EA013456B1 - A method for processing drill cuttings and apparatus therefor - Google Patents

Abstract

There described a method for processing drill cuttings, the method comprising obtaining drill cuttings from at least one of a shale shaker, hydrocyclone, centrifuge or drill cuttings dryer, measuring the moisture content of the drill cuttings to obtain a moisture value, comparing the moisture value to a predetermined threshold and conveying the drill cuttings in a dry cuttings route if the moisture value is below the predetermined threshold or conveying the drill cuttings in a wet cuttings route if the moisture value is above the threshold.

Description

The present invention relates to a method for processing drill cuttings and a device for carrying it out and, in particular, but not exclusively, for moving wet drill cuttings produced during the construction of an oil or gas well, or drying wet drill cuttings before moving them a substantial distance and then moving dry drill cuttings.

When drilling a wellbore during the construction of an oil or gas well, the drill bit is located at the end of the drill string and rotates to drill the wellbore. The drilling fluid, known as drilling mud, is pumped through the drill string to the drill bit to lubricate the drill bit. The drilling fluid is also used to entrain the cuttings produced by the drill bit and other solid particles to the surface through an annular space formed between the drill string and the wellbore. The drilling fluid contains expensive synthetic petroleum-based lubricants and therefore it is normal practice to extract and reuse the drilling fluid used, but this requires the extraction of solid particles from the drilling fluid. This is achieved by treating the drilling fluid. The first part of the process consists in separating the solid particles from the drilling fluid loaded with solid particles. This is at least partially achieved using a vibratory separator, such as vibrating sieves for drilling mud, as described in US Pat. No. 5,265,730 and in publications νθ 96/33792 and 98/16328. Additional process equipment such as centrifuges and hydrocyclones may be used to further purify the mud from the solid phase. Solid particles are covered with dirt and residues.

The resulting solids, known here as drill cuttings, are treated to remove substantially all residues and contaminants from the solids. The solid particles can then be disposed of at the landfill site or by dumping it into the sea in the medium from which the solid particles are received. In an alternative embodiment of the invention, the solid particles can be used as a material in the construction industry or find other industrial applications. Solids are usually treated on the ground using the methods described, for example, in our simultaneously considered PCT application, publication νθ 03/062591. This technological equipment can be located near an oil or gas tower. Alternatively, the process equipment may be located on land, away from the offshore oil rig or away from a surface installation. Thus, the solid particles must be shipped from the output of the vibrators, centrifuges and hydrocyclones to the processing equipment for the processing of solid particles. In some known systems, oily drill cuttings are loaded into tanks, tubs, or sludge ducts that are hoisted onto a support vessel by a crane. Alternatively, this may be partially accomplished using a chute equipped with an auger driven to transfer wet solid particles to waste storage containers. Such a system is described in our simultaneously pending PCT application, publication νθ 03/021074. Drilling sludge treated with a vibration sieve for drilling mud may contain approximately 10-20 wt.% Moisture (oil, water).

Currently, it is often desirable and / or legally required to transport the recovered drill cuttings to the treatment site ashore to extract substantially all of the oil and contamination there, and thus the drill cuttings can be discarded or used in an environmentally sound and favorable way. Environmental authorities around the world are switching to a zero discharge policy from offshore drilling rigs. Continuous drilling on the offshore oil rig is widespread, and the drill cuttings are stored on the platform until it can be transported by vessels known as support vessels that collect oily drilling cuttings and transport it to another location for further processing. There is a need for the rational and efficient storage of oily drill cuttings at the installation, as well as the need for the rational and efficient storage of cuttings on supply vessels. Solid particles may have a liquid, such as water, added to them to form a liquid solution. The slurry may be pumped into vessels, trucks, tubs, or bags that will be moved to the processing site. Alternatively or additionally, wet solids from waste storage containers may be transported using compressed gas, as described in νθ 00/76889, through pipes.

The prior art describes various methods of transporting dry solids with a low density of a solution and with a low density of particles and intermittent transportation of a high density of a solution of a wet material with a high density of particles using continuous positive pneumatic pressure. Many low density slurries typically have particles mixed with air with a specific gravity of less than 1.0. There are various ways in which the vacuum transport of solid particles with high and low particle density is used.

Thus, to solve the problem of transportation, accumulation and storage of material with a low density of the solution, high density of particles and, in particular, but not exclusively, cuttings in oil fields or other oily / wet waste rock were taken using

- 1 013456 continuous positive pneumatic pressure.

Document XVO 00/76889 describes a system for transporting drill cuttings in the form of a non-free flowing paste, which contains a high-pressure container, having a conical bunker discharge part, having a cone opening angle sufficient to facilitate mass flow. The drill cuttings are contained in the installation and supply vessel in containers for storing waste that are sized according to the standards of the International Organization for Standardization, which have a conical bunker outlet, with the result that the containers for storing the waste according to size of the standards of the International Organization for Standardization can be discharged between installation and ship and between ship and port. These containers of the International Organization for Standardization standard are very high, and the amount of drill cuttings in them is limited due to the lower converging part of the containers.

German Patent No. E 4010676 describes a device for transporting sewage sludge or concrete. The device comprises a high pressure container having a supply opening and a screw conveyor located under it. The blades act as a stirrer and force the screw conveyor through the hole in the pressure vessel. Sewage sludge or concrete is moved by a screw conveyor to a nozzle into which compressed air is supplied to move sewage sludge or concrete through a pipe in a continuous flow.

U.K. Patent No. 2,330,600 describes a system for transporting oil drilling sludge from an installation to shore. The system includes the steps of mixing oily drill cuttings with drilling mud to form a slurry, storing the slurry in the assembly tanks at the installation and subsequently pumping the slurry into the assembly tanks on the vessel for transport to the shore.

Document νθ 03/021074 describes, among other things, a device for transporting solid waste, which contains a preceding stream of waste feed, feed means for transporting waste from the waste feed means to the pneumatic conveying means, which contains a pipe through which the waste moves from the feed means to the next downstream a waste collector, said pipe being connected to at least one clogging sensor and an electronic data processing tool for processing output gases nnyh from clogging sensor.

The document νθ 82/03066 describes a method of unblocking the conveying pipes for the crushed material, containing an air supply into the pipe in spaced locations to reduce the length of the blocking material section.

According to the invention, a method for processing drilling sludge has been developed, including obtaining drilling sludge from at least one of: a vibrating sieve for drilling mud, a hydrocyclone, a centrifuge or dryer for drilling sludge; and transportation of drill cuttings along the dry drill cuttings route at a moisture value below a predetermined threshold value or transportation of drill cuttings along the route to sludge drill cuttings when the moisture content is above the threshold.

The dry drill cuttings route may contain a feeding device and a pneumatic conveying line, and additionally carry out the steps of loading the drilling mud into the feeding device, wherein the feeding device feeds the drill cuttings into the pneumatic conveying line.

You can use a pneumatic conveying line, which is a pneumatic conveying line of positive pressure.

You can use a pneumatic conveying line leading to the storage container of drill cuttings, and additionally carry out the stage of transporting drill cuttings through a pneumatic conveying line in the specified container.

You can use a pneumatic conveying line leading to the bulk storage tanks of an oil or gas installation, and additionally carry out the step of transporting drill cuttings through a pneumatic conveying line to bulk storage tanks.

You can use a pneumatic conveying line leading to the compartment of an oil or gas installation, and additionally carry out the stage of transporting drill cuttings along a pneumatic conveying line into the compartment.

The step of measuring the moisture content of drill cuttings can be performed by a humidity sensor located in the feeder.

The method can use a feed device containing a feed hopper and a high pressure container, and the measurement of the moisture content of the drill cuttings is performed by a humidity sensor located in the feed hopper.

The wet drill cuttings route may contain a feeding device and a pneumatic conveying line, and additionally performs the steps of loading the drill cuttings into a feeding device, while the feeding device feeds the drill cuttings to a pneumatic conveying line.

- 2 013456

You can use a pneumatic conveying line, which is a pneumatic conveying line of positive pressure.

You can use a pneumatic conveying line leading to the storage container of drill cuttings, and additionally carry out the stage of transporting drill cuttings through a pneumatic conveying line to the storage container of drill cuttings.

A pneumatic conveying line leading to a drill cuttings dryer can be used for further drying.

The step of measuring the moisture content of drill cuttings can be performed by a humidity sensor located in the feeder.

A feeding device may be used comprising a feed hopper and a high pressure container, with the step of measuring the moisture content of the drill cuttings performed by a moisture sensor located in the feed hopper.

When carrying out the method, drill cuttings from at least one of: a vibrating sieve for a drilling fluid, a hydrocyclone, a centrifuge or a dryer for a drill cuttings can be fed into a feeding device, after which the moisture content of the drill cuttings is measured to determine the moisture content using a humidity sensor located there, This feed device feeds the drill cuttings to a pneumatic conveying line that has a relief valve located therein, the method further comprising the steps of deflecting drilling mud using overflow valve on the dry drill cuttings route when the humidity value is below a specified threshold value, or transporting drill cuttings to the wet cuttings route when the humidity value is above the threshold value.

You can use a screw conveyor to receive drill cuttings, located under at least one of: a vibrating sieve for drilling mud, a hydrocyclone, a centrifuge or a drill for cuttings, and the screw conveyor contains a drive through which the screw conveyor is reversible for transporting drill cuttings in one direction along the dry sludge route and in the second direction along the wet sludge route.

The specified threshold value may be 5, or 3, or 1% moisture content.

According to the invention, a device is provided for carrying out the method described above, comprising a moisture sensor and means for directing drill cuttings along a wet cuttings route or along a dry cuttings route.

The device may further comprise a controller for receiving data from a humidity sensor and comparing data with a predetermined value, and actuating said means in accordance with the data.

For a better understanding of the present invention, it is described below with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which the following is depicted:

FIG. 1A is a top view of a sectional view of a storage container for drill cuttings in accordance with the present invention, taken along the line-Ι in FIG. 1B;

FIG. 1B is a side sectional view of the container shown in FIG. 1A;

FIG. 1C is a view from a point similar to that of FIG. 1A, of another embodiment of a container in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 1Ό is a top view of an alternative portion for the container shown in FIG. 1A;

FIG. 2 is a schematic view of a device according to the invention in use;

FIG. 3 is a schematic sectional view of a known supply container used in the device shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. FOR is a side sectional view of a feed container in accordance with the present invention, which can be used instead of the feed container shown in use in the device shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. ZV is an end view and FIG. CS is a side view of the feed container shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 4 is a schematic side view of a feed container in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 5A is a sectional view, taken along the line UA-UA, of a part of the frame shown in FIG. 1 A;

FIG. 5Β-5Ό are alternative cross-sectional shapes of the frame part for the waste storage container shown in FIG. 1A;

FIG. 6 is a schematic view of the arrangement of a container for storing drill cuttings in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 7A and 7B are top views in cross section of another embodiment of the construction of a container for drill cuttings in accordance with the present invention, showing the stages of its operation;

FIG. 7C is a top view in cross section of another embodiment of the design of a container for drill cuttings in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 7Ό is a side sectional view of a container for storing drill cuttings shown in FIG. 1C, without drill cuttings;

FIG. 7E is a side sectional view of the container shown in FIG. 7A, with drill cuttings;

FIG. 8A is a schematic side view of a device in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 8B is a top view of a portion of the device shown in FIG. 8A;

FIG. 9A is a schematic view of a feeder according to the present invention; FIG. 9B is an end view of a portion of the feeder shown in FIG. 9A;

FIG. 9C is a side view of a portion of the feeder shown in FIG. 9A;

FIG. 10-15 are schematic views of a device in accordance with the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 1A and 1B, the drill cuttings storage container 1 according to the present invention has a generally cylindrical high-pressure round container 2 with a substantially flat flat base 3 and a dome-shaped lid 4. The flat base 3 and the dome-shaped lid 4 can be shaped as whole or can be welded to the wall of the container 2 high pressure.

The high pressure container 2 may be made of steel of the type defined by British Standard 1501 224-49B and can withstand a working pressure of 1 to 20 bar and in one particular embodiment of the invention 7 bar. The dome cover 4 may have an inlet 5 with a supply hose 6 attached thereto, which in one particular embodiment of the invention has a diameter of 52 mm (two inches) for supplying compressed gas such as air and / or nitrogen and / or another inert gas, to the upper surface of the drill cuttings OS in the container. The dome cover 4 is also provided with a slurry inlet 7 provided with a valve 8, such as a shut-off valve or a full bore ball valve, which can be operated manually or remotely, for example, using a stepper motor. In an alternative embodiment of the invention, the slurry can be fed into the inlet 7 by any known system, for example, but not limited to it, by a conveyor system.

The slurry inlet 7 in one particular embodiment of the invention has an internal diameter of 125 mm (5 inches). The flat base 3 has an opening 9. The opening 9 can have any suitable shape when viewed from above and, as shown, it is generally rectangular. The pipe 10 has a hole corresponding to the perimeter of the hole 9 in the flat base 3, and is attached to it to form a hermetic seal. The pipe 10 may be welded or otherwise connected with a flat base 3. The pipe 10 contains an arbitrary screw, which in one embodiment of the invention is a screw conveyor 11 rotatably mounted in the pipe 10 and driven by a variable speed hydraulic motor 12.

Engine 12 may alternatively be an electric, gasoline driven, pneumatic or otherwise powered engine. The screw conveyor 11 has a shaft 13 and a spiral vane 14. The spiral vane 14 has a diameter between 150 and 600 mm (6 and 24 inches) in one embodiment of the invention and in one particular embodiment of the invention has a diameter between 350 and 400 mm (fourteen and sixteen inches). The shaft 13 has a first end connected to a variable-speed hydraulic motor 12, and a second end rotatably mounted in a bearing 15 at the end 16 of the pipe 10. The pipe 10 passes beyond the perimeter of the flat base 3. The spiral blade 14 extends substantially throughout the diameter of the flat base 3 and passes into the part of the pipe 10, which passes beyond the perimeter of the flat base 3, after which the spiral blade ends. In some embodiments of the invention in which there is no screw device or no conveyor 11, the gas under positive pressure in the container feeds the material contained in the container to the outlet.

Four, six or more radially extending fingers 17 (two are shown) retreating from shaft 13 (or which may be connected to the inner surface of pipe 10) are spaced from the end of the spiral blade 14. Part of pipe 10 that extends beyond the perimeter of the flat base 3, has a discharge box 18 with a lower chamber 18a having an inlet 19 for supplying compressed gas, located under the end of the spiral blade 14. The discharge box 18 tapers off from the upper part having a width substantially equal to the diameter of the pipe 10 to less neck width essentially equal to the diameter of the outlet 20. The inlet 19 for air supply is directed into the lower chamber 18a of the discharge box 18 and is in line with the outlet 20 for sludge. The sludge outlet 20 has an internal diameter of 125 mm (5 inches) in one particular embodiment of the invention and is connected to a sludge transport line (not shown) of the same or similar internal diameter, which may be a flexible hose or a rigid pipe.

In the high-pressure container 2, on a flat base 3, a sliding frame 21 is located near the opening 9. The sliding frame 21 can have any desired shape when viewed from above, which facilitates the movement of drill cuttings to the opening 9. In one embodiment, as shown, the frame 21 has two symmetric curved elements 22 and 23 that form the shape of the eye, which are held on four brackets 24 connected to the central element 25. The curvature of two symmetric curved elements is slightly less than the curvature of Perim tra planar base 3. The outer edges 27 of the two symmetrical curved members 22 and 23 and four arms 24 in one embodiment, chamfered, whereas the inner edge 28 (FIG. 5A) formed

- 4 013456 to the hole 9, are at right angles to the plane of the flat base 3. The curved elements 22 and 23 have flat bottom sides 29. The bevel angle in some embodiments of the invention is from 45 to 20 ° relative to the flat bottom surface 29. This can see clearly in FIG. 5A. The scope of the present invention includes a frame or a member having dimensions and configuration for moving across a hole 9 of any desired shape, for example, but not limited to, like the item 402 shown in FIG. 1C, or a generally round frame, as shown by the embodiment of frame 21a in FIG. 1Ό. Hole 9 may have any desired shape with any desired width and length and, as shown, may have approximately the same width as the screw device located under the hole (or the screw device may be slightly wider than the hole).

A hydraulically driven piston and cylinder assembly 26 is connected at one end to a wall or flat base 3 of a high pressure container 2 and the other to a sliding frame 21 for moving the sliding frame 21 along the flat base 3 back and forth, as indicated by the arrow, within the boundaries container 2 high pressure. In an alternative embodiment of the invention, a portion of the frame moving device may be located outside the container.

The curved elements 22 and 23 may have different profiles for performing the function of sliding under the ES drilling mud when moving from the hole 9 and acting as a rake or shovel for scooping, digging or moving the drill cuttings into the outlet 9. In one embodiment of the invention, the space around the conveyor 11 in the pipe 10 is maintained substantially complete to facilitate maintaining a consistent dosing rate depending on the frequency of rotation of the conveyor 11 when transferring drill cuttings from the storage container to waste at.

A typical, but not exclusive, list of options for curved elements 22, 23 is shown in FIG. 5Ά-5Ό. FIG. 5B shows a curved element 22 (element 23 is similar to it), having a beveled front surface 31 and a concave back surface 30. In FIG. 5C shows a curved element 22 (or 23) having a beveled front surface 32 and a stepped rear surface 33 having a step 34. In FIG. 5Ό, a curved element 22 (or 23) is shown having a stepped front surface 35 and a slightly inclined rear surface 36 in such a way that, in use, an acute angle is formed between the inclined rear surface 36 and the flat base 3.

A container 1 for storing drill cuttings in one embodiment of the invention is attached to a sled (not shown) to facilitate its transportation on trucks, support vessels, railway wagons and on marine and onshore installations. The sled may also include a frame for encircling container 1, which may be the standard size of an International Organization for Standardization to facilitate transportation on ships, trains, trucks equipped with fasteners in spaces that meet the standards of the International Organization for Standardization. The height of container 1 in one particular embodiment of the invention, when mounted on a sled, is 3.26 m, the length of the sled is 3.95 m and the width of the sled is 2.9 m. It should be noted that the height of the container is very small compared to the inner volume.

A safety valve 8a is installed on the high pressure container 2, which is set at a response level between 10 and 20% above the normal working pressure, preferably 7 bar. A removable and / or openable hatch 8b may also be located in the wall of the high-pressure container 2 to provide access for inspection, maintenance and cleaning.

FIG. 1C shows a container for storing drill cuttings, similar to container 1, except that instead of the sliding frame 21 it has a rake device 100 and an associated moving device. Similar parts are denoted by the same reference numerals. The raking device 100 (or the sliding frame 21, etc.) can be used with any tank or container described herein. The rake device 100 has an element 102 on the shaft 104, which is moved back and forth over the opening 9 by the movement device 110. A propulsion device 112 (for example, any suitable motor or reciprocating mechanism, for example, but not limited to, a piston and cylinder assembly similar to that shown in Fig. 1A) moves the shaft 104 back and forth to move element 102 over the opening 9 to facilitate moving drill cuttings down into hole 9.

An optional vibration device 114, located outside the container 2, may cause the shaft 104 to oscillate to cause the element 102 to vibrate and / or vibrate through the container 2 in the drill cuttings. Optionally, the vibrating device 106 may be located in the container 2 on the shaft 104 to cause the vibration of the shaft 104 and the element 102 to facilitate the movement of drill cuttings. The optional vibration device 108 on the element 102 can facilitate the movement of drill cuttings.

As shown in FIG. 2, wet cuttings are produced by a group of vibrating sieves 50 for drilling mud on a drilling rig.

Sifted wet drill cuttings are dropped from vibrating screen screens for drilling mud into chute 48. Wet drilling cuttings move along chute 48 using a screw conveyor or a conveyor belt or fall directly into a feed hopper. Wet cuttings may be fed to a dryer (not shown), such as a whirling dryer or dryer to remove substantial amounts

- 5 013456 VA of moisture of this type, as described in UK patent 2297702, the description of which is incorporated here by reference. This is described in more detail in the simultaneously pending application (PCT No. PCT / 6B 2004/000762), publication UO 2004/083597, and in the simultaneously pending application US No. 10/764825 filed by this applicant, the description of which is included here in full for all purposes. In some circumstances, the moisture content of the drill cuttings is reduced to 1-5 wt.% And in other circumstances to 1 wt.%. Typically, wet sludge contains 5% or more oil, and dry sludge contains less than 5% oil.

Wet or dry cuttings fall directly into the feed hopper 51 of the purge tank 52, shown in more detail in FIG. 3. The purge tank 52 may be a device of the type described in British Patent 1,564,311, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. A valve 53, which may be a valve of the type described in GB-A-1539079, the description of which is incorporated herein by reference, is located between the feed funnel 51 and a small high-pressure container 54 having a capacity in one embodiment of the invention of approximately 0.3 m ³ , although the capacity in other embodiments of the invention is from 0.1 to 1 m ³ or more or less. The size of a small high-pressure container in some embodiments of the invention depends on the space available near the vibrating sieves for the drilling fluid, and / or the number of cycles required to move the material, for example, with a flow rate of 30 metric tons / hour. The small high pressure container 54 has a conical part 55. In the upper part of the wall of the high pressure container 54, there is an air inlet 56, and between the valve 53 and the wall of the conical part 55 there is a cylindrical part 57 of circular cross section, leaving between them a small annular gap 58, through which pressurized air can flow from the air inlet 56 to the conical part 55. This embodiment is also described in US Pat. No. 3,586,383, the description of which is incorporated herein by reference. Another valve 59 (which is optional) is located at the outlet end of the conical part 55 between the small high pressure container and the supply line 60. The other valve 59 may be of the same type as the valve 53. The supply line 60 may be a flexible hose or a rigid pipe and in one embodiment of the invention has an internal diameter of 125 mm (5 inches). In one embodiment of the invention, an additional valve 59 may be omitted.

In one embodiment of the invention, the cycle of the valve 53 and the additional valve 59 is essentially out of phase so that the valve 53 is open to ensure the filling of the small high-pressure container 54 with drilling mud under the influence of gravity from the hopper 51, while the valve 59 is closed to prevent drill cuttings from entering the feed line 60. The valve 53 is closed in such a way that the metered amount of drill cuttings is retained in the small high pressure container 54. Additional valve 59 is open. In one embodiment of the invention, air under pressure from 1 to 8 bar passes into the small high pressure container 54 through the gap 58 and applies positive pressure to the upper surface of the cargo of drill cuttings to push the measured amount of drill cuttings into supply line 60. The additional valve 59 may have a slight delay in opening to allow the pressure to increase in the small pressure container 54 before it is opened. The conical portion 55 may be angled to facilitate mass flow, as is well known in the prior art, for example, as described in I8 A3604758, the description of which is included in its entirety for all purposes. In an alternative embodiment of the invention, the inner wall of the conical section is lined with a material that reduces friction, such as plastic, fiberglass, Teflon or paint, or enamel. The conical part 55 may, in an alternative embodiment of the invention, be chisel-shaped, pyramidal, wedge-shaped, transitional or with a square hole. Essentially, the entire metered amount is released into the supply line, and then the cycle repeats. Many cycles per minute can occur. The supply line 60 leads to the inlet 7 of the waste storage container 1, which is located on the offshore drilling rig 49, or, if it is a ground installation, near the installation, for example, within 100-300 m, although this distance can reach many three or more) kilometers.

In use, the container 1 for storing drill cuttings is vented to the atmosphere either using a valve or by disconnecting the air supply line 6 from the air inlet 5. Dosed quantities of drill cuttings enter container 1 through supply line 60 from purge tank 52 and gradually fill container 1 for storing waste. The container 1 may in one embodiment of the invention contain up to 12 m ^{3 of} drill cuttings, but in other embodiments of the invention may be sized for a content of from 5 to 20 m ³ . When the container 1 is full or nearly full, a valve (not shown) in the supply line is actuated to divert the measured quantities of drill cuttings to another container 61 for storing drilling cuttings. In an alternative embodiment of the invention, the supply line is disconnected from the drill cuttings inlet 7 and connected to the cuttings inlet in the next container 61. Several containers for storing drilling sludge can form a group 62 of storage containers for drill cuttings.

