Presented by Russell Huffmyer, John VanGehuchten, 

James Silva 

....... . .. NATOONAO.W A T•nOON ... n .. N OOI; 
RECOVERING VALUABLE 

BYPRODUCTS FROM OIL AND GAS 

WASTES 

RUSSELL HUFFMYER; NUVERRAENVIRONMENTAL SOLUTIONS, INC.; 

CORAOPOLIS, PA 

JOHN VAN GEHUCHTEN; HDR ENGINEERING INC.; PITTSBURGH, PA 

IWC 13-37 

0 N ¥ &rtNA ..... 10 ... AO.- ...... ..... O ON ............. . 

N T ERNATIO NALWATER CO NFEREN CE 2 01 3 

We put our energy behind sustainability" 
Overview of Topics 

• Drilling Fluid Composition 

· Water Based (WBM), Oil Based (OBM), Synthetic 

Based (SBM), and Universal Additives 

• Example Treatment Data 

• Well Drilling Fluid Treatment 

• Drill Cuttings Treatment 

• Drilling Mud Treatment 

• Drilling Wastewater Treatment 

Example Treatment Facility 

I N TE RNA T I O NAl ATER CO NF E R E N CE 20 1 3 
Drilling Fluid Composition 

Drilling Fluids- lubricate drilling operations, 

cool the drill head, transports drill cuttings to 

the surface. 

• Water-Based Mud (WBM) 

• Oil-Based Mud (OBM) 

• Synthetic-Based Fluid or Mud (SBM) 

All Drilling Fluids contain Universal 

Additives 

• Surfactants 

• Scale Inhibitors 

Biocides 
Water- Based Mud (WBM) is 

Environmentally Friendly 

Used in shallow zones to protect aquifers 

Properties: 

• Water and Bentonite 

Stabilizers 

• Often- air mist with soap 

• Viscosity control is key 

• Less expensive than OBM 
Oil - Based Mud (OBM) Provides Heat 

Dissipation and Stability 

Base Fluid is Petroleum Product-often diesel 

• Increased lubricity 

• Enhanced scale inhibition 

• Greater cleaning abilities 

• Reduced fluid viscosity 

Higher Cost drives the need 

for recycling. 
Synthetic- Based Mud (SBM) is Used for 

Laterals where Diesel is Prohibited 

Base Fluid is synthetic oil 

• Used for same reasons 

asOBM 

• Highest Cost Mud 

• Recycled wherever 

possible 
Drilling Additives 

Vary Based on 

Mud Type and Region 

Drilling fluids contain 

additives 

• scale inhibitors 

• surfactants 

• biocides 

Also contain materials 

picked up from the 

formation 

• inorganic 

• organic 

• dissolved and 

suspended 

material 

Lower 48 states shale plays 

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Drilling Fluid Treatment 

Four Primary Recoverable Components: 

• Drill Cuttings 

• Drill Mud 

• Drill Water 

• Hydrocarbons 
Well Drilling Fluid Treatment 

• Well Treatment Equipment 

• Isolate Cuttings, Mud, and Wastewater 

Cuttings 
Well Drilling 

Fluid 

Treatment 

Cuttings 

Mud 

• Disposed / 

Recycling 

• On Site Reuse 

• Disposed I 

Recycling 

Water 

• On Site Reuse 

• Treatment I 

Disposal 

Hydrocarbons 

• On Site Reuse 

• Bound to 

cuttings, mud, 

or 

w

ith water 

Drill Cutting Drver 
Well Material Reuse Limitations 

Mud 

• Break down of mud particle size 

Water 

Mud leaving 

system 

4.0 

10 

16 (Pharis, 1991 ) 

• Total Dissolved Solid Limitations (i.e. Chlorides) 

• Total Suspended Solids 

• Sealants (i.e. Calcium) 

I N TE RNAT I O NA L R CO NFEREN CE 201 !I 
Drill Cuttings Treatment 

Cuttings collected from shaker screens can contain 

hydrocarbons. 

