Patent ID: 6213227
Filing Date: 2001-04-10
Classification: B63B,B63G,E21B

Abstract:
A method of removing drill cuttings from a well drilling platform during the drilling of a well bore using a drill bit supported by a drill string in combination with a drilling fluid comprising:a) separating drill cuttings from the well drilling fluid on the drilling platform so that the separated drilling fluids can be recycled into the well bore during drilling operations;b) moving the separated cuttings to a materials trough having an interior adapted for collecting the separated cuttings;c) forming a vacuum within a suction line and an upper hopper with vacuum means that are in fluid communication with the suction line and the upper hopper;d) suctioning the separated drill cuttings with the suction line, the suction line having an intake end portion positioned at the materials trough;e) transmitting the drill cuttings via the suction line to the upper hopper, the upper hopper having an interior chamber, at least one access opening and at least one discharge opening for communicating with the interior chamber, and means for controlling the flow of material from the interior chamber through the discharge opening;f) discharging the drill cuttings from the upper hopper through the upper hopper discharge opening to a lower hopper, the lower hopper having an interior chamber, at least one access opening and at least one discharge opening for communicating with the interior chamber, and means for controlling the flow of material from the discharge chamber through the discharge opening;g) discharging the drill cuttings from the lower hopper through the lower hopper discharge opening onto a shaker, the shaker having a vibrating shaker screen, a drill cuttings discharge opening, and a fluids container below the vibrating shaker screen, the fluids container having at least one drilling fluids discharge opening;h) separating drilling fluids from the drill cuttings as the cuttings pass over the vibrating shaker screen by having the drilling fluids pass through the shaker screen and into the fluids container;i) discharging the separated drilling fluids from the fluids container via the fluids container discharge opening into a drilