Drilled cuttings movement systems and methods

A method for moving drilled cuttings from an offshore rig located in water to a boat in the water adjacent said offshore rig, said drilled cuttings laden with drilling fluid, said method comprising

• feeding drilled cuttings from a drilling operation to a cuttings processor, the drilled cuttings laden with drilling fluid, said cuttings processor comprising a rotating annular screen apparatus,
• processing the drilled cuttings with the cuttings processor producing processed drilled cuttings and secondary material, the secondary material including drilling fluid and drilled cuttings, said processed drilled cuttings including drilling fluid,
• feeding processed drilled cuttings from the cuttings processor to positive pressure blow tank apparatus, said positive pressure blow tank apparatus having a tank which receives said processed drilled cuttings from said cuttings processor,
• supplying air under pressure to the tank of the positive pressure blow tank apparatus for expelling processed drilled cuttings from said tank and propelling said processed drilled cuttings to tertiary apparatus,
• wherein drilled cuttings from the positive pressure blow tank apparatus are fed in a line to the tertiary apparatus, the line having at least one positive pressure air assist device for facilitating movement of drilled cuttings through the line, the method further comprising
• facilitating drilled cuttings movement through the line with the at least one positive pressure air assist device,
• wherein the cuttings processor reduces the weight of drilled cuttings processed thereby by removing drilling fluid from said drilled cuttings, said drilling fluid not fed to said positive pressure blow tank apparatus, and thereby reducing a load on the positive pressure blow tank apparatus and on the further apparatus.

A method for moving drilled cuttings material, the drilled cuttings material including drilled cuttings and drilling fluid, the method comprising

• feeding the drilled cuttings material to cuttings processor apparatus, the cuttings processor apparatus comprising rotating annular screen apparatus,
• processing the drilled cuttings material with the cuttings processor producing processed drilled cuttings and secondary material, the secondary material including drilled cuttings and drilling fluid, said processed drilled cuttings including drilling fluid,
• conveying with fluid under positive pressure processed drilled cuttings from the cuttings processor to flow conduit apparatus,
• applying air under positive pressure to the flow conduit apparatus to continuously move the processed drilled cuttings therethrough,
• continuously moving the processed drilled cuttings with the air under pressure to separation apparatus, and
• with the separation apparatus continuously separating processed drilled cuttings from the air.

A system for moving drilled cuttings, the system comprising

• movement apparatus for moving drilled cuttings,
• cuttings processor apparatus for receiving drilled cuttings from the movement apparatus and for processing the drilled cuttings for feed to tank apparatus, the cuttings processor apparatus including rotating annular screen apparatus,
• tank apparatus for receiving drilled cuttings from the cuttings processor apparatus,
• flow conduit apparatus for receiving drilled cuttings from the tank apparatus,
• pressurized fluid apparatus for applying air under positive pressure to the drilled cuttings and for continuously moving the drilled cuttings through the flow conduit apparatus and to separation apparatus, and
• separation apparatus for continuously receiving the drilled cuttings through the flow conduit apparatus, the separation apparatus for separating the drilled cuttings from air.

A method of conveying a paste, the paste including drilled cuttings laden with fluid, the method comprising

• feeding the paste to a cuttings processor, the cuttings processor comprising a rotating annular screen apparatus,
• reducing the weight of said paste with the cuttings processor by removing fluid from the paste, the cuttings processor producing produced material that includes drilled cuttings and fluid,
• feeding the produced material from the cuttings processor into a vessel,
• applying a compressed gas to the vessel to cause the produced material to flow out of the vessel, the vessel including a conical hopper portion which, at least during discharge of the produced material, forms the lower section of the vessel and the cone angle is below a critical value required to achieve mass flow of the produced material.