- 6 013456

At a convenient time, when the support vessel or vehicle for transporting drill cuttings is in close proximity to the container group 62, for example, when the support vessel 64 is moored to an offshore drilling rig or within three or four meters from it, one end of the flexible hose 63 is connected to one of the containers 1, 61. The other end of the flexible hose 63 is connected to at least one container 65 in group 66 on support vessel 64. Containers 65 in one embodiment of the invention are containers of the type described with reference to FIG. 1Ά-1Ό. To prevent submersion of the flexible hose in the sea on the flexible hose 63 flotation couplings 67 can be used.

The air supply provided by the compressor (not shown) approximately under a pressure of 7 bar and in another embodiment of the invention is 4 bar through the air supply hose 6 through the air inlet 5 to the space in the high pressure container 2 above the surface of the drill cuttings. To actuate the screw conveyor 11 include a hydraulic motor 12 variable speed. Air is supplied, for example, under a pressure of approximately 7 bar or a little less, through the air inlet 19 for supplying air in the discharge box 18. The same or slightly lower pressure in the lower chamber 18a of the discharge box 18 than the pressure applied over the cuttings, prevents movement of drill cuttings back from the screw conveyor 11 back to the high-pressure container 2. The hydraulic piston and cylinder 26 are actuated to move the sliding frame 21 back and forth to facilitate movement of the cuttings into the hole 9. The bevel edges on the sides of the elements 22, 23, 24 of the sliding frame 21 ensure that, when moving from the opening 9, the components of the sliding frame slide under the drill cuttings, and when moving to the hole 9, surfaces with opposite right angles or sovok profile attract the drill cuttings to the hole 9. The drill cuttings move through the hole 9 into the screw conveyor 11, which It moves the cuttings forward to the lower chamber 18a of the unloading box 18. Toward the end of the screw conveyor, two spiral blades can be positioned to help break up the cuttings. The fingers 17 may also be used to assist in breaking the drill cuttings, which then falls into the discharge box 18 and advances through the opening 20 into the flexible hose 63 and into the container 65 on the support vessel 64.

The support vessel then transports the loaded group of 66 containers to the shore. Containers can be lifted from support vessel 64 and placed on railroad cars, flatbed trucks or directly to a processing plant. In an alternative embodiment of the invention, the drill cuttings may be unloaded in the same manner as described above with respect to moving the cuttings from the offshore drilling rig to support vessel 64.

FIG. 16 shows an alternative feed container 70 which may be used in place of the purge tank 52 shown in FIG. 3A. The container 70 has an inlet 71 for drill cuttings, leading from the feed hopper or other container (not shown) to the high pressure container 72 through the loading valve 73. The lower end of the high pressure container 72 is provided with a conical part 74, which leads to the outlet 75. The outlet is equipped with a relief valve 76 for selectively opening or closing the opening 75. The discharge valve 76 and the loading valve 73 are in fixed relation with the piston 77, which passes from the unloading valve 76 through the loading valve 73 to the drive cylinder 78. The piston 77 can be driven by pneumatic, hydraulic methods or using a stepper motor for opening and closing the valve 73 loading and unloading valve 76, which are located so that they operate, essentially, out of phase. At the top of the small high pressure container 72, there is an inlet 81 for supplying air for supplying pressurized air, for example about 7 bar, although it can be supplied under pressure from one to ten bar. In the wall of the conical part 74 are located aeration holes 79 to prevent sticking of drill cuttings on the walls and to prevent sticking of drilling cuttings around the outlet. From the piston 77 inside the small high pressure container 72, fingers or bristles 80 move in a radial direction, which move up and down together with valves to sweep away any drill cuttings adhering to the walls or in the form of a vault near the outlet (except for the bristles 80, the reservoir 70 is similar prior art reservoir).

When using a loading valve 73 and a discharge valve 76, the valve is essentially out of phase so that the loading valve 73 opens, allowing gravity to load the small high pressure container 72 with gravity from the feed hopper 51, while the discharge valve 76 is closed to prevent drill cuttings from entering the feed line 60. The loading valve 73 is closed in such a way that the measured amount of drill cuttings is retained in the small container 72 of the high pressure. The discharge valve 76 is opened by actuating the piston 77, which closes the loading valve 73. Air under pressure, for example, from 1 to 8 bar, passes into a small high pressure container 72 and applies positive pressure to the upper surface of the load of drill cuttings to push the measured amount of drill cuttings into supply line 60. Valves may cycle several times per minute with a relatively small high-pressure container. In the case of a high-pressure container with a capacity of 0.3 m ³ valves

- 7 013456 will cycle once or twice every minute or every two minutes. The supply line 60 (as in FIG. 2) leads to the entrance 7 of the waste storage container 1, which is located on the offshore drilling rig 49 or, if it is a surface installation, close to the installation, for example, within 300 m, although it may be at a distance up to three or four kilometers. If necessary, ventilation is provided along the ventilation line 82.

The supply container 70 of this type was manufactured by Koskpeg-Vesgoy and is shown and described on pages 290-291 of the manual entitled Pneumatic Transportation of Particles - a theoretical and practical approach (Κ1 ,ηζίη§ apb Magsik), published in 1997.

FIG. 6 shows system 150, which is an improvement to the systems and devices described herein, as well as the systems described in US Pat. No. 6,702,539, issued March 9, 2004, UK application No. 9913909, filed June 16, 1999, US application No. 10 / 018124, filed as PCT / CB 00/02158 on June 14, 2000, and European Patent No. EP 1187783 B1, published September 24, 2003

Drilling sludge flows through pipe 157 into containers 151. Each container 151 has a lower conical portion 155 with a lower opening 158. To each opening 158 there is an adjacent device 160 (which is similar to any device or system described here to facilitate the movement of drill cuttings from a tank or container, for example but not limited to them, the device shown in Fig. 1Α-1Ό, for example, with a movable frame 21 and / or a movable element 102 and the associated moving mechanisms with a power drive). The devices 160 move the drill cuttings to a pipe 159 (for example, similar to pipe 19, US Patent No. 6,702,539), from which the drill cuttings can be placed in any appropriate reservoir or container for transportation, such as waste storage containers 1 or containers 31 shown in U.S. Patent 6,702,539. Containers 31 described in U.S. Patent 6,702,539 may have a device similar to device 160 to facilitate movement of drill cuttings.

Compressed gas (for example, air, and / or nitrogen, or another inert gas) may be introduced into containers 151 along with a stream of drill cuttings into containers 151 via line 157 or later. Compressed gas can be introduced into containers 151 via line 161 to apply pressure to and from the drill cuttings as described above and / or mentioned for any design option described here. Compressed gas can be applied in lines 162 to devices 160, as described above in the system shown in FIG. 1A. Compressed gas may be used in the interior of line 159 with one or more devices to facilitate movement of drill cuttings material along line 159. Each device 160 may have a moving member (for example, similar to frame 21 or element 102) to facilitate the movement of drill cuttings from containers 151.

FIG. 3A-3C illustrate a feeding device 470 for supplying drill cuttings (for example, from vibrators or dryers to waste storage containers), which has a high pressure container 472 with a non-conical bottom 474, which has two inclined sides 475. In some embodiments of the invention 472 high pressure has a capacity of from 0.15 to 1 m ³ and in one particular embodiment of the invention is 0.33 m ³ . Drilling sludge enters the high-pressure container 472 from the upper inlet feed funnel 476 through the opening 477. An inlet valve 478 (eg, hemispherical valve) selectively controls the flow of drill cuttings into the high-pressure container 472 and in one embodiment of the invention provides a predetermined measured amount of drill cuttings for example, in one embodiment of the invention from 0.15 to 1 m ³ and in one particular embodiment of the invention, 0.3 m ³ .

The displacement member 482 (eg, similar to the displacement member 102 or frame 21 described above) may be moved by a displacement device 484 (shown schematically; for example, any displacement device described herein) to facilitate movement of drill cuttings to and from hole 479 and from the container. A screw device 480 may be used with container 472 (for example, such as any screw device described here, and in one embodiment of the invention similar to conveyor 11 shown in FIG. 1A).

