US 5,961,438 A · Method and apparatus for the injection disposal of solid and liquid waste materials into subpressured earth formations penetrated by a borehole

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for the disposal of solid particulate material in subterranean formations penetrated by a borehole are disclosed. The invention includes, but is not limited to, the disposal of oil field waste and therefore provides means and methods for the disposal of virtually any type of waste slurry stream. A slurry is formed at the surface of the earth by mixing the solid waste in particulate form with liquid and preferably a viscosifier thereby forming a slurry. A borehole is drilled into a selected injection formation and the slurry is pumped or flowed "on vacuum" from the surface through the borehole and into the injection formation. Some surface pretreating of the slurry may be required including sizing of the particulate solids, adding weighting material, removing excessive amounts of oil and grease and diluting to reduce the level of radioactivity. The injection formation is preferably underpressured, highly permeable, highly porous, and dipping in angle with respect to the horizontal and highly fractured. The borehole is hydraulically isolated from intervening earth strata between the surface of the earth and the injection formation.

Claims50

Dependent claims

A method for disposing solid materials in a liquid in a subterranean injection formation comprising:

(a) transferring drilling waste from a remote drilling location to a disposal site;
(b) locating a subterranean injection formation overlaid by a formation of imperious material, wherein the injection formation extends from a certain depth to a greater depth;
(c) penetrating said subterranean injection formation with a borehole;
(d) mixing at the surface of the earth a solid material, liquid and viscosifier to thereby form a slurry;
and
(e) transferring said slurry from the surface of the earth through said borehole into said injection formation by the force of gravity or by pumping at a low surface injection pressure.

3 more elements

A method for disposing solid materials in a liquid in a subterranean injection formation comprising:

(a) transferring a liquid waste from a remote location to a disposal site;
(b) locating under the disposed site a subterranean injection formation overlaid by a formation of impervious material, wherein the injection formation extends from a certain depth to a greater depth;
(c) penetrating said subterranean injection formation with a borehole;
(d) mixing at the surface of the earth a solid material in a liquid to thereby form a slurry;
(e) transferring said slurry from the surface of the earth through said borehole into said injection formation by means of the force of gravity or with a low formation injection pressure induced at the surface;
and
(f) wherein the step of locating the injection formation includes drilling the borehole adjacent to a salt dome to intercept a formation exhibiting high porosity and permeability around the salt dome and said formation extends downwardly and away from the salt dome, and said selected formation is separated and isolated by formations thereabove so that said injection formation does not communicate with any fresh water formation above said injection formation.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Method and apparatus for the injection disposal of solid and liquid waste materials into subpressured earth formations penetrated by a borehole

Life of this patent

Method and apparatus for the injection disposal of solid and liquid waste materials into subpressured earth formations penetrated by a borehole

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims50