WO2003078277A1

WO2003078277A1 - Apparatus and method for transporting material

Info

Publication number: WO2003078277A1
Application number: PCT/GB2003/000995
Authority: WO
Inventors: Arthur Graham Abraham
Original assignee: Crackerbag.Com Limited
Priority date: 2002-03-12
Filing date: 2003-03-12
Publication date: 2003-09-25
Also published as: AU2003224232A1; GB0205748D0; EP1490277A1

Abstract

Apparatus (1) and method for transporting material such as drill cuttings comprises a container (10, 11) including a flexible, cylindrical main body (10, 11) with a pair of closure mechanisms (14) provided at each end, such that when the lower closure mechanism is closed, drill cuttings can be inserted into the main body (10, 11) and held therein. When the upper closure mechanism is closed the apparatus (1), which is provided with lifting handles (18), can be transported.

Description

"Apparatus and Method for Transporting Material"

The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for transporting material, and more particularly but not exclusively relates to an apparatus and method for transporting drill cuttings from onshore and more particularly offshore oil and gas drilling installations.

The process of drilling for hydrocarbons such as oil and gas produce a large amount of drill cuttings; that is, the material that had been drilled out of the borehole. The drill cuttings will very often be coated in drilling mud and up until fairly recently it was permitted to dump the coated drill cuttings over the side of the drilling installation. However, in recent years, environmental concerns and legislation has required that drill cuttings be reinjected back into the formation or transported to treatment and disposal sites onshore.

Conventionally drill cuttings are treated on the offshore installation by primary and secondary separation equipment consisting of centrifuges and shale shakers to rid them of the majority of the expensive and potentially corrosive/harmful oil based and water based drilling mud. The drill cuttings are then loaded into a skip by being pumped or gravity fed into the skip, and the skip is then lifted off the offshore installation or drilling rig by means of a crane onto a rig supply boat . The rig supply boat then transports the skip containing the drill cuttings to the onshore treatment and disposal facility.

However, the conventional skips in which the drill cuttings are transported suffer from the disadvantages that they are relatively heavy and bulky items.

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided an apparatus for transporting material comprising :- a substantially flexible and cylindrical member; and a closure mechanism provided for at least one end of the member, such that when one of the ends of the member is closed, the material is capable of being inserted into and retained within the interior of the member; the apparatus further being provided with lifting means to permit transportation of the member.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of transporting material comprising:- providing a substantially flexible and cylindrical member; and a closure mechanism provided for at least one end of the member; closing one of the ends of the member; inserting the material into the interior of the member through the other end thereof; and actuating the respective closure mechanism to close the other end of the member; and lifting the member with lifting means associated with the member to permit transportation of the member.

Preferably, a closure mechanism is provided for each end of the member.

Preferably, the substantially flexible and cylindrical member is a substantially flexible and cylindrical inner member, and more preferably, a substantially cylindrical outer supporting member is disposed about the inner member. Typically, the outer supporting member is capable of resisting tension or stretching in at least one direction, the said one direction typically being in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the pair of members.

Typically, the lifting means is provided on the outer supporting member.

Typically, the apparatus further comprises an inner substantially waterproof liner which is preferably provided on the interior of the cylindrical inner member, and into which the material is preferably loaded or inserted.

Optionally, the inner liner also comprises a tapered section and guide means at or toward its lower end.

Preferably, the outer supporting member comprises a plurality of longitudinally arranged straps or webbings which are preferably coupled to one another by circumferentially arranged coupling members, which may comprise geometric webbing material.

Alternatively, the circumferentially arranged coupling members, may comprise strap or webbing rings.

Preferably, the lifting means comprise extensions of one or more of the longitudinally arranged straps or webbings.

Typically, the inner tubular member is formed from a woven or welded fabric which may comprise a circular woven fabric or plastics material, and the closure devices may be formed by a round sling or alternatively may be formed by elongate members being coupled to the ends of the plurality of longitudinally arranged straps or webbings, such that pulling upon the elongate member draws one of the ends of the plurality of longitudinally arranged straps or webbings toward one another. Typically, a bung device is provided toward or at one or preferably both ends of the inner member. Typically, the bung device is coupled to the inner liner. Preferably, the closure devices close around the bung device .

