Vermiculture compositions
A biodegradable wellbore fluid with an oleaginous phase including a linear paraffin having 11-18 carbon atoms, a non-oleaginous phase, an emulsifying agent and optionally a weighting agent. Use of the fluid while drilling allows bio-remediation of drill cuttings using land spreading, bioreactors, conventional composting or vermiculture composting. The resulting product, especially when vermicomposed, is potentially useful as a soil amendment or plant fertilizer material.
1. A method of biodegrading drilling cuttings coated with a drilling fluid, the method comprising
vermicompositing the drilling cuttings with a vermiculture composition comprising a plurality of worms and a vermiculture feed composition; and
wherein the drilling coating are coated with a drilling fluid formulated to include an oleaginous phase substantially composed in places of linear paraffins having 11-18 carbon atoms, a non-oleaginous phase comprising a salt of a biodegradable ion, and an emulsifying agent.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein the combined drilling cuttings and composition have a compostable balance of nitrogen and carbon content.
3. The method of claim 2 wherein the nitrogen and carbon content have a ratio of about 2:1 to about 100:1.
4. The method of claim 2 wherein the nitrogen and carbon content have a ratio of about 25:1.
5. The method of claim 1 wherein the vermicompositing is carried out in a bioreactor from a bin vermicomposter, a rotating drum vermicomposter, windrows or combinations of these.
6. The method of claim 1 wherein the drilling fluid further includes a weighting agent.
7. The method of claim 1 wherein the non-oleaginous fluid is selected from fresh water, sea water, a brine containing organic or inorganic dissolved salts, a liquid containing water-miscible organic compounds, and combinations thereof.
8. A method for biodegrading drilling cuttings coated with a drilling fluid, the method comprising: exposing the drilling cuttings to a vermicomposting environment for a sufficient period of time to permit the worms to biodegrade the organic components of the drilling fluid; and
wherein the drilling coating are coated with a drilling fluid formulated to include an oleaginous phase substantially composed in places of linear paraffins having 11-18 carbon atoms, a non-oleaginous phase comprising a salt of a biodegradable ion, and an emulsifying agent.
9. The method of claim 8 further comprising mixing the drilling cuttings with a compostable waste material so as to provide a compostable balance of nitrogen and carbon content.
10. The method of claim 9 wherein the nitrogen and carbon content have a ratio of about 2:1 to about 100:1.
11. The method of claim 9 wherein the nitrogen and carbon content have a ratio of about 25:1.
12. The method of claim 8 wherein the vermicomposting is carried out in a bioreactor selected from a bin vermicomposter, a rotating drum vermicomposter, windrows and combinations of these.
13. The method of claim 8 wherein the drilling fluid further includes a weighting agent.
14. The method of claim 8 wherein the non-oleaginous fluid is selected from fresh water, sea water, a brine containing organic or inorganic dissolved salts, a liquid containing water miscible organic compounds, and combinations thereof.
15. A method of vermicular bio-remediation of oil contaminated solids, the method comprising
providing the oil contaminated solids and a vermiculture composition to a vermicular bioreactor, wherein the vermiculture composition comprises a plurality of worms and a bulking agent;
allowing the worms within the vermicular bioreactor to biodegrade the oil contaminated solids; and
wherein the oil contaminated solids comprise drilling cuttings coated with a drilling fluid formulated to include an oleaginous phase substantially composed in places of linear paraffins having 11-18 carbon atoms, a non-oleaginous phase comprising a salt of a biodegradable ion, and an emulsifying agent.
16. The method of claim 15 further comprising mixing the drilling cuttings with a compostable waste material so as to provide a compostable balance of nitrogen and carbon content.
17. The method of claim 16 wherein the nitrogen and carbon content have a ratio of about 2:1 to about 100:1.
18. The method of claim 16 wherein the nitrogen and carbon content have a ratio of about 25:1.
19. The method of claim 15 wherein the vermiculture bioreactor is selected from a bin vermicomposter, a rotating drum vermicomposter, windrows and combinations of these.
20. The method of claim 15 wherein the drilling fluid further includes a weighting agent.
21. The method of claim 15 wherein the drilling fluid further includes a fluid loss control agent.
22. The method of claim 15 wherein the non-oleaginous fluid is selected from fresh water, sea water, a brine containing organic or inorganic dissolved salts, a liquid containing water-miscible organic compounds, and combinations thereof.