CA2581682A1

CA2581682A1 - Apparatus and method for moving drilled cuttings

Info

Publication number: CA2581682A1
Application number: CA002581682A
Authority: CA
Inventors: Kenneth Wayne Seyffert; William Christian Herben; James Michael Mcintosh; George Alexander Burnett; David Wood
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Varco IP Inc
Priority date: 2003-03-19
Filing date: 2004-02-26
Publication date: 2004-09-30
Anticipated expiration: 2024-02-26
Also published as: CA2581682C

Abstract

A method for moving drilled cuttings comprising the step of receiving wet drilled cuttings from shale shakers, centrifuges and hydrocyclones, characterised in that the method comprises the step of drying the wet drilled cuttings to produce dry drilled cuttings, and moving the dried drilled cuttings using positive pressure through a tube to a tertiary apparatus.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A method for moving drilled cuttings, the method comprising the step of receiving wet drilled cuttings from at least one of a shale shaker, centrifuge and hydrocyclone, characterised in that the method comprises the further steps of drying the wet drilled cuttings to produce dry drilled cuttings comprising 1% to 3% moisture to solids by weight, and moving the dried drilled cuttings using positive pneumatic pressure through a tube to a tertiary apparatus comprising a storage vessel and means for supplying positive pressure for facilitating movement of drilled cuttings from the storage vessel through a conduit.

2. The method in accordance with Claim 1, wherein the wet drilled cuttings comprise solids and moisture and are 15% to 20% moisture to solids by weight.

3. The method in accordance with Claim 1 or 2, wherein the storage vessel comprises a lower conical shaped hopper portion.

9. The method in accordance with Claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the method further comprises the step of receiving the wet drilled cuttings from at least one of the shale shaker, centrifuge and hydrocyclone using a screw auger in a ditch.

5. The method in accordance with any one of Claims 1 to 4, wherein the method further comprises the step of receiving the wet drilled cuttings from the shale shakers, centrifuges and hydrocyclones using with a conveyor belt.

6. The method in accordance with any one of Claims 1 to 5, wherein the step of drying is performed by a cuttings processor.

7. The method in accordance with Claim 6, wherein the cuttings processor comprises a rotating conical screen.

8. The method in accordance with Claim 6 or 7, wherein the cuttings processor vibrates.

9. The method in accordance with Claim 7 or 8, wherein the cuttings processor is located on an oil rig, oil platform or drilling vessel.

10. The method in accordance with any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the tertiary apparatus is located on a boat or transporter.

11. The method in accordance with any one of Claims 1 to 10, wherein the storage vessel is taken from the group:
cuttings box, tank, container, or a receptacle on a boat.

12. The method in accordance with any one of Claims 1 to 11, wherein the tertiary apparatus comprises a further cuttings processor or decanting centrifuge.

13. The method in accordance with any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the storage vessel further comprises a pressure vessel and a pipe connection means, such that a pipe is connected to the pipe connection means and upon pressurisation of the pressure vessel, dry drilled cuttings flow from the storage vessel through said pipe.

14. The method in accordance with any one of Claims 1 to 13, wherein said tube comprises at least one pneumatic fluid movement assistance device.

15. The method in accordance with any one of Claims 1 to 14, wherein the dried drilled cuttings are fed into said tube with a blow tank.

16. The method in accordance with Claim 15, wherein the dried drilled cuttings pass from a feed hopper into said blow tank.

17. The method in accordance with Claim 16, wherein a valve is located between the hopper and the blow tank, the method further comprising the step of selectively allowing dried drilled cuttings into the blow tank.

18. The method in accordance with any one of Claims 1 to 17, wherein, the dried drilled cuttings are transferred in slugs using said positive pressure pneumatic fluid.

19. The method in accordance with Claim 18, wherein the slugs are transferred at low speed.

20. The method in accordance with Claim 18 or 19, wherein the conduit comprises at least one pneumatic movement assistance device to facilitate movement of the drilled cuttings material. therethrough and/or to inhibit blockages from forming therein.

21. The method in accordance with Claim 20, wherein the at least one pneumatic fluid movement assistance device is located at an intermediate point along said conduit, the method further comprising the step of using the at least one pneumatic fluid movement assistance device to facilitate movement of the drilled cuttings material through the conduit and/or to inhibit blockages from forming in said conduit.

22. The method in accordance with any one of Claims 1 to 17, wherein the dried drilled cuttings are reduced in density using an expansion chamber with a gas and transferred using a positive pressure pneumatic fluid at high speed.

23. The method in accordance with Claim 22, wherein the gas is separated from the dry drilled cuttings in a separator at the tertiary apparatus.

24. The method in accordance with any one of Claims 1 to 23, further comprising the step of obtaining secondary drilling fluid and secondary small cuttings resulting from the step of drying in the cuttings processor.

25. The method in accordance with Claim 24, wherein the secondary drilling fluid and secondary small cuttings is recycled for reuse in a drilling operation.

26. The method in accordance with Claim 24 or 25, wherein the secondary small drilled cuttings are sent to a mill apparatus for breaking up agglomerations of said secondary small drilled cuttings, and moving said secondary small drilled cuttings with said drilled cuttings using the method of the invention.

27. The method in accordance with any one of claims 1 to 26, wherein the pneumatic fluid is air.

28. An oil rig comprising an apparatus for moving drilled cuttings material which has been separated from a drilled cuttings laden drilling mud using at least one of a shale shaker, a hydrocyclone and a centrifuge, the apparatus comprising a cuttings processor for drying wet drilled cuttings from a shale shaker, centrifuge or hydrocyclone, to produced dry drilled cuttings, a blow tank for receiving dried drill cuttings, and a means for supplying a gas to move the dried drill cuttings along a tube under positive pressure to a tertiary apparatus comprising a storage vessel having means for supplying positive pressure for facilitating movement of drilled cuttings from the storage vessel.