Influence of Oil Well Drilling Waste on the Engineering Characteristics of Clay Bricks

Abstract

Huge quantities of oil-based mud waste were produced during oil well drilling operations in Egypt. These quantities are environmental hazards and usually disposed in open pits that constructed during drilling operations. These pits, approximately 50 years old, resemble an extreme environmental and health hazards integrated with fire and dangerous sinking risks. Consequently, the main objective of this paper is to explore the influence of oil well drilling waste, basically oil based mud waste, on the engineering characteristics of the manufactured environmentally friendly, sufficient performing red clay building brick. Compositions of the used materials as well as physico-mechanical characteristics of fired briquettes were investigated. The laboratory results demonstrate that the water absorption, bulk density, efflorescence and compressive strength of the fired briquettes are met the acceptable limits of Egyptian Standard No. 204-2005 for clay masonry units used for load and non-load bearing walls construction. The reuse of this waste material in the building industry will contribute to the protection of the environment through great advantages in waste minimization and beneficial income to the community through the utilization process in building industry. (Journal of American Science 2010;6(7):48-54). (ISSN: 1545-1003).