Preferably, the or each bung device is frusto- conically shaped.

Preferably, the inner or outer liner is held closed by a releasing arrangement which allows the inner or outer liner to open at a predetermined load.

Preferably, the releasing arrangement comprises flaps on the outer or inner liner which are adapted to engage with a shear pin, and locking nut.

Typically, the apparatus further comprises a frame within which the inner and outer members may be held typically by the lifting means. Typically, the inner and outer members are typically hung in the frame by the lifting means during insertion of the material into the inner member.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: -

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an apparatus for handling material in accordance with the present invention, where the apparatus is filled with the material and the ends of the apparatus have just been opened; Fig. 2a) is a schematic view of a pair of harness ties and guide sleeves at one end of a preferred embodiment of the apparatus of Fig. 1; Fig. 2b) is a side view of the apparatus of Fig. 1 with the guide sleeves of Fig. 2a) ; Fig. 2c) is a side view of the apparatus with the preferred frusto-conically shaped bungs in position; Fig. 3a) is a side view of the apparatus of Fig. 1 ; Fig. 3b) is a cross-sectional side view of the apparatus of Fig. 3a) ; Fig. 3c) is a first end view of the apparatus of Fig. 3a) in a first configuration; Fig. 3d) is a first end view of the apparatus of Fig. 2 in a second configuration; Fig. 4 is a more detailed cross-sectional side view of one end of the apparatus of Fig. 3b) ; Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the apparatus of Fig. 1 during filling of material therein; Fig. 6a) is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the outer bag in the open position, with eyelets and flaps and the inner bag with shear pin arrangement; Fig. 6b) is a perspective view of the outer bag of Fig. 6a) in the closed position with eyelets and flaps and the inner bag with shear pin and locking nut arrangement; Fig. 7 is a schematic plan view of the outer bag of Fig. 6a) showing the formation of the eyelets and flaps; Fig. 8a) is a perspective view showing an alternative folding end closure arrangement in an open position; Fig. 8b) is a perspective view showing the alternative folding end closure arrangement of Fig. 8a) in the closed position; Fig. 8c) is a perspective view showing the alternative folding end closure arrangement of Fig. 8a) in the closed and tied position, whilst the bag is full of material; Fig. 9 is a schematic plan view showing the layout of longitudinally arranged straps of the apparatus of Fig. 1 and the outer bag of Fig. 6a) ; Fig. 10a) is a detailed side view showing the upper end of the outer bag and webbing straps of Fig. 8a) ; Fig. 10b) is a detailed side view showing the upper end of the inner bag and webbing straps of Fig. 6b) ; Fig. 11 is a perspective view of the apparatus of Fig. 1 filled with the material and with both ends closed and; Fig. 12 is a schematic side view of the lower end of the inner bag of Fig. 6b) showing the optionally tapered end and guide hose.

Fig. 1 shows an apparatus 1 for storing and transporting material such as drill cuttings which are a waste by-product of exploration and exploitation of oil and gas. Apparatus 1 comprises an inner tubular member 5 in the form of an open ended cylinder 5. The inner tubular member 5 is preferably formed from a material such as a circular plastics tube, and is typically in the region of 5 to 10 metres long, typically 7.7 metres long and one to two metres in diameter, typically 1.3 metres in diameter. The material may be substantially waterproofed such that any liquids in the interior of the inner tubular member 5 do not leak out . The inner tubular member 5 is substantially flexible such that it can be rolled up for ease of transportation and storage, when empty.