FIG. 7A, 7B, and 7E illustrate a drill cuttings storage container 200 according to the present invention, which has a high pressure container 202 (for example, similar to the waste storage container 2 shown in FIG. 1A) with a domed top 204, a generally cylindrical wall 206 and the bottom 208. Drill cuttings 220 are fed to container 202 through inlet 210, the flow through which is regulated by valve 212. Valve 212 may simply be a folding non-return valve that passes drilling cuttings to container 202 but does not allow drilling drill m or air under pressure from the container 202 through the inlet 214 of the gas can be introduced pressurized gas.

The frame 230 (for example, similar to the frame 21 shown in FIG. 1A) slides along the bottom 208. The frame 230 includes a solid closing part 232, but this part can be perforated or designed as a sieve. The closing part 232 selectively closes the opening 234 in the bottom 208, which is located above the conveyor 236 (similar to the conveyor 11 shown in FIG. 1A), which is rotatably mounted in the pipe 240.

- 8 013456

As shown in FIG. 7A, the closing portion 232 shuts off the flow, preventing or reducing the flow to the screw conveyor 236 when the displacement device 250 is in the fully retracted position. This closed position is adopted when the drill cuttings storage container 200 contains drill cuttings to prevent shrinkage of the drill cuttings in the screw conveyor pipe 240. There is a possibility that, if the drill cuttings have been in the screw conveyor 236 for too long a period of time, the drill cuttings may be compressed and prevent or prevent rotation of the screw conveyor when the production of drill cuttings begins. This closed position is also assumed when the container 200 is empty in order to prevent the cuttings from falling into the screw conveyor 236 and compacting it in the screw conveyor 236. As shown in FIG. 7B, frame 230 is moved by displacement device 250 (like any displacement device described here), and opening 234 is no longer blocked and receives material flowing downward from container 202. Slurry movement from container 202 to side 242 of sludge discharge pipe 240 is facilitated by screw conveyor 236 .

As shown in FIG. 7E with arrows 263, conveyor 236 may be launched in the opposite direction to create circulation of cuttings within container 202 to create a more homogenized mass of drill cuttings. Arrows 264 indicate the direction of rotation of the conveyor 236 due to the movement of the sludge from the container 202.

Pipe 240 may have an inclined end plate 247 to facilitate the movement of the sludge to the conveyor 236 and, when the conveyor is launched in the opposite direction, facilitate the movement of the sludge into the container and within the container 202. The pipe 240 may have an inclined end plate 248 near the discharge side of the pipe that carries the material down into the discharge chamber 245 and from the pipe 240. Compressed gas can be supplied to the inlet 243 to facilitate the movement of drill cuttings from the discharge chamber and from the discharge side 242 of the pipe 240.

As shown in FIG. 7C and 7Ό, the drill cuttings storage container 500 has a high pressure container 502 (for example, similar to the waste storage container 2 shown in FIG. 1A) with a dome-shaped top 504, a generally cylindrical side wall 506 and a bottom 508, further including a plurality aeration nozzles 561, passing through the bottom 508, which inject gas under pressure into the container 502 (in some embodiments, up and / or down into the conveyor 536). For supplying gas to the nozzles 561, the same source of compressed gas can be used, which supplies gas to inlet 514, or a separate source of compressed gas can be used. The air and drill cuttings inlets in FIG. 7C or 7Ό are not shown. The working fluid passing under pressure through the nozzles 561 may be under the same pressure as the pressure used to move the cuttings, or under a higher pressure. Through the use of a gas working medium through air nozzles 562, drill cuttings are aerated. This is important when dry drill cuttings are stored in the high pressure container 502. Dry drill cuttings are aerated and moved outward by a screw conveyor 536. When drilling cuttings are aerated, it acts more like a fluid, and thus the transport of drilling cuttings is more predictable. It may also facilitate the removal of obstructions in the conveyor and may also be used to purge and clean the screw conveyor 536 at any convenient time, for example, when the container 500 is empty. The container 500 may include a plurality of aeration nozzles 562 that pass into the pipe 540 and deliver pressurized gas to the pipe 540 to facilitate the movement of drill cuttings, prevent the consolidation of the cuttings and the formation of bulky plugs. In one particular embodiment of the invention, a plurality of aeration nozzles are applied along the entire length of the pipe 540. When the closing element 532 is in the closed position, air diffuses beyond the edges of the closing element 532 (and, if perforated, through any perforations in it) and aerates the drilled rock, which moves past the frame 530.

A sliding frame (for example, similar to frame 230 shown in FIG. 7A), working with wet sludge, dry cuttings or moistened cuttings, controls the discharge flow (from the discharge side 242) by controlling the amount of material that flows into the conveyor 236. Aeration of dried drill cuttings, such as sludge, dried with a dryer, facilitates the movement of drill cuttings, making the action of drill cuttings more similar to the action of the fluid, and makes the transport of sludge more predictable.

FIG. 8A shows a device 600 according to the present invention for storing and transporting drill cuttings, which may be wet, dry or wetted (wet), which may have an additional vortex dryer 610, a feeding device 620 and a conveyor system 650. The vortex dryer 610 supplies the drill cuttings to a delivery device 620. The device 620 has a high pressure container 622 that feeds the drill cuttings to a transport line 632. The device 620 may be in some embodiments of the invention similar to the device shown in FIG. 3B or 4, or like any purge tank or waste storage container described herein.

As shown in FIG. 8A, compressed gas to facilitate the transport of sludge flows from a source of compressed gas 602 on line 627 to a supply tank 622, which is identical to the supply device

- 9 013456 wu 470, shown in FIG. 3A-3C. Compressed gas from line 627 passes through line 612 (flow controlled by valve 615) to discharge box 624. A small amount of compressed gas enters the top of high-pressure container 622 through valve 616 to prevent sludge from being blown back into high-pressure container 622 from a screw feeder the base of the high-pressure container 622, which feeds the discharge box 624. The sludge discharged from the discharge box 624 is advanced by compressed gas to the conveying line 632, from which the sludge flows to further processing a device (for example, another vortex drier) or to a waste storage container, such as a drill cuttings storage container 1 shown in FIG. 1A, or to known drill cuttings boxes located at a facility, on shore, or on a ship.

A plurality of pressure sensors 640 are spaced apart along transport line 632, each of which includes a pressure gauge and is connected to a control system, such as control system 680 with a programmable logic controller. A plurality of gas injection devices 690 are spaced apart along conveyor line 632 for selectively injecting gas under pressure into conveying line 632 under the control of programmable logic controller 680. Gas flows through line 613 to devices 690. Valve 614 controls flow in line 613. Valves 614, 615, 616 communicated with and controlled by a programmable logic controller 680. The screw drive feeder of the device 600 communicates with and is controlled by a programmable logic controller 680.

Each device 690 includes a one-way check valve 691 for the passage of air into the conveying line 632, which prevents drill cuttings from entering the pneumatic line 613 and blocking it, the controlled valve 692, which selectively controls the flow of the working medium to the conveying line 632, and a control valve 693, which selectively passes a pressurized gas working medium to conveyor line 632 when the pressure differential between line 613 and pressure at point 640 is less than the specified difference, in order to maintain toyannogo pressure difference along the conveying line.

The monitoring and control system maximizes productivity in a safe manner, that is, eliminates blockage and pushing of solid particles into the transport line in an uncontrolled manner. Using device 690 and 640 in one embodiment of the invention ensures that the slurry is kept dynamic and moving in pipeline 632. Pressure is controlled at strategic points along its full length. The observed pressures are maintained by changing the flow rate of the sludge and / or assisting air flow to obtain constant (and, in some embodiments, additional) characteristics. To minimize the total pressure drop along the length of the pipeline 632, the length and / or density of the pipeline 632, which is in the dense phase flow mode, is controlled, as a result of which it is filled over the entire cross-section of the pipeline.

The denser the batch, the higher the wall friction, therefore, higher pressure is required to move the batch through pipeline 632. In addition, the dependence of the batch length and the pressure required to advance the batch is exponential; that is, the pressure required to transport a number of portions separated by air cushions is significantly less than that required to transport a single portion, the length of which is equivalent to the sum of the lengths of the row of portions.

The feeding device 620 dispenses the sludge supplied to the pipeline 632, in portions, the size of which is determined by the outer diameter of the screw or screw, shaft size and pitch. The feed rate is directly proportional to the speed of the screw. Localized aeration within the screw transportation / discharge chamber provides dynamic sludge, and means of controlling screw speed, shutdown and start-up, controlled by a programmable logic controller 680, provide precise control when creating batches. This control is based on pressure mode in line 632, which is highly dependent on flow conditions.

