Systems and methods for storing and handling drill cuttings

A vessel for selectively holding drilling cuttings material, the vessel comprising

• a body, the body comprising a hollow container with an interior space for receiving drilling cuttings material and from which drilling cuttings material may exit from the body,
• a first opening through which the drilling cuttings material is introducible into the hollow container,
• a second opening through which the drilling cuttings material is passable out from the hollow container,
• movement apparatus, the movement apparatus comprising a movement member within the hollow container and movable adjacent the second opening to facilitate passage of the drilling cuttings material into the second opening,
• an exit opening through the body through which drilling cuttings material can exit from the hollow container,
• the second opening having a width and the movement member movable back and forth across said width.

A vessel for selectively holding drilling cuttings material, the vessel comprising

• a body, the body comprising a hollow container with an interior space for receiving drilling cuttings material and from which drilling cuttings material may exit from the body,
• a first opening through which the drilling cuttings material is introducible into the hollow container,
• a second opening through which the drilling cuttings material is passable out from the hollow container,
• movement apparatus, the movement apparatus comprising a movement member within the hollow container and movable adjacent the second opening to facilitate passage of the drilling cuttings material into the second opening,
• an exit opening through the body through which drilling cuttings material can exit from the hollow container, and
• an inlet in the body through which compressed gas under pressure is flowable into the body to facilitate the passage of the drilling cuttings material through the body.

A vessel for selectively holding drilling cuttings material, the vessel comprising

• a body, the body comprising a hollow container with an interior space for receiving drilling cuttings material and from which drilling cuttings material may exit from the body,
• a first opening through which the drilling cuttings material is introducible into the hollow container,
• a second opening through which the drilling cuttings material is passable out from the hollow container,
• movement apparatus, the movement apparatus comprising a movement member within the hollow container and movable adjacent the second opening to facilitate passage of the drilling cuttings material into the second opening, and
• an exit opening through the body through which drilling cuttings material can exit from the hollow container,
• the movement member comprising
• a frame comprising a control shaft connected to a generally circular shaped outer perimeter portion and at least one cross-member.

A vessel for selectively holding drilling cuttings material, the vessel comprising

• a body, the body comprising a hollow container with an interior space for receiving drilling cuttings material and from which drilling cuttings material may exit from the body,
• a first opening through which the drilling cuttings material is introducible into the hollow container,
• a second opening through which the drilling cuttings material is passable out from the hollow container,
• movement apparatus, the movement apparatus comprising a movement member within the hollow container and movable adjacent the second opening to facilitate passage of the drilling cuttings material into the second opening,
• an exit opening through the body through which drilling cuttings material can exit from the hollow container,
• conveyance apparatus located below the second opening for conveying drilling cuttings material, the conveyance apparatus including
• a conduit for receiving the drilling cuttings material passing through the second opening,
• gas apparatus in fluid communication with the conduit for applying compressed gas under pressure for facilitating the movement of the drilling cuttings material within the conduit.

A vessel for selectively holding drilling cuttings material, the vessel comprising

• a body, the body comprising a hollow container with an interior space for receiving drilling cuttings material and from which drilling cuttings material may exit from the body,
• a first opening through which the drilling cuttings material is introducible into the hollow container,
• a second opening through which the drilling cuttings material is passable out from the hollow container,
• movement apparatus, the movement apparatus comprising a movement member within the hollow container and movable adjacent the second opening to facilitate passage of the drilling cuttings material into the second opening,
• an exit opening through the body through which drilling cuttings material can exit from the hollow container, and
• wherein the body of the vessel having two sides which slope toward each other.

A vessel for selectively holding drilling cuttings material, the vessel comprising

• a body, the body comprising a hollow container with an interior space for receiving drilling cuttings material and from which drilling cuttings material may exit from the body,
• a first opening through which the drilling cuttings material is introducible into the hollow container,
• a second opening through which the drilling cuttings material is passable out from the hollow container,
• movement apparatus, the movement apparatus comprising a movement member within the hollow container and movable adjacent the second opening to facilitate passage of the drilling cuttings material into the second opening,
• an exit opening through the body through which drilling cuttings material can exit from the hollow container,
• the body of the vessel having a conical hopper portion.

A vessel for selectively holding drilling cuttings material, the vessel comprising

• a body, the body comprising a hollow container with an interior space for receiving drilling cuttings material and from which drilling cuttings material may exit from the body,
• a first opening through which the drilling cuttings material is introducible into the hollow container,
• a second opening through which the drilling cuttings material is passable out from the hollow container,
• movement apparatus, the movement apparatus comprising a movement member within the hollow container and movable adjacent the second opening to facilitate passage of the drilling cuttings material into the second opening,
• an exit opening through the body through which drilling cuttings material can exit from the hollow container, the body of the vessel having a conical hopper portion,
• the conical hopper portion having a cone angle and forming a lower section of the vessel and the cone angle is below a critical value required to achieve mass flow of the drilling cuttings material.

A vessel for selectively holding drilling cuttings material, the vessel comprising

• a body, the body comprising a hollow container with an interior space for receiving drilling cuttings material and from which drilling cuttings material may exit from the body,
• a first opening through which the drilling cuttings material is introducible into the hollow container,
• a second opening through which the drilling cuttings material is passable out from the hollow container,
• movement apparatus, the movement apparatus comprising a movement member within the hollow container and movable adjacent the second opening to facilitate passage of the drilling cuttings material into the second opening,
• an exit opening through the body through which drilling cuttings material can exit from the hollow container,
• the body being generally cylindrical with a generally circular base, the second opening extending through the generally circular base.

A vessel for selectively holding drilling cuttings material, the vessel comprising

• a body, the body comprising a hollow container with an interior space for receiving drilling cuttings material and from which drilling cuttings material may exit from the body,
• a first opening through which the drilling cuttings material is introducible into the hollow container,
• a second opening through which the drilling cuttings material is passable out from the hollow container,
• movement apparatus, the movement apparatus comprising a movement member within the hollow container and movable adjacent the second opening to facilitate passage of the drilling cuttings material into the second opening,
• an exit opening through the body through which drilling cuttings material can exit from the hollow container,
• moisture-content sensor apparatus on the body for sensing moisture content of drilling cutting within the vessel,
• conduit apparatus for conducting drilling cuttings from the exit opening,
• valve apparatus for selectively controlling flow of drilling cuttings in the conduit apparatus, and
• a controller in communication with the moisture-content sensor and the valve apparatus for selectively controlling flow in the conduit apparatus.