Method for handling and disposing of drill cuttings
OwnerKenneth J. Boutte, Ban D. Greeninventors
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for handling the drill cuttings removed from the drilling mud of an oil and gas well drilling rig is disclosed. The apparatus and method utilize a shaker for separating drill cuttings from the mud, conduit for transporting the drill cuttings so separated to an extruder where the separated cuttings are crushed and compacted into a plurality of discrete compacted pellet-like bodies of a substantially uniform size. Once extruded into pellets, the pelletized cuttings are transported by conveyors to fill collapsible, sealable storage bags that have be positioned on bag racks. When filled the storage bags are filled and then ultimately delivered to a desired location for disposal or further handling.
Claims26
A method of removing drill cuttings from the drilling mud of a drilling mud system of an oil and gas well drilling rig, comprising the steps of:
- a) providing a plurality of collapsible storage bags;
- b) separating drill cuttings from the drilling mud;
- c) then, transporting the drill cuttings so separated to a compactor;
- d) then, compacting the drill cuttings so separated into a plurality of discrete compacted bodies of a substantially uniform size;
- e) then, filling each of said storage bags with said discrete compacted bodies of drill cuttings;
- and
- f) then, delivering said filled storage bags to a desired end location.
A method for handling solids retained in a liquid slurry comprising:
- (a) providing a means for separating solids from the liquid slurry;
- (b) providing a compactor means for crushing and compacting said solids so separated from said liquid slurry into discrete massed bodies;
- (c) transporting said solids so separated from said liquid slurry to said a compactor means;
- (d) crushing and compacting said solids into discrete massed bodies of said separated solids;
- (e) providing at least one storage bag for storing said discrete massed bodies of said separated solids;
- (f) conveying said discrete massed bodies of said separated solids from said compactor means to said storage bag;
- (g) filling said storage bag with said discrete massed bodies of said separated solids;
- and
- (h) transporting said filled storage bag to a desired end location.
A method of disposing drill cuttings produced from the drilling mud of a drilling mud system of an oil and gas well drilling rig, comprising the steps of:
- a) providing a plurality of collapsible storage bags;
- b) separating drill cuttings from the drilling mud;
- c) supporting each of said storage bags on a bag rack;
- d) compacting said drill cuttings so separated into a plurality of discrete compacted bodies of a substantially uniform size;
- e) filling each of said storage bags with said drill cuttings so separated;
- and
- f) then, delivering each of said storage bags so filled to a desired end location.
A method of disposing drill cuttings produced from the drilling mud of a drilling mud system of an offshore oil and gas well drilling platform, comprising the steps of:
- a) providing a drilling rig on an offshore drilling platform for advancing a subsurface borehole, said drilling rig having a system for circulating drilling mud through said borehole and thereby returning drill cuttings from said borehole to the surface of said borehole as said borehole is advanced, said drilling mud system being comprised of a mud supply tank, a drill string, borehole casing pipe;
- mud pumps;
- means for separating said drill cuttings from said circulating drilling mud;
- and means for returning said circulating drilling mud to said mud tank absent said drill cuttings;
- b) providing a plurality of collapsible storage bags, said bags having a top opening;
- c) providing a rack for holding at least one of said storage bags with said top opening in an open position;
- d) selecting a storage bag from said plurality of storage bags and positioning said selected storage bag on said rack with said top opening of said bag in a open position;
- e) separating said drill cuttings from said circulating drilling mud;
- f) providing means for delivering a quantity of said separated drill cuttings from said cuttings separating means to said selected collapsible storage bag;
- g) filling each of said selected storage bag with said quantity of said separated drill cuttings;
- h) storing each said storage bag with said quantity of said separated drill cuttings bags in a desired temporary location on said drilling platform;
- and
- i) transporting each said storage bag with said quantity of said separated drill cuttings bags from said drilling platform to a desired disposal location.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.