In one embodiment of the invention, nominal test points are used within conduit 632 with respect to maximum pressure drop through conduit 632, i.e. one set with a low value for the diluted phase, for example 2 bar, which is used for dried drill cuttings, and another for undried drill cuttings, which has a higher value, for example 4 bar. In one particular embodiment of the invention, in a dense phase, the cuttings pass through a conveying line at a speed of approximately 10 m / s and in a lean or dilute phase, the cuttings pass through a conveying line at a speed of approximately 30 m / s. The programmable logic controller 680 increases the speed of the screw to the speed required for supply to the conveyor line 632 so that the pressure drop between the devices 690 is maintained at a predetermined level. For example, with four devices 690 equidistant from each other along the length of the straight conveyor line 632, the conveyor line 632 receives the first dosed portion of drill cuttings from the feeder 620. The air supply device 602 is activated, and the portion of drill cuttings moves along the conveyor line. The initial pressure is set, for example, at 4 bar and it is expected that the pressure at the end of the conveying line will be slightly higher than atmospheric when the portion reaches the end. Devices 690 adjust the line pressure in such a way that there is an acceptable constant pressure drop between them.

- 10 013456

The pressure drop is, for example, 0.5 bar at the level of each node, with the result that after the first device 690 the pressure is adjusted to 3.5 bar, after the second node the pressure is adjusted to 3 bar, after the third node the pressure is adjusted to 2.5 bar and after the fourth node, the pressure is adjusted to 2 bar so that it is expected that the pressure at the end of the conveyor line 632 will be approximately 1.5 bar and that there is a reasonable degree of confidence that the batch will be released from the end of the conveying line and into the storage container thodov. If the pressure drop is within a certain percentage, for example 30%, and in one embodiment of the invention 15%, and in one particular embodiment, 10% of what was expected, the regulator opens line 613 and passes air under pressure controlled by the regulator 693, to the transport line under the correct pressure.

A standard contour-proportional-integral-differential control is used in such a way that, in the event of a pressure drop beyond the limits, the speed of the screw feeder is reduced or stopped, respectively. To actuate the air assist valves in device 690, if necessary, use feedback from pressure sensors 640 along the line, which are located strategically slightly earlier in the flow than bends / vertical lifts or any other areas known to create turbulence inside the pipeline. The air assist valve is located at the turbulence point after the pressure sensor, and if the pressure in the sensor area drops below a predetermined percentage relative to the sensor immediately preceding the flow, for example 80%, air is supplied directly from the source 602 via a bypass line 613, which runs along the entire length of the pipeline 632 to the corresponding point of assistance. The pressure setting for air assistance is set, for example, at a level of 90% of the pressure in the region of the sensor 640 immediately preceding the flow, and if this pressure is reached, the assistance air is also directed to the next discharge point immediately following the flow, etc. Each valve 691 can power its associated gas discharge nozzle 699 (FIG. 8B).

FIG. 9A-9C show a feeding device 700 according to the present invention, which is similar to a feeding device 470 shown in FIG. 3B, and further includes a feed funnel 720, having a vibration motor 725 for causing vibration of the buffer funnel portion 721, and an additional air blower 772, and a modified discharge box 753. The control system 701 communicates with the sensors in the high funnel portion 721 and the high pressure container part 740 . The feed hopper 720 contains a buffer feed hopper 721, an optional vibrating motor 722 for causing the buffer feeding hopper 721 to vibrate and its contents, a compensation seam 722, and a valve 723 at the outlet 724 for controlling the flow of drill cuttings from the hopper 721 to the waste storage container 740. A feeding device 700 is used, for example, to move drill cuttings from vibrators to waste storage containers, and in one particular embodiment of the invention, the high pressure container 740 has a capacity of only about 0.3 m ³ .

The high pressure container portion 740 may be similar to the waste storage containers shown in FIG. 1A, 3Β-Ό, 7A and 8A. The high-pressure container part 740 has a container 742, which receives the cuttings through the inlet 743. The ventilation valve 744 selectively vents the container 742, and the safety valve 745 relieves pressure in the container 742 at a predetermined level. Conveyor 750 transfers the drill cuttings from container 742 to discharge box 751, and the cuttings out on side 752 of unloading pipe 753 and flow into a pipeline (not shown, for example, similar to pipeline 632 shown in FIG. 8A). The engine / gear 760 rotates the conveyor 750.

Compressed gas from source 770 flows under pressure to line 771 to inlet 772 at unloading box 753 to line 773 to inlet 774 on side 752 of unloading unloading box 753, to line 775 to inlet 776 at unloading box 751 and to line 777 to the inlet 778 of the container 742 high pressure. Inlet 778 may have a very small diameter, since it is intended simply to balance the pressure inside the high pressure container 742 and the pressure in the box 751 or on the discharge side 752. Each line has a one-way check valve 779. A feed funnel 721 can be installed on anti-vibration supports 782.

All operational components of the transmission device 700 are communicated (see dashed lines) with a controller 701 (eg, similar to controller 680 shown in FIG. 8A).

Each line 771, 773, 777 has an on / off valve regulator 771a, 773a, 777a, respectively (for example, similar to valves 692), pressure regulator 771b, 773b, 777b, respectively (similar to pressure sensors 690, pressure is set manually or by system control, while the set pressure effectively sets the maximum operating pressure of the system, for example, 2 bar for dried sludge or 4 bar for wet sludge from vibrating sieves for drilling mud), and regulators 771c, 773c, 777c flow, respectively, which regulate the rate of change Pressure changes (for example, can be needle valves, diaphragms or similar devices).

- 11 013456

Through line 777, the gas enters container 742 at a pressure equal to the pressure of the gas supplied to the unloading box 75З via line 771, and gas supplied through the line 77З to the unloading box 751, so that the pressure drop along the length of the conveyor (screw feeder) 750 slightly. Thus, the feed rate of the sludge from the system 700 is determined by the rotational speed of the conveyor 750. In one embodiment of the invention, the gas is fed after the exhaust valve 752a in line 77Z. When the exhaust valve 752a is closed, the container 742 may be vented to the atmosphere, which allows for replenishment of the container 742, while the slurry is transported in the course of the feed after side 752 discharge.

The control system shown in FIG. 9A, 9B, 9C, may be used for any feeder or storage container described herein.

FIG. 10 shows a system 800 according to the present invention, which has a sludge dryer 801 that dries drill cuttings, such as a swirl drier or sludge drier of the type described in UK patent 2,297,702. The swirl drier 801 can be fed and positioned directly under the discharge side of the vibrating sieve for drilling mud (not shown) or at the end of a trough (not shown) fed by a plurality of vibrating sieves for drilling mud (not shown). However, the drill cuttings that need to be dried are dried in the slurry dryer 801 for a predetermined time or within a limited period of time. Accordingly, if the drill cuttings are very wet, for example, if the vibrating sieve suffers from clogging with particles of similar size, when a significant amount of drilling mud will flow over the vibrator into the cuttings dryer with drilling cuttings, some or all of the drilling cuttings will not be sufficiently dried to be transported using a high pressure container or simply will require further drying, further processing or storage and transportation in a special container for storing waste or from it. Thus, a conveyor system 802 with 80Z, 804 screws driven by an engine / gearing system 805 delivers the cuttings selectively to a waste storage container 810 or to a sealed feed device 820 based on measurements by a humidity sensor 821 (or sensors). The wet sludge enters a sealed feed device.

820, if wet sludge is detected, the screws are started in the opposite direction, and the sludge is transported to waste storage container 810 (which may be similar to waste storage container 1). A sensor (or sensors) 821 detects the moisture content of the drill cuttings. If the sensor 821 has detected wet sludge (for example, more than 1, 3 or 5% moisture content), the screw is started in the opposite direction, and it moves the drill cuttings to the container 810 for storing wet sludge, and if the sludge is dry (for example, less than 5% moisture or oil content), the screw is driven forward, and the sludge enters the pressurized sealed feed device 820 under pressure, which blows the drill cuttings into the dry sludge box 825, which may be similar to the sludge storage container 1. In one particular device, when the sludge is transferred to the waste storage container 810, it can then be moved to the dry sludge box 825. Additionally (as is the case with any humidity sensor or sensor device in any system described here), sensor 821 can have a protective canopy 821a for components outside the feed hopper and a protective canopy 821L for components 821c inside the feed hopper 822. Such a canopy 821B protects sensor components 821c from drill cuttings falling down into the feed hopper. Multiple sensors can be used.