Thermal Desorption 

• Heat cuttings in anoxic environment 

• Oil, water evaporate from mineral solids 

• Condense oil and water separately 

Direct vs. Indirect Heating 

• Direct: uses gas or other fuel as heat source 

• Indirect: Friction from rotating drum and hammer 

action on cuttings 

I N TER N ATION AL CO N FE R E N C E 20 I 3 
Drill Cuttings Treatment- Example 

Thermal Desorption Unit 

• Volatilize and Recover 97°/o 

to 99.5°/o hydrocarbons 

• Excellent diesel recovery 

• Cuttings Feed stock: 

• 1 0°/o - 30°/o Diesel 

• 20°/o Water 

• Drill cuttings very clean and 

can be reused: 

• Asphalt or concrete 

aggregate 

• Road base construction 

t N T£ RNA TION ALWATE CO N FERE N C E 2 013 

Image courtesy Therma-Fiite 2013 
Drill Mud Treatment 

Treatment Process: 

• Chemical Treatment or Electro 

Coagulation 

• Oxidant - Break down polymers, 

foaming , or de-foaming agents 

• pH Adjustment 

• Coagulant 

• Iron 

· Aluminum 

• Carbonate 

• Also adsorbs hydrocarbons 

• Solids Removal 

• Clarification 

• Centrifuge 

Filter press 

• Filtrate sent for further treatment 

INTERNAT I O NA L T£R CO NFEREN C E 2 01 J 
Drill Mud Treatment 

Oil Reclamation 

Mud Reuse 

• Typically Landfilled 

• Favorable Potential Reuse Applications 

• Landfill Lining 

• Land farming 

• Mix with organics for wetland restoration 

• Regulatory Obstacles for Reuse 

I N T EaNATI O NAL C O N F ER E N CE 2013 
Dri II Wastewater Treatment 

Water Sources 

From wellhead centrifuges 

• Water Based Mud 

Filtrate or supernatant from mud treatment 

• Typically treated separately from Flowback or Produced water 

Influent Wastewater Quality 

Parameter 

TSS 

------ TDS 

Influent Range (mg/L) 

150-7,000 

10- 1,500 

0- 1,500 

25-2,000 

200-2,000 

3,000- 80,000 
Case Study 

Treatment 

System 

Truck Unloading (\) 

"0 

• Marcellus Shale 

RegionLeading the 

Industry in 

Recycle 

• Typical 

Contaminant 

Levels 

• Variability poses 

Operational 

Challenges 

IN T ERNATI O N Al CO NF E REN C E 2 013 

( Potassium Permanganate & 

( Sulfuric Acid 1 

( Sodium Hydroxide t u cl'.J.I ~ ~ 

~ ~ 

Receiving Pits 

First Stage Second Stage Effluent 

Mix 

Tank 

Clarifier Clarifier Holding Tank 

Truck Loading 

Hydrochloric Acid 

I I >I FlJ ) Roll of Box Removal 

Sludge Plate and 

Holding Tank Frame Press 
Case Study-Treatment Facility 

I N TE .NAT IO NA L CO N F EA E N CE 2013 

Facility location: Masontown, PA 

Facility Capacity-12,000 bpd of 

drilling/flowback water 

Treatment Process and 

Characteristics 

• Treats mostly drilling wastewater 

• Recovers water for Fracturing 

Fluid makeup 

• Primary Contaminants Removed 

• Next phase involves additional 

recovery of condensate 
Conclusion 

IN T ERNATI O NAL CO NFEit E N C E 20 13 

• Act of Drilling Oil and Gas wells require the use of 

water based and/or hydrocarbon based drilling mud. 

• Drilling Fluid Chemistry is created specifically for 

each drilling operation. 

• Currently facility recovers water 

• Future phases will include the recover of 

Hydrocarbons 

• New facilities in design and construction to provide 

greater material recovery