Drill Cuttings Re-Injection

Abstract

A method for re-injecting formation solids into a subsurface formation includes obtaining a volume of solid particles from drilling returns, and then obtaining an aqueous operations fluid comprising at least one surfactant. Mixing a volume of the operations fluid with the volume of solid particles to form a slurry which is injected into a disposal well which includes a NAF filter cake. Then injecting the slurry into one or more fractures formed in the subsurface formation such that the slurry contacts the NAF filter cake en route to the one or more fractures.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for re-injecting drill cuttings into a subsurface formation, comprising:
 obtaining a volume of solid particles from drilling returns;   obtaining an aqueous operations fluid comprising at least one surfactant;   mixing a volume of the operations fluid with the volume of solid particles, thereby forming a slurry;   pumping the slurry into a disposal well, wherein the disposal well includes a NAF filter cake;   injecting the slurry into one or more fractures formed in the subsurface formation such that the slurry contacts the NAF filter cake en route to the one or more fractures.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the surfactant is an alkyl acid surfactant, an organo-anionic surfactant, or mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the organo-anionic surfactant has the general formula:
   {R—X} −+ {Y}
   wherein:
 R is selected from the group comprising linear and branched alkyl and aryl alkyl hydrocarbon chains, 
 X is an acid, and 
 Y is an organic amine. 
   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein X is selected from the group comprising sulfonic acids, carboxylic acids, phosphoric acids, and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein Y is selected from the group comprising monoethanol amine, di-ethanol amine, tri-ethanol amine, ethylene di-amine, propylene diamine, di-ethylene tri-amine, tri-ethylene tetra-amine, tetra ethylene pent-amine, di-propylene tri-amine, tri-propylene tetra-amine, tetra-propylene pentamine, and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the organo-anionic surfactant is selected from the group comprising monoethanol ammonium alkyl aromatic sulfonic acid, monoethanol ammonium alkyl carboxylic acid, and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the alkyl acid surfactant has the general formula:
   {S—Z}
   wherein:
 S is selected from the group comprising linear and branched alkyl and aryl alkyl hydrocarbon chains of 8 to 24 carbons, and 
 Z is an acid group selected from the group comprising sulfonic acids, carboxylic acids, phosphoric acids, and mixtures thereof. 
   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the operations fluid comprises surfactant present in solution at a concentration greater than about 0.01 wt % and less than about 20.0 wt % based on water in the operations fluid. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the operation fluid further comprises dissolved salts; and   the concentration of dissolved salts is greater than about 0.1 wt % and less than about 25.0 wt % based on the weight of water in the aqueous fluid.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the dissolved salts comprise (i) chloride salt of calcium, (ii) chloride salt of potassium, (iii) sulfate salt of calcium, (iv) sulfate salt of potassium, and (v) combinations thereof. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the operation fluid further comprises an alcohol; and   the concentration of alcohol is greater than about 0.001 wt % and less than about 15.0 wt % based on the weight of water in the aqueous fluid.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the alcohol comprise methanol, ethanol, propanol, butanol, pentanol, hexanol, heptanol, octanol, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 pumping a volume of the aqueous operations fluid into the disposal well without the slurry prior to pumping the slurry into the disposal well.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the surfactant is comprised substantially of a weak acid and a weak base. 
     
     
         15 . A method for re-injecting drill cuttings into a subsurface formation, comprising:
 obtaining a volume of solid particles from drilling returns;   obtaining an aqueous operations fluid comprising at least one surfactant;   pumping a volume of the aqueous operations fluid into a disposal well in order to remediate a NAF filter cake residing alone a borehole of the disposal well;   preparing a slurry of aqueous fluid with the volume of solid particles;   pumping the slurry into the disposal well, wherein the disposal well includes a NAF filter cake;   injecting the slurry into one or more fractures formed in the subsurface formation.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the surfactant is an alkyl acid surfactant, an organo-anionic surfactant, or mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein preparing a slurry of aqueous fluid with the volume of solid particles comprises mixing a portion of the operations fluid with the volume of solid particles. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the organo-anionic surfactant has the general formula:
   {R—X} −+ {Y}
   wherein:
 R is selected from the group comprising linear and branched alkyl and aryl alkyl hydrocarbon chains, 
 X is an acid, and 
 Y is an organic amine. 
   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein X is selected from the group comprising sulfonic acids, carboxylic acids, phosphoric acids, and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein Y is selected from the group comprising monoethanol amine, di-ethanol amine, tri-ethanol amine, ethylene di-amine, propylene diamine, di-ethylene tri-amine, tri-ethylene tetra-amine, tetra ethylene pent-amine, di-propylene tri-amine, tri-propylene tetra-amine, tetra-propylene pentamine, and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the organo-anionic surfactant is selected from the group comprising monoethanol ammonium alkyl aromatic sulfonic acid, monoethanol ammonium alkyl carboxylic acid, and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the alkyl acid surfactant has the general formula:
   {S—Z}
   wherein:
 S is selected from the group comprising linear and branched alkyl and aryl alkyl hydrocarbon chains of 8 to 24 carbons, and 
 Z is an acid group selected from the group comprising sulfonic acids, carboxylic acids, phosphoric acids, and mixtures thereof. 
   
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the operations fluid comprises surfactant present in solution at a concentration greater than about 0.01 wt % and less than about 20.0 wt % based on water in the operations fluid. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the surfactant is comprised substantially of a weak acid and a weak base.