Method for converting oil-based drilling fluids, fracking fluids, and produced waters into fertile indigenous top soil

A well site waste fluid decontamination process comprising the steps of:

• positioning near a well site, an apparatus including a hopper, the hopper having at least one compartment with a mixing assembly, and at least one air supply conduit for supplying air into the at least one compartment;
• evaluating a waste fluid to determine if the waste fluid comprises fracturing fluid requiring treatment for sodium;
• evaluating the waste fluid to determine if the waste fluid comprises a hydrocarbon level requiring hydrocarbon treatment;
• evaluating the waste fluid to determine if the waste fluid comprises drilling fluid requiring clay treatment;
• mixing the waste fluid with mature compost, organic fertilizer, and top soil in the at least one compartment of the hopper to form a mixture having a pH in the range of from about 7 to 9.5, from about 30 to 150 volume percent mature compost, from about 5 to 20 volume percent organic fertilizer, and from about 5 to 20 volume percent top soil, wherein each volume percent is based on the volume of the waste fluid present in the mixture;
• if the waste fluid comprises fracturing fluid requiring treatment for sodium, mixing calcium nitrate with the waste fluid in an amount sufficient to balance the sodium content thereof;
• if the waste fluid comprises a hydrocarbon level requiring hydrocarbon treatment, mixing an additional 5 to 100 volume percent organic fertilizer with the waste fluid, the volume percent based on the volume of waste fluid, and mixing hydrocarbon-digesting microbes with the waste fluid in an amount sufficient to inoculate the waste fluid;
• if the waste fluid comprises drilling fluid requiring clay treatment, mixing 5 to 15 volume percent gypsum with the waste fluid, the volume percent based on the volume of waste fluid, to break up and reduce adhesive characteristics of clay particles present in the waste fluid;
• activating the mixing assembly so as to stir the mixture for a period of time effective to form a substantially homogenous mixture;
• drying the substantially homogenous mixture so as to produce fertile top soil;
• and
• removing the fertile top soil from the at least one compartment of the hopper.

A well site waste fluid decontamination process comprising the steps of:

• positioning near a well site, an apparatus including a hopper, the hopper having at least one compartment with a mixing assembly, and at least one air supply conduit for supplying air into the at least one compartment;
• evaluating a waste fluid to determine if the waste fluid comprises fracturing fluid requiring treatment for sodium;
• evaluating the waste fluid to determine if the waste fluid comprises a hydrocarbon level requiring hydrocarbon treatment;
• evaluating the waste fluid to determine if the waste fluid comprises drilling fluid requiring clay treatment;
• mixing the waste fluid with mature compost, organic fertilizer, and top soil in the at least one compartment of the hopper to form a mixture having a pH in the range of from about 7 to 9.5, from about 30 to 150 volume percent mature compost, from about 5 to 20 volume percent organic fertilizer, and from about 5 to 20 volume percent top soil, wherein each volume percent is based on the volume of the waste fluid present in the mixture;
• if the waste fluid comprises fracturing fluid requiring treatment for sodium, mixing calcium nitrate with the waste fluid in an amount sufficient to balance the sodium content thereof;
• if the waste fluid comprises a hydrocarbon level requiring hydrocarbon treatment, mixing an additional 5 to 100 volume percent organic fertilizer with the waste fluid, the volume percent based on the volume of waste fluid, and mixing hydrocarbon-digesting microbes with the waste fluid in an amount sufficient to inoculate the waste fluid;
• if the waste fluid comprises drilling fluid requiring clay treatment, mixing 5 to 15 volume percent gypsum with the waste fluid, the volume percent based on the volume of waste fluid, to break up and reduce adhesive characteristics of clay particles present in the waste fluid;
• activating the mixing assembly so as to stir the mixture for a period of time effective to form a substantially homogenous mixture;
• injecting an amount of air into the mixture to enhance enzyme and microbial activity on hydrocarbon components present in the waste fluid, the air injected at a temperature of from 70° to 105° F. and in an amount and at a velocity sufficient to dry the mixture so as to produce fertile top soil;
• and
• removing the fertile top soil from the at least one compartment of the hopper.