In a first embodiment of the present invention shown in Fig. 1, an outer supporting member 10 or harness 10 is located about the inner tubular member 5 and may be secured thereto by any suitable fixing means such as ties, fabric welding or adhesives etc., or alternatively may be sized to be a close fit with the inner tubular member 5. The outer supporting member 10 is formed from a series of longitudinally extending straps 12 which terminate at and are coupled to a respective end ring 14A, 14B. The end rings 14A, 14B are preferably formed from a strap that may be provided in the form of a round sling 14, such that pulling a loop provided at one end of the round sling 14 reduces the diameter of the round sling 14. A tie (not shown) such as a cable tie is then placed around the round sling 14 to lock it in the closed and tightened configuration. In preferred embodiment, geometric webbing material or netting 4 is preferably provided between each longitudinal strap 12 as shown in Figs. 8a), b) and c) in order to form an outer supporting member 10. The geometric webbing material 4 is designed such that it has enhanced resistance properties to a force in any direction.

One or more supporting circular mid-rings 16 are provided and in the case of the apparatus 1 shown in Fig. 1, there are two mid-rings 16 provided, although three are shown in Fig. 3a) . The mid-rings 16 are coupled to the straps 12 by any suitable fixing means such as stitching, ties, fabric welding or adhesives etc., and their function is to keep the straps 12 in the generally longitudinally extending arrangement shown in the Figs..

A number of handles 18A, 18B are provided at both ends of the outer supporting member 10 and the purpose of the handles 18A, 18B will be described subsequently. Preferably, the handles 18A, 18B are an extension of an appropriate number, such as four, of the longitudinal straps 12.

It should be noted that the end rings 14 may not themselves be in the form of round slings and the end rings 14 may simply be provided with loops 28 of fabric attached thereto through which a round sling can be passed so that when the round sling is tightened mechanically to a predetermined tension, the loops 28 are brought toward one another thus reducing the diameter of the respective end opening to a minimum. An alternative outer member closing arrangement is also shown in Figs. 8a) and 8b) . The folding mechanism comprises four rectangular flaps 50 which sequentially fold toward the centre of the outer tubular member opening to provide a closed end 52. In addition, a number of round slings 14 may be provided through a number of the loops 28. For example, as shown in Fig. 10a) , each round sling 14 is passed through three loops 28. The round slings 14 are then brought toward a concurrent point by a releasable loop 46, thus producing a parabolic support arrangement 48, which supports the closed end 52.

Fig. 3b) shows the inner tubular member 5 as having an end plug 20 provided at each end thereof. The end plug may be formed from a resilient material such as rubber or foam plastic for example, and is attached to a first substantially semi-circular flap 22A, 22B which is secured at its outermost end to the inner tubular member 5 by a substantially semi- circular fabric joint 24A, 24B. A second substantially semi-circular flap 23A, 23B is secured to the interior of the inner tubular member 5 by means of a second substantially semi-circular joint 25A, 25B.

Each of the joints 24A, 24B; 25A, 25B and the first and second flaps 22A, 22B; 23A, 23B are formed from a flexible but water/leak proof material such as plastic which may for example be polythene and are moveable from the configuration shown in Fig. 3b) to a flat configuration such that the flaps 23A, 23B; 22A, 22B lie flat against the inner surface of the inner tubular member 5 with the flaps 22A, 22B; 23A, 23B overlying one another as shown in Fig. 3b) . Accordingly, when in the configuration as shown in Fig.3b), the interior of the inner tubular member 5 is bounded by the inner surface of the circumference of the member 5 and the flaps 22A, 22B; 23A, 23B. Accordingly, the inner member 5 is substantially water and leak proof. The plugs 20A, 2OB act as bungs in the situation where the round sling 14 is tightened to draw the end ring/round sling 14 in on itself such that the end ring/round sling 14 tightens around the plug 20A, 2 OB. In this situation, the leak proof integrity of the interior of the inner tubular member 5 is increased.

