Importance

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Abstract

The present invention provides a process and an additive package for removing oil from solid material recovered from a well bore, e.g., drill cuttings and produced sand. In this process, the solid material is passed from the well bore to a separation zone. An aqueous acidic solution containing a polymer substituted with an amino group is introduced to the separation zone containing the solid material along with a halogenating agent and optionally one or more surfactants. The polymer, halogenating agent, and optional surfactant constitute the additive package. The polymer substituted with an amino group is preferably chitosan, and the halogenating agent is preferably a sodium hypochlorite solution. The mixture formed in the separation zone is agitated to cause a product of a reaction between the polymer and the halogenating agent to contact the solid material and remove residual oil therefrom.

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First Claim