TCC RotoMill
Mobile thermal treatment of drill cuttings and associated wastes offshore and onshore
The handling of drilling wastes, whether the result of exploration and appraisal, production or decommissioning activities, is an important consideration throughout the life of oil and gas projects. Even more so today as environmental legislation and operator corporate policies continue to evolve worldwide.
TWMA has unrivalled experience in the handling, treatment and disposal of drilling wastes through the TCC RotoMill and associated services. Since 1993, TWMA has been building experience and know-how through continual development and has worked in desert to sub-zero conditions with the TCC RotoMill technology and associated services.
In the UK, the TCC RotoMill was subject to extensive trials authorised by the offshore oil and gas regulator (now the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC)) to establish the efficiency and reliability of the process. The findings were reported to the OSPAR Offshore Industry Committee and it was accepted that the TCC RotoMill could constitute Best Available Technology (BAT) and Best Environmental Practise (BEP) for the treatment of drill cuttings contaminated with oil-based drilling fluids.
TWMA has utilised its wealth of experience, plus resesarch and development, to successfully introduce this service provision to the offshore and remote locations markets.
The technology processes and recycles drilling wastes by separating them into their constituent parts of oil, water and solids for recycling and reuse. Handling drilling waste using TWMA’s TCC RotoMill technology minimises the environmental impact and related costs associated with the transportation of drilling wastes to shore or to a central processing site.
The processing temperature of the TCC RotoMill is generated by mechanical energy to flash evaporate the fluid phases of oil and water. These fluids are then condensed and recovered seperately. Importantly, no emissions are released to the atmosphere during this process.
Recovered materials
Oil – The oil recovered by the process can be recycled back into the drilling mud system. We use relatively low temperatures during the process to ensure that the oil is unaffected by the thermal desorption and is free of any odour.
Water – The recovered water can be reused to dampen the powder at point of discharge or disposed to sea in line with legislation and client requirements.
Solids – The inert solids powder phase can be used in industry as a filler/bulking agent or disposed to sea in line with legislation and client requirements.
Performance
The TCC RotoMill comes in various throughput models with the largest current model capable of processing up to 9 tonnes per hour, that is 70,000 metric tonnes per annum, 24 hours per day. The unit does not require extended warm up or shut down periods. This ensures that shift patterns and processing hours can be adjusted to meet the specific needs of a project as well as the rate at which drilling wastes are generated from the well.
Our computerised monitor and control system allows drilling wastes to be processed on a continuous basis.
Typical performance levels are:
- The level of retained hydrocarbons in the recovered solids is less than 1%, typically less than 0.1%
- The level of retained hydrocarbons in the recovered waste is typically less than 20ppm, filtering is available should lower levels be required
- The recovered base oils are unimpaired by the process and suitable for reuse in the mud system
The TCC RotoMill can be used separately or in conjunction with the TWMA CCDS and TWMA Vacuum System to provide an integrated drilling waste system capturing all materials at the work site. Integrating the TCC RotoMill with our CCDS technology is the optimum drilling waste package, providing a complete environmentally sensitive solution for any drilling waste management project.
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