Abstract

RIVERA ORTIZ, Patricio et al. BIOSTIMULATION AND BIOREMEDIATION OF DRILL CUTTINGS CONTAMINATED WITH HYDROCARBONS. Rev. Int. Contam. Ambient [online]. 2018, vol.34, n.2, pp.249-262. ISSN 0188-4999.  https://doi.org/10.20937/rica.2018.34.02.06.

The drilling of wells for extracting natural gas generates large quantities of drill cuttings contaminated with hydrocarbons. The use of bioremediation methods can reduce the concentration of hydrocarbons in these materials to an acceptable level. Three soils from the central and north zones of the state of Tamaulipas, Mexico, were assayed by mixing them with drill cuttings contaminated with hydrocarbons to find out the ability of soil to perform the bioremediation of hydrocarbons impregnated in the drill cuttings. The biostimulation of soil microorganisms with N and P on the decomposition of hydrocarbons in these mixtures was evaluated. Mixtures of soil and drill cuttings contaminated with hydrocarbons from natural gas extraction wells were poured and incubated in bioremediation cells of 1.0 × 1.2 × 0.4 m for one year. The rate of soil:drill cuttings in these mixtures was 1:1.5. Two agricultural soils and one soil of natural vegetation were studied. Based on the organic carbon content in the mixtures, N and P (urea and monoammonium phosphate) were added, in sufficient amounts to induce a ratio C:N:P of 100:10:1 in the mixture. The hydrocarbons concentration decreased significantly when the drill cuttings, mixed with soil, were incubated in the cells with addition of N and P, reaching 3000 mg/kg of total hydrocarbons, which is the maximum limit allowed in the agricultural soils by the official Mexican standard NOM-138-SEMARNAT/SSA1-2012. Plants of corn (Zea mays) were developed in bioremediated cuttings. The studied soils induced decomposition of hydrocarbons impregnated in drill cuttings and therefore allowed for the bioremediation of cuttings. Biostimulation of soil microorganisms with nutrients N and P, humidity and aeration increased the decomposition of hydrocarbons and fostered the bioremediation of drill cuttings.

Keywords : soils restoration; soils; nitrogen; phosphorus.

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