821, spaced apart from one another around the circumference of the feed hopper 822 (as is the case with any system of the present invention, with a humidity sensor). In some embodiments of the invention, such sensors are effective with drill cuttings particles that are at least 2.5 cm thick (one inch) and have an area of at least twenty to twenty-six square centimeters (three to four square inches). Such sensors can read continuously for more accurate use by control system 829, which maintains control communication with components of system 800, as indicated by dashed lines.

The control system 829 can switch the slurry flow from the system 825 (eg, for an adequately dry drill cuttings) to the system 810 (eg, for a relatively wet drill cuttings). In any system here, the first storage device or dry storage device may be a container for storing waste, vessel hold or compartment or reservoir in a facility or in installation supports. Such storage means in any form may have, in accordance with the present invention, a pneumatic positive pressure system and a bottom aeration system for aerating drill cuttings material from below (for example, through a perforated bottom plate or element) to create a suspended phase of material that is easier to transport. In one particular embodiment of the invention, the moisture content sensors are similar to those of models MST Z00, MST 600 and MST 101-T, supplied by Procieckeogog Sogrogayoi, MyGogy, McCasiiekayk. As with any high pressure container in any system described herein, the sludge container 820a of system 800 may have a volume of from 0.05 to 0.2 m ³ .

FIG. 11 shows a system 830 according to the present invention, in which a conveyor 831 driven by an engine / gearing system 832 feeds the drill cuttings to two vortex dryers 833. The slurry treated by vortex dryers 833 is fed by conveyor systems 834 to

- 12 013456 feed hopper 835 of feed system 836 (similar to system 820 shown in FIG. 10). One of the vortex dryers 833 has a screen that is clogged if the drill cuttings have particles of similar size (close size means the size of particles of drill cuttings produced during drilling, which have a size distribution similar to the size of the mesh openings of the screens of the screening device; particles of similar size can stuck in the cells of the screen, hammering the screen), and at this moment wet drill cuttings flows out of the swirl drier. This is detected by a humidity sensor 831, which sends a signal to the second vortex dryer, which has a screen with a cell size different from the first vortex dryer, and thus can work with this particle size. The system 836 produces treated rock drill that goes into the pipeline 837.

FIG. 12 shows a system 850 corresponding to the present invention, similar to the system shown in FIG. 11, which has a conveyor system 851 driven by an engine / gearing system 852 that transports drill cuttings from vibrating sieves for drilling mud, hydrocyclones and / or centrifuges to vortex dryers 853, which in turn feed dried drill cuttings through a chute 854 to a feeding device 856 (similar to a feeding device 836), which feeds drill cuttings to the output pipeline 857. The swirl driers 853 have feed hoppers 854 below them that feed the feeding device 856.

FIG. 13 shows a system 900 according to the present invention for a drilling rig K in which drill cuttings (for example, from vibrating sieves for drilling mud, a centrifuge) flows to a feed device 906 (similar to a feed device 820, 836, 856) with a vortex dryer 907. Feed device 906 processes the sludge and feeds it to a waste storage container, which may be a container of the type shown in FIG. 1A, 1C, or 7 A. If the moisture sensor reading in the feeding device 906 indicates that the drill cuttings are dry, a controller (not shown) diverts the flow of drill cuttings from the feeding device 906 or to the internal bulk drives 910 embedded in the K unit or into the internal hold 911 in vessel B of supply (if supply vessel is available). If the moisture sensor reading indicates that the drill cuttings are wet, the controller diverts the flow of drill cuttings to the container 1 for storing wet waste on unit K or on vessel B. Internal bulk storage devices integrated into unit K and the internal hold in the vessel B ensure that they can handle dry bulk material, but not wet bulk material. Thus, assessing the degree of dryness of the drill cuttings, it is possible to store the drill cuttings in the internal bulk drives 910 embedded in the K unit, or in the inside hold 911 in the vessel B securing. Wet cuttings can be loaded and stored in a waste storage container of the type shown in FIG. 1, or may be re-processed in a drill cuttings dryer, such as a whirling dryer or a cuttings dryer of the type described in documents νθ 2004/000762 and OB-L-2297702, and re-checked for moisture.

FIG. 14 shows a system 920 according to the present invention, in which vibrating sieve 921 for drilling mud serves drilled material to a screw or belt conveyor 922, which feeds the material into a vortex dryer 923, which feeds the dried material to a sealed screw feeder 924 under pressure (similar to screw feeder shown in Fig. 8A, 9A and 10-12). Material processed in a sealed screw feeder 924 goes to transfer to line 925. Liquid extracted from the vortex dryer 923 flows along line 926 to collection tank 927, from which it is pumped out by pump 928 through line 929 to centrifuge 930. Solids from centrifuges 930 are conducted through line 931 for disposal, and fluid is pumped on line 932 to collection tank 933. Pump 934 pumps liquid from tank 933, or line 939 to mud return system 935 (with closed valve 936 and open valve 938), or back to them roaring the dryer 923 through the line 937 (with the valve 936 open and the valve 938 closed).

FIG. 15 shows a system 950 according to the present invention, in which a pressurized screw feeder device 952 selectively feeds drill cuttings into containers 953 for storing dried sludge or container 954 for storing wet drill cuttings. A moisture meter 955 located in the hopper 968 determines the moisture content of the drill cuttings material, and a controller 960 communicating with the moisture meter 955 controls the bypass valve 956 so that the adequately dried sludge is sent to the containers 953 for storing drill cuttings, whereas the flow to the container system 954 is blocked and wet sludge is sent to the container system 954, while the flow to the containers 953 is blocked. Each container 953 may have its own bypass valve 957 such that flow to each box is selectively controlled by controller 960.

In some embodiments of the invention, the pressurized screw feed device 952 under pressure is similar to the device shown in FIG. 8A and 26, the wet drill cutting storage container 954 is similar to the wet drilling cutting storage container shown in FIG. 10, and containers 953 for storing dried drill cuttings are similar to containers shown in FIG. 1B, 3B, and 10. Controller 960 controls the motors of each conveyor in system 950.

- 13 013456

In each of the systems shown in FIG. 10–15, a suitable control system controls various components and communicates with humidity sensors, valves, conveyors and motors.

The method of moving drilling cuttings from an offshore drilling rig located on water to a vessel located on water near said marine drilling rig, said drill cuttings being loaded with drilling mud, includes supplying the drilling cuttings obtained from the drilling operation to a drill cuttings treatment device containing a device with a rotating annular screen, the processing of drill cuttings by a device for processing drill cuttings, producing processed drill cuttings and secondary material, including drill cuttings and bu the mud and the treated cuttings include drilling mud, supplying the processed drilling cuttings from the drilling cuttings treatment device to a device with a positive pressure blowdown tank, having a tank that receives the processed cuttings from the drilling cuttings treatment device, feeding secondary material from treatment of drill cuttings in the secondary device and air supply under pressure to the tank in the device with a positive pressure blow tank to remove drill cuttings from the tank and izheniya cuttings tertiary apparatus. In one particular embodiment of the invention, the secondary device is a filter centrifugal device, the method also comprising treating the secondary material with a filter centrifugal device, creating secondary drilling mud and secondary drill cuttings. In one embodiment of the invention, before supplying drill cuttings from a device for processing drill cuttings to a device with a positive pressure blow tank, the drill cuttings are fed to a crushing device to break up the agglomerates of drill cuttings and then fed from a crusher to a device with a positive pressure blow tank.

In one embodiment of the invention, when, according to the methods, the secondary device is a filtering centrifugal device, the methods include treating the secondary material with a centrifugal device, obtaining secondary drilling mud and secondary drill cuttings, recycling said secondary drilling fluid for reuse during the drilling operation, feeding said secondary drilling mud sludge to the crushing device for breaking the agglomerates of the specified secondary drill cuttings, feed of toric drill cuttings from the crushing device to a device with a positive pressure blowing tank and / or before supplying drill cuttings from a device for processing drill cuttings to a device with a positive pressure blowing tank supplying said drill cuttings to a crushing device to break agglomerates of said drill cuttings and then supplying specified drill cuttings from the crushing device to the device with a positive pressure purge tank.

