 to about 9.5, the mixture containing spent water-based drilling mud, from about 30 to about 150 volume percent mature compost, from about 5 to 20 volume percent organic fertilizer, from about 5 to about 15 volume percent gypsum to break up and reduce adhesive characteristics of clay particles present in the spent water-based drilling mud, and from about 5 to 20 volume percent top soil from the well site wherein each of the volume percents is based on the volume of the spent water-based drilling mud present in the mixture; stirring the mixture for a period of time effective to form a substantially homogenous mixture; and drying the substantially homogenous mixture so as to provide fertile indigenous top soil possessing similar microbial and enzyme characteristics as the top soil at the well site.