Drill cuttings conveyance systems and methods

A system for conveying material from a vessel, the system comprising

• a vessel for receiving material to be conveyed,
• a first conduit for conveying air,
• a second conduit for receiving air from the first conduit and for conveying air into the vessel,
• a metering screw for receiving material from the vessel and for moving the material from the vessel,
• a discharge line for receiving the material from the metering screw, the discharge line having an exit end,
• pressure sensor apparatus for sensing pressure in the discharge line,
• control apparatus for automatically controlling the metering screw in response to a pressure sensed by the pressure sensor apparatus,
• an outlet valve for selectively opening and closing the discharge line,
• a third conduit for receiving air from the first conduit and for conveying said air to the discharge line, the third conduit between the metering screw and the outlet valve, and
• a fourth conduit for receiving air from the first conduit and for conveying air to the discharge line, the fourth conduit between the outlet valve and the exit end of the discharge line.

A method for moving drilling cuttings material from a system, the system having a vessel for receiving material to be conveyed, a first conduit for conveying air, a second conduit for receiving air from the first conduit and for conveying air into the vessel, a metering screw for receiving material from the vessel and for moving the material from the vessel, a discharge line for receiving the material from the metering screw, the discharge line having an exit end, pressure sensor apparatus for sensing pressure in the discharge line, and control apparatus for automatically controlling the metering screw in response to a pressure sensed by the pressure sensor apparatus;

• the method comprising
• introducing drilling cuttings material into the vessel,
• sensing pressure in the discharge line with the pressure sensor apparatus,
• controlling the metering screw with the control apparatus,
• wherein the system comprises an outlet valve for selectively opening and closing the discharge line, a third conduit for receiving air from the first conduit and for conveying said air to the discharge line, the third conduit between the metering screw and the outlet valve, and a fourth conduit for receiving air from the first conduit and for conveying air to the discharge line, the fourth conduit between the outlet valve and the exit end of the discharge line, a first valve for selectively controlling flow in the first conduit, a second valve for selectively controlling flow in the second conduit, and a third valve for selectively controlling flow in the third conduit, the control apparatus including selection apparatus for selecting a first air flow or a second air flow to flow to the third conduit, flow apparatus for flowing the first air flow or the second air flow into the third conduit, and the first air flow at a velocity different from a velocity of the second air flow, wherein the control apparatus includes a first line with a first orifice member, a second line with a second orifice member, the first line having flow opening area less than an opening area of the second line so that air at a velocity greater than a velocity of air in the first line is flowable from the second liner and valve apparatus for controlling flow in the first line and the second line so that flow from either line may he selected, the method further comprising
• selecting the first air flow or the second air flow.