The method of moving the cuttings material, including cuttings and drilling mud, includes feeding the cuttings material to a device for processing cuttings, including a device with a rotating annular screen, processing the cuttings material to a device for processing cuttings, producing the processed cuttings and secondary material, including drill cuttings and drilling mud, and the specified treated drill cuttings include drilling mud, transfer with the working medium under positive pressure cast drill cuttings from a device for processing drill cuttings to a pipeline device, applying positive pressure air to the pipeline device to continuously move the treated drill cutting therein, continuously moving the treated drill cuttings with pressurized air to a separation device, and with a continuous separation using a separating device processed drill cuttings from the air.

A system for moving drill cuttings is proposed, having a moving device for moving drill cuttings, a device for processing drill cuttings to be supplied to a reservoir device, the device for processing drill cuttings comprising a device with a rotating annular screen, a reservoir device for receiving drill cuttings from a device for processing drilling sludge, piping device for receiving drill cuttings from the reservoir device, the device with the working medium under pressure for exposure to air od positive pressure to the drill cuttings and for continuous movement of drill cuttings through the pipeline to the device and separating apparatus, and separation apparatus for the continuous reception of drill cuttings through the pipeline unit, the separation device is intended for separating drill cuttings from the air.

A method of transporting paste, including drilling mud, loaded with a liquid, containing a supply of paste to a device for processing drill cuttings, containing a device with a rotating annular screen, reducing the weight of said paste in a device for processing drill cuttings by removing fluid from the paste, while the device for processing drilling the sludge produces a material that includes drill cuttings and fluid, the flow of material produced from a device for processing drill cuttings into a container, the use of compressed gas in the container to call for the outflow of produced material from the container, the container includes the conical part of the charging funnel, which, at least during the release of the produced material, forms the lower section of the container, and the angle of the cone solution is below the critical value required for

- 14 013456 decreasing the mass flow of the produced material.

Systems and methods are proposed for moving material that has a low slurry density (for example, with a specific gravity of 2.3 to 4.0 and in one embodiment of the invention is approximately 2.7 or less) and a high particle density (for example, 2 pounds per gallon — 4 pounds per gallon or higher), by using a positive pressure gas working medium, such as air or steam. In other embodiments of the invention, the slurry that needs to be treated, for example, coming from the vibrating sieve for drilling mud, has a specific gravity of 1.8 (1,800 kg / m ³ ; 15 pounds per gallon), and some high-density drill cuttings have a specific gravity of 2, 5 (21 pounds per gallon). In one particular embodiment of the invention, the material is a slurry that includes borehole cuttings, borehole muds, drilling mud, water, oil and / or emulsions with sludge present with varying weight percentages in the slurry. The term slurry density refers to material from a well in an air stream, and the term particle density refers to a material before it enters the air stream.

In some embodiments of the invention, the systems and methods provide for continuous or near-continuous transport of material.

Systems are proposed with means for storing solid particles that will be moved and a device for mixing heavy solid particles that will be transported using a gas working medium, for example, but not limited to, air or steam under positive pressure, that is, above atmospheric pressure. In one embodiment of the invention, the speed of the moving solid particles is reduced using, for example, a separating device, and then the solid particles are accumulated in a storage device (for example, tanks, boxes, storage containers). In some embodiments of the invention, automatic unloading tanks are used which have a system for moving solid particles with a positive pressure. Such tanks may have systems for measuring the amount of solids in the tanks and indicating this amount.

In one embodiment of the invention, the device reduces the density of the liquid solution of the material. Such a device includes a moderator / separator device.

Claims (21)

1. A method of treating drill cuttings, comprising obtaining drill cuttings from at least one of a vibrating sieve for a drilling fluid, a hydrocyclone, a centrifuge or dryer for drill cuttings, measuring the moisture content of drill cuttings to determine a moisture value, comparing the moisture value with a predetermined threshold value, and transporting drill cuttings along the route of dry drill cuttings at a moisture value below a predetermined threshold value or transportation of drill cuttings along the route of wet drill cuttings at elichine humidity exceeds the threshold. 2. The method according to claim 1, in which the route of dry drill cuttings comprises a feed device and a pneumatic conveying line, and further carry out the steps of loading drill cuttings into a feed device, while the feed device feeds drill cuttings to a pneumatic conveying line. 3. The method according to claim 2, in which a pneumatic conveying line is used, which is a pneumatic conveying line of positive pressure. 4. The method according to claim 2 or 3, which uses a pneumatic conveyor line leading to the container for storing drill cuttings, and further carry out the step of transporting drill cuttings through a pneumatic conveyor line to the specified container. 5. The method according to claim 2 or 3, which uses a pneumatic conveyor line leading to the bulk storage tanks of an oil or gas installation, and further carry out the step of transporting drill cuttings through a pneumatic conveyor line to bulk tanks. 6. The method according to claim 2 or 3, which uses a pneumatic conveyor line leading to the compartment of the oil or gas installation, and further carry out the step of transporting drill cuttings through the pneumatic conveyor line to the compartment. 7. The method according to any one of claims 2 to 6, in which the step of measuring the moisture content of drill cuttings is performed by a humidity sensor located in the feed device. 8. The method according to any one of claims 2 to 7, in which a feeding device is used comprising a loading funnel and a high pressure container, and the step of measuring the moisture content of drill cuttings is carried out by a humidity sensor located in the loading funnel. 9. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 8, in which the route of wet drill cuttings contains a feed device and a pneumatic conveying line, and further carry out the steps of loading drill cuttings into a feed device, while the feed device feeds the drill cuttings to - 15 013456 pneumatic conveying line. 10. The method according to claim 9, in which a pneumatic conveying line is used, which is a pneumatic conveying line of positive pressure. 11. The method according to claim 9 or 10, which uses a pneumatic conveyor line leading to a container for storing drill cuttings, and further carry out the step of transporting drill cuttings through a pneumatic conveyor line to a container for storing drill cuttings. 12. The method according to claim 9 or 10, which uses a pneumatic conveying line leading to a dryer for drill cuttings for further drying. 13. The method according to any one of claims 2 to 6, in which the step of measuring the moisture content of drill cuttings is performed by a humidity sensor located in the feed device. 14. The method according to any one of claims 2 to 6, wherein a feeding device is used comprising a loading funnel and a high-pressure container, the step of measuring the moisture content of drill cuttings being carried out by a humidity sensor located in the loading funnel. 15. The method according to claim 1, in which the drill cuttings from at least one of the vibrating sieve for drilling fluid, a hydrocyclone, a centrifuge or dryer for drill cuttings are fed into the feed device, and then the moisture content of the drill cuttings is measured to determine the moisture content using there a humidity sensor, while the feed device feeds the drill cuttings into a pneumatic conveying line that has a bypass valve located in it, the method further comprising the steps of rejecting the drill lama using a bypass valve on a dry cuttings route if the humidity value is below a predetermined threshold value, or transporting the drill cuttings in a wet cuttings route if the humidity value above a threshold. 16. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 15, in which a screw conveyor for receiving drill cuttings is used, located at least under one of a vibrating sieve for drilling mud, hydrocyclone, centrifuge or dryer for drill cuttings, the screw conveyor comprising a drive, thanks to which the screw conveyor is reversible for transporting drill cuttings in one direction along the route of dry cuttings and in the second direction along the route of wet cuttings. 17. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 16, in which the predetermined threshold value is 5% moisture content. 18. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 16, in which the specified threshold value is 3% moisture content. 19. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 16, wherein the predetermined threshold value is 1% moisture content. 20. A device for implementing the method according to any one of claims 1 to 19, comprising a humidity sensor (821, 955) and means (802, 956) for guiding the drill cuttings along the wet cuttings path or along the dry cuttings route. 21. The device according to claim 20, further comprising a controller (829, 960) for receiving data from the humidity sensor (821, 955) and comparing the data with a predetermined value, and activating said means in accordance with the data.