Alternatively and preferably, the end bungs 20A, 2OB may be frusto-conically shaped as shown in Fig. 2c) , where the smaller diameter ends face inwards. In this arrangement when the inner liner 5 and or outer supporting member 10 is tightened around the end bungs 20A, 20B the material of the outer/inner member "bites" into the end bung 20A, 20B thus producing a water/leak proof seal. It will be appreciated that the frusto-conical shape of the end bungs 20A, 20B tends to provide a tighter seal as the loading on the tightened outer/inner member increases. A further alternative closure/release means for the outer supporting member 10 is shown in Figs. 6a) and b) . In this arrangement, the outer bag 10 has a number of tapered flaps 58 at its lower end which each have an eyelet 56 at their lower end. The eyelets 56 are positioned such that, when the flaps 58 are closed toward the centre of the outer supporting member 10, they will form a single aperture. The end bung 20 in this arrangement has an integral shear pin 54 which is positioned to engage with or pass through each eyelet 56. A locking nut 60 is then screwed onto the end of the shear pin 54 until it compresses the end of the tapered flaps 58 onto the end bung 20. The shear pin 54 is designed to be of a strength which will break at a specific predetermined load. The construction stage of the outer supporting member 10 of this embodiment and thus the tapered flaps 58 and eyelets 56 is illustrated in Fig. 7. The operation of the shear pin 54 configuration will be described subsequently.

Figs. 4 and 12 show that both embodiments of the inner tubular member 5 are either made of or are coated with a polythene liner/plastics material (30 in Fig. 4) to further increase the leak/water proofing integrity of the inner tubular member 5.

In Fig. 12 the inner tubular member 5 is also provided with a guide hose 44 and a tapered section 55 which assists in controlling and directing the contents of the apparatus 1 during emptying. A method of filling the apparatus 1 with a material such as drill cutting, in accordance with the present invention, will now be described.

Apparatus 1 is transported in a rolled-up-state to the location in which it is to be filled such as an offshore oil and gas drilling rig (not shown) and the handles 18A of one end of the apparatus 1 are hung on a suitable number of hooks 32 mounted at the top of a frame. In addition, as shown in Fig. 2a), the handles 18 may be provided with an inner pin pocket 38, and the inner tubular member 5 may be provided with guide sleeves 34 and outer pin pockets 40. When the handles 18 are passed through the guide sleeves 34, and the inner pin pocket 38 is aligned with the outer pin pockets 40, a support pin 42 may be inserted through the inner and outer pin pockets 28, 40. The support pin 42 assists in holding the inner tubular member 5 in the correct position whilst filling of the apparatus 1 takes place. The frame 34 may be a specifically commissioned frame 34 or may be adapted from existing structures provided on the rig. Accordingly, in this manner, the hanging of the handles 18A keeps the uppermost end of the apparatus 1 open as shown in Fig. 7.

With respect to the apparatus 1 of Figs. 1 to 4, the lowermost end of apparatus 1 may be provided already closed or it may be closed on the drilling rig by tightening the round sling 14/end ring 14 such that the round sling 14B is located about the plug 2 OB and hence the loose lower end of the inner tubular member 5 is also tightly secured about the plug 2OB to a predetermined tension.

Drill cuttings can then be inserted into the interior of the apparatus 1 through the upper open end of the inner tubular member 5A by for example being gravity fed until the desired level of fill has been reached.

The upper second flap 23A is then moved to lie in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the apparatus 1, and the upper first flap 22A is then moved in a similar fashion to overlap the second flap 23A. The upper round sling 14A can then be tightened to close the upper open end of the inner tubular member 5 about the upper plug 20A to a predetermined tension such that the upper end 5A is closed in a leak proof manner. The loops of the handles 18A can then be attached to a crane hook and the apparatus 1 can then be lifted out of the frame 34 using the round sling 14 loop (not shown) and positioned on a transportation means such as a rig supply boat (not shown) in a horizontal manner, as shown in Fig. 8 and thereby be capable of being secured side by side, so that the apparatus 1 and drill cuttings contained therein can be transported back to shore for treatment and disposal.

In the shear pin configuration shown in Fig. 6a) and b) a similar method as previously described would be employed, with the following modification; the outer supporting member 10 would preferably be supplied in the closed position, and filled with drill cuttings as beforementioned. Upon removal of the drill cuttings from the drill site the whole apparatus 1 is then lifted by a suitable lifting means onto, for example, a transport vessel such as a supply boat, and onward to a drill cuttings processing facility. In order to empty the apparatus 1 of Fig. 6a) , one end is lifted until it is above a suitable receptacle (not shown) such as a transport vessel. The inner tubular member 5 is released from the outer supporting member 10 by allowing the apparatus to fall for a short distance before abruptly reapplying the lifting mechanisms influence. This "jerking" action exerts a dynamic load on the shear pin 54, through the tapered flaps 58 and eyelets 56, which is of a greater magnitude than the static load. The increased load causes the shear pin 54 to break and the tapered flaps 56 to open, allowing the contents of the inner tubular member 5 to be released. Gravity then forces the contents out of the supporting member 10 and into the processing facility (not shown) .

