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. 11, 2006
Filed:
Apr. 03, 2002
Kenneth J. Boutte, Lafayette, LA (US);
Ban D. Green, New Iberia, LA (US);
Kenneth J. Boutte, Lafayette, LA (US);
Ban D. Green, New Iberia, LA (US);
Other;
Abstract
A method and apparatus for handling, processing and disposing the drill cuttings removed from the drilling mud of oil and gas well drilling rigs 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 compacted into a plurality of discrete compacted pellet-like bodies. The pellets substantially reduce the volume of drill cuttings. There is also a substantial reduction in the retained fluid volume, including the volume of environmentally harmful fluids, after the cuttings are compacted. Once extruded into pellets, the pelletized drill cuttings are transported to a desired end location that may include dumping the pellets offshore.