Method for drying oil well drill cuttings
AssigneeDresser Industries, Inc.
InventorJames N. McCaskill, Jr.
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method for drying oil well drill cuttings to eliminate pollution causing organic material from the cuttings includes conveying the drill cuttings bearing the organic material to a heat transfer zone. Large quantities of relatively warm fixed gas are supplied to the heat transfer zone, with the gas functioning as a heat transfer medium. The gas is mixed with the drill cuttings to vaporize water and pollution causing organic material therefrom, with the temperature of the drill cuttings subsequently increasing.
Claims6
A method for drying oil well drill cuttings to eliminate pollution causing volatile organic material including hyrocarbons from the cuttings comprising the steps of:
- conveying the drill cuttings bearing the organic material to a heat transfer zone;
- pre-heating large quantities of relatively warm combustion supporting gas acting as a heat transfer medium to a temperature less than the ignition point of said hydrocarbons;
- supplying large quantities of the relatively warm gas to the heat transfer zone to form a diluted gas-organic material mixture to prevent the formation of a combustible mixture;
- and
- directly mixing the gas with the drill cuttings to rapidly vaporize water and pollution causing volatile organic material from the drill cuttings and subsequently increase the temperature of the cuttings.
A method for drying oil well drill cuttings to eliminate pollution causing organic material including hydrocarbons from the cuttings comprising the steps of:
- conveying the drill cuttings bearing the organic material to a heat transfer zone;
- vibrating the cuttings in the heat transfer zone;
- pre-heating large quantities of relatively warm air acting as heat transfer medium to a temperature less than the ignition point of said hydrocarbons;
- supplying large quantities of the relatively warm temperature air at a high velocity to the heat transfer zone to form a diluted gas-organic material mixture to prevent the formation of a combustible mixture;
- and
- directly intermixing the air with the drill cuttings whereby water and pollution causing organic material are vaporized and thereafter entrained in the air stream exiting from the heat transfer zone.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.