Performance of non-fired bricks containing oil-based drilling cuttings pyrolysis residues of shale gas

The huge amounts of oil-based drilling cuttings pyrolysis residues (ODPR) are produced in oil and gas development field which can result in serious environmental safety problems. The experimental study of the feasibility of using ODPR has been represented in this paper as the replacements for finer aggregates and also as part of the cementitious materials found in bricks. Mechanical and physical properties, detailed environmental performances as well as microstructure analysis were carried out. However, hydrated products and the early hydration process of ODPR bricks were described using XRD, FT-IR, SEM and EDX. The results showed that ODPR had some pozzolanic characteristics and the recycled ODPR had a significant influence on the strength and durability of the non-fired bricks. The best properties were achieved with the help of 50% ODPR with a reliable durability which met grade M10 according to the Chinese standards (GB/T2542-2012). The environmental performance tests concluded that when ODPR acts as the recycled aggregates and you add the mixture for the preparation of the non-fired bricks, from the technical point of view, it wouldn't have been an environmental contaminant.