Patent ID: 6009959
Filing Date: 2000-01-04
Classification: B63B,B63G,E21B

Abstract:
A method of removing drill cuttings from an oil and gas well drilling platform that uses a drill bit supported with a drill string and a well drilling fluid during a digging of a well bore, comprising the steps of:a) separating drill cuttings from the well drilling fluid on the drilling platform so that the drilling fluids can be recycled into the well bore during drilling operations;b) transmitting the cuttings to a materials collection area;c) suctioning the separated drill cuttings with a suction line having an intake end portion that can be positioned at the collection area;d) transmitting the drill cuttings via the suction line to a hopper that has an interior and at least one access opening for communicating with the interior;e) forming a vacuum within the hopper interior with a blower that is in fluid communication with the hopper interior; andf) continuously discharging drill cuttings from the hopper into a pair of holding tanks, wherein when one tank is filled, cuttings are held momentarily in the hopper until cuttings can then be transferred to the other tank.