Effect of Pre-treated Oil-based Drill Cuttings on the Compressive Strength of Sandcrete Blocks

Abstract

This study examines the drill cuttings on the compressive strength of mortar blended with thermally desorbed drill cuttings and Portland-limestone cement grade 42.5R. The thermally desorbed drill cuttings was used as a partial substitute for Portland-limestone cement. Replacement levels of 0, 5, 10, 15, 20 and 25% were used. The chemical oxide composition, initial and final settings times and the compressive strengths of the blended mortar were determined at curing period of 7 days, 28 days and 90 days respectively. The ANOVA analysis showed that the replication means are not significantly different at 5% probability level, while the coefficient of variability obtained is 10.9% which is within the acceptable limit of less than 20%. Also, the results showed that the treatment means are significantly different at 5% probability level and within the acceptable limit of coefficient of variability which is the degree of precision with which the treatments were compared. Hence, this indicates that the 95% probability that the conclusion of the treatment mean being different is correct, keeping other experimental variables constant. Therefore, partial replacement of cement with the pretreated oil based drill cuttings at different replacement levels has a significant effect on the compressive strength of the sandcrete blocks produced.