The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Apr. 10, 2001
Filed:
Jan. 03, 2000
Gary H. Dietzen, Lafayette, LA (US);
M-I, L.L.C., Houston, TX (US);
Abstract
A method and apparatus of removing drill cuttings from an oil and gas well drilling platform includes the steps of separating the drill cuttings from the well drilling fluid on the drilling platform so that the drilling fluids can be recycled into the well bore during drilling operations. The cuttings are then transmitted via gravity flow to a materials trough having an interior defined by sidewalls and a bottom portion. The drill cuttings are suctioned from the bottom portion of the trough interior with a suction line having an intake portion that is positioned at the materials trough bottom. Drill cuttings are transmitted via the suction line to a pair of hoppers that each have an interior chamber. A vacuum is formed in sequence within the interior chamber of each hopper using a vacuum means that is in fluid communication with the hopper interior chambers. The two hoppers are positioned one above the other so that cuttings can be added to the first, upper hopper via the suction line and then fed by gravity to the second, lower hopper. A valving arrangement maintains vacuum within the interior chamber of at least one hopper at all times. The lower hopper discharges onto a shaker where drilling fluids are separated from drill cuttings. The separated drilling fluids are then saved in a storage tank for recycling into the well bore during drilling operations. The separated drill cuttings are then discharged into a holding tank for storage and transportation.