Drill cutting disposal system
AssigneeCDS Development, Inc.
InventorsKenton C. Hill, Darryl A. Schonacher
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus for removing fluids and hydrocarbons in oil well drill cuttings and an apparatus adapted to cooperate with conventional rig shakers for removing a major portion of fluid in the cuttings solids. A major portion of the fluids is removed by shaking the fluids-solids mixture. The solids are agitated by a chemical solution facilitating chemical removal of hydrocarbons in the solids. The solids are placed in an apparatus which shakes the solids at a higher speed than the first shaking, further separating fluids from solids. Fine particles of solids are removed from centrifuging. The separated solids are then discharged from the apparatus for disposal.
Claims14
A method of removing fluids and hydrocarbons in a fluids-solids mixture comprising the steps of:
- (a) shaking the mixture removing a major portion of the fluids from the fluids-solids mixture;
- (b) immersing the solids in a tank containing a chemical solution capable of removing hydrocarbons from the solids;
- (c) agitating the solids in the chemical solution in the tank to facilitate the chemical removal of hydrocarbons from the solids and to break the solids into smaller particles;
- (d) shaking the solids from the tank at a higher speed than the first shaking to further separate fluid from solids;
- (e) centrifuging fluid removed by said high speed shaking removing fine particles of solids;
- (f) heating the solids to vaporize off substantially all of the remaining fluids and hydrocarbons from the solids;
- and
- (g) discharging all of said solids for disposal.
A method of removing fluids and hydrocarbons from oil well drill cuttings comprising the steps of:
- (a) conveying the cuttings to a first shaker device;
- (b) shaking the cuttings removing a major portion of fluids from solids in the cuttings;
- (c) conveying the cuttings to a cuttings disposal systems tank containing an agitator in the lower portions thereof;
- (d) agitating the cuttings solids breaking them into small particles;
- (e) agitating the solids in a chemical solution in the tank reducing the hydrocarbon content in the solids;
- (f) spreading the solids on a second speed shaker device;
- (g) pumping this latter remaining fluid removed from the solids to a centrifuging device;
- (h) centrifuging any solids left in the remaining fluid separated by the high speed shaking;
- (i) heating the solids after discharge from the high speed shaking sufficiently to vaporize off substantially all fluids and hydrocarbons remaining in the solids while simultaneously drying the solids;
- and
- (j) discharging all of the solids for disposal.
An apparatus for removing fluids and hydrocarbons in oil well drill cuttings adapted to cooperate with conventional rig shakers removing a major portion of fluid in the cuttings solids comprising:
- (a) a tank for containing a chemical solution capable of removing hydrocarbons from the solids;
- (b) means for agitating the cuttings solids in the tank reducing the solids to small particles in the solution and chemically reducing the hydrocarbon content in the solids;
- (c) means for shaking the solids at relatively high speed removing fluid remaining the the solids;
- (d) means for centrifuging the remaining fluid separated causing fine solid particles to be removed from the fluid;
- (e) a heater assembly heating the solids sufficiently to vaporize all fluids and removing substantially all hydrocarbons remaining in the solids;
- and
- (f) means discharging the solids from said high speed shaking means.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.