Method and apparatus for collecting, defluidizing and disposing of oil and gas well drill cuttings

A method for collecting, separating and removing drill cuttings from an oil and gas well drilling platform comprising:

• a) suctioning, a drill cutting slurry from a drill cuttings trough via a hose connected to a separator system comprising:
• i) a separator tank assembly comprising:
• a) a single tank divided into fixed displacement upper slurry inflow chamber and lower liquid chamber said upper slurry inflow chamber having inflow and outflow ports, said lower liquid chamber having a liquid outlet port and a solids discharge opening;
• b) a shaft having a helical screw portion passing through said upper slurry inflow chamber and said lower liquid chamber culinating at said solids discharge opening;
• c) a means for driving said helical screw;
• d) a defluidizing strainer, surrounding a portion of said helical screw, located inside said lower liquid chamber;
• and
• e) an adjustable plug means for restricting flow though said solids discharge opening;
• ii) a vacuum pump assembly for removing air and liquids from said upper inflow chamber;
• iii) a solids collection box located adjacent said solids discharge opening;
• iv) a liquid pump connected to said lower liquid chamber;
• and
• v) a liquid collection tank connected to said liquid pump;
• b) forcing said cuttings slurry from said upper inflow chamber into said defluidizing strainer via said helical screw shaft;
• c) compacting said cuttings against said adjustable plug means thus forcing fluids and fine particles through said said into said lower liquid chamber;
• d) forcing said adjustable plug means to open against a preset tension thereby discharging said defluidized cuttings;
• e) collecting said defluidized cuttings, discharged by said separation tank assembly;
• and
• f) collecting liquids being discharged from said separation tank assembly into a liquids collection tank for reprocessing and disposal.

A method for collecting, separating and removing drill cuttings from an oil and gas well during drilling operations comprising:

• a) suctioning, a drill cutting slurry from a drill cuttings trough via a hose connected to a separator system comprising:
• 1. a separator tank assembly comprising:
• a) a single tank divided into fixed displacement upper slurry inflow chamber and lower liquid chamber said upper slurry inflow chamber having inflow and outflow ports, said lower liquid chamber having a liquid outlet port and a solids discharge opening;
• b) a shaft having a helical screw portion passing through said upper inflow chamber and said lower liquid chamber culminating at said solids discharge opening;
• c) a means for driving said helical screw;
• d) a defluidizing strainer, surrounding a portion of said helical screw, located inside said lower liquid chamber;
• and
• e) an adjustable plug means for restricting flow though said solids discharge opening;
• 2. a vacuum pump assembly;
• 3. a liquid pump;
• and
• 4. a liquid collection tank;
• b) forcing said cuttings slurry from said upper inflow chamber into said defluidizing strainer via said helical screw shaft;
• c) compacting said cuttings against said adjustable plug means thus forcing fluids and fine particles through said strainer and into said lower liquid chamber;
• d) forcing said adjustable plug means to open against a preset tension thereby discharging said defluidized cuttings;
• e) collecting said defluidized cuttings, discharged by said separation tank assembly;
• f) processing said defluidized cuttings for injection into the formation adjacent the well being drilled;
• and
• g) collecting liquids being discharged from said separation tank assembly into a liquids collection tank for reprocessing.