What Does
Cuttings Reinjection Mean?
Cuttings reinjection (CRI) is a widely used drilling waste management technique. The CRI process involves the injection of drilling waste in the sub-surface using high pressure pumping above the injection formations fracture gradient.
With increasingly strict environmental regulations, CRI is an effective method for projects to safely and efficiently dispose of cuttings in annular injection or disposal wells.
Trenchlesspedia Explains Cuttings Reinjection
The major cost for the disposal of drilled cuttings is handling, transportation, cleaning, and disposal. The cost can be minimized by handling the drill cuttings once by using the CRI process.
CRI is a cost-effective, zero discharge, environment friendly, and a weather independent solution. The drill cuttings can be stored in cuttings boxes or bulk boxes eliminating rig downtime. Using this method, cuttings are permanently disposed of in the host formation with no future liabilities or additional cost.
The process is called reinjection because the drill cuttings are returned back to their origin below the earth's surface. The CRI process involves the milling and shearing of slurried drill cuttings and oil field wastes with water into an appropriate size.
The resulting slurry is then disposed of by pumping it into a disposal well or through the open annulus of a previous well into a fracture created near the casing shoe set in a suitable formation.