Physical and chemical stabilization of petroleum drilling wastes  <B>Physical and chemical stabilization of petroleum drilling wastes</B><P>A. Tuncan, M. Tuncan and H. Koyuncu</B><I><P> Faculty of Engineering and Architecture, Environmental Engineering Department, Anadolu University, Eskisehir, Turkey</I><P> Abstract <P> Petroleum industry has resulted in the release of large quantities of waste containing a variety of organic and inorganic pollutants. During the petroleum production, petroleum contaminated drilling muds and cuttings were disposed of in open pits called ' mudpit '. So, there has been large quantities of petroleum contaminated wastes which present high risks to the environment. Therefore, environmental protection is needed against pollutants.<P> This study progressed in the field to demonstrate construction feasibility and effectiveness in the site environment which was appropriate. The field study was conducted as a joint effort by researchers at Anadolu University and Turkish Petroleum Corporation (TPAO). Petroleum drilling wastes were collected from the mudpit and mixed with pozzolanic materials such as lime, fly ash and bentonite clay in order to stabilize the petroleum drilling wastes. The stabilized waste was deposited into boxes constructed in the field. After stabilization, the end product was chemically and physically stable and durable and also easy to handle and work with. In this study, physical and chemical properties of stabilized materials were investigated.<P> The laboratory study showed that a mixture of petroleum drilling waste and 15 percent of lime and a mixture of petroleum drilling waste and 10 percent of lime and 10 percent of fly ash gave best results with respect to the pH, oil content, total metals and workability.<P>