Accordingly, embodiments of the present invention provide a flexible yet strong apparatus for transporting material such as drill cuttings and the embodiments do not suffer from the disadvantages of conventional systems described hereinbefore. Modifications and improvements may be made to the embodiments hereinbefore described without departing from the scope of the invention. For instance, the apparatus 1 may be modified by providing one end permanently closed such that the apparatus is filled up and emptied through the other end. In this modification, it is likely that the permanently closed end would be provided with a lifting means such as a loop or a handle, by which the apparatus may be lifted when the apparatus is to be emptied through the other, now lower and opened, end.

Claims

CLAIMS : -

1. An apparatus for transporting material comprising :- a substantially flexible and cylindrical member; and a closure mechanism provided for at least one end of the member, such that when one of the ends of the member is closed, the material is capable of being inserted into and retained within the interior of the member; the apparatus further being provided with lifting means to permit transportation of the member.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a closure mechanism is provided for each end of the member.

3. An apparatus as claimed in either of claims 1 or 2 , wherein the substantially flexible and cylindrical member comprises a substantially flexible and cylindrical inner member, and a substantially cylindrical outer supporting member is disposed about the inner member.

4. An apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein the outer supporting member is capable of resisting tension or stretching in at least one direction,

5. An apparatus as claimed in either of claims 3 or 4, wherein the lifting means is provided on the outer supporting member.

6. An apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the apparatus comprises an inner substantially waterproof member into which the material is preferably loaded or inserted.

7. An apparatus as claimed in claim 3 or claim 6 or either of claims 4 or 5, wherein the inner member also comprises a tapered section and a material guide means at or toward its lower end.

8. An apparatus as claimed in claim 3 or any of claims 4 to 7 when dependent upon claim 3, wherein the outer supporting member comprises a plurality of longitudinally arranged webbings.

9. An apparatus as claimed in claim 8, wherein the longitudinally arranged webbings are coupled to one another by circumferentially arranged webbings.

10. An apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the outer supporting member comprises a netting arrangement.

11. An apparatus as claimed in any of claims 8 to 10, wherein the lifting means comprise extensions of one or more of the longitudinally arranged webbings.

12. An apparatus as claimed in any of claims 8 to 11, wherein the closure mechanisms may be formed by elongate members coupled to the ends of the plurality of longitudinally arranged webbings, such that pulling upon the elongate member draws one of the ends of the plurality of longitudinally arranged webbings toward one another.

13. An apparatus as claimed in any of claims 3 to 12, wherein a bung device is provided toward or at least one end of the inner member.

14. An apparatus as claimed in claim 13, wherein the closure mechanisms close around the bung device.

15. An apparatus as claimed in any of claims 3 to 14, wherein at least one end of the inner member is held closed by a releasing arrangement which allows the inner member to open at a predetermined load.

16. An apparatus as claimed in claim 15, wherein the releasing arrangement comprises end portions formed on one of the outer and inner members which are adapted to engage with a shear device, and locking device.

17. An apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the inner and outer members are adapted to be held within a frame by the lifting means.

18. An apparatus as claimed in claim 17, wherein the inner and outer members are hung in the frame by the lifting means during insertion of the material into the inner member.

19. A method of transporting material comprising:- providing a substantially flexible and cylindrical member; and a closure mechanism provided for at least one end of the member; closing one of the ends of the member; inserting the material into the interior of the member through the other end thereof; and actuating the respective closure mechanism to close the other end of the member; and lifting the member with lifting means associated with the member to permit transportation of the member.

20. A method according to claim 19, wherein a closure mechanism is provided for each end of the member.