Literally translated from German, this word means - dirt. Sludge is a precipitate of solid fine particles that forms when a liquid is filtered or sedimented. In addition, it may be a powder formed during the electrolysis of metals. Typically, such a slurry contains microparticles of noble metals. And finally, the sludge is obtained as a result of drilling or crushing of rock.
Drill cuttings
This species is an aqueous suspension. It has a solid part, consisting of products obtained during the destruction of the rock, as well as the walls of the well. Drill cuttings are part of the slurry that the slurry pipe captures during core drilling. Drill cuttings include four types of waste:
- waste concrete;
- clay;
- liquid soil;
- groundwater.
It is very important to properly dispose of drill cuttings. This is a task on which the well-being of the environment depends. Today, there are several methods of disposal, but until now, experts have not come to a consensus that which is more effective.
Oil sludge
It is a robust, multi-component system. It consists of petroleum products, water and mineral impurities. Oil sludge is a product that is formed during the extraction, processing and transportation of crude oil.
Types of oil sludge
In accordance with the condition for the formation of sludge, they can be divided into three independent groups:
1) soil, which are formed in the case when crude oil or oil products are spilled onto the soil (during production or in emergency situations);
2) reservoir - are formed during the transportation of petroleum products or during storage in containers of different designs;
3) bottom - this type of sludge appears if oil spills settle on the bottom of the reservoir.
In a separate group, sludge is formed during oil production. The oily combustible liquid emerging on the surface of the earth in its composition contains small particles of salt and rocks, water, gases. This is the so-called crude oil. The impurities contained in it, seriously complicate the transportation and processing of crude oil . Therefore, pre-raw caustobolite is processed in a special way. Water, solids, salts and solid carbons are removed from it. Then, water is again pumped into the oil reservoir (to maintain pressure). As a result, solids with oil become oil sludge.
Currently, the processing of the mentioned substance is a necessary process. Thanks to him, it is possible to recover part of the oil product. Oil sludge, regardless of the nature of occurrence, is harmful to the environment.
To date, the only way to dispose of them is by burning or burial. These methods are very expensive financially, require strict adherence to all technological standards. But at the same time, they do not give the desired result.
Yes, unfortunately, no ideal way to dispose of oil sludge has been found. As in the twentieth century, traditional methods are most often used - burning, settling, filtering.