Method and apparatus for disposal of cuttings
AssigneeCoastal Boat Rentals, Inc.
InventorsMichael Patterson, Edward L. Shearer
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for disposing of drill cuttings 500 from an oil and/or gas well drilling platform 510, comprising providing a barge 10, the barge 10 having at least one storage area 30, a cover 100 operably connected to the at least one storage area placing the cover 100 in a first open state so that cuttings 500 can be placed in the at least one storage area 30; transporting the drill cuttings placing the cover 100 in a closed state so that the cuttings 520 in the storage area 30 of the barge 10 are contained; transporting the barge 10 from the drilling platform 510 to a collection site 540; placing the cover 100 in a second open state so that the cuttings 520 in the storage area 30 can be removed; and removing the cuttings 520 from the storage area 30.
Claims17
A method of disposing of drill cuttings from an oil and/or gas well drilling platform, comprising:
- (a) providing a barge, the barge having a first storage area, a first cover comprising a plurality of cover plates positioned adjacent each other and covering the first storage area;
- (b) placing the first storage area in a first open state by moving one or more cover plates so that cuttings can be placed in the first storage;
- (c) receiving cuttings in the barge's first and second storage areas from the drilling platform;
- (d) placing the first storage area in a closed state so that the cuttings in the storage area are contained;
- (e) transporting the barge from the drilling platform to a collection site;
- (f) placing the first storage area in a second open state so that the cuttings can be removed, the second open state having a larger open area compared to the first open state wherein more of the cover plates are moved in the second open state then were moved in step “b”;
- (g) removing the cuttings from the barge's first storage area;
- and
- (h) during steps “b” through “g” the first storage area is at atmospheric pressure.
A method of disposing of drill cuttings from an oil and/or gas well drilling platform, comprising:
- (a) providing a barge having at least one storage compartment, a cover operably connected to the at least one storage compartment, the cover having multiple cover sections that are positioned side by side when covering the at least one storage compartment;
- (b) placing the at least one storage compartment in a first open state by moving at least one but not all cover sections;
- (c) receiving through the inlet cuttings in the barge's at least one storage compartment, the cuttings being received from the drilling platform;
- (d) after step “c”, placing the at least one storage compartment in a closed state by moving back any cover sections moved in step “b” so that the cuttings in the storage compartment are contained;
- (e) transporting the barge from the drilling platform to a collection site;
- (f) placing the at least one storage compartment in a second open state by moving more of the cover sections than were moved in step “b” so that the cuttings in the barge's at least one storage compartment can be removed, the second open state having a larger open area compared to the first open state;
- and
- (g) removing through the inlet the cuttings from the barge's at least one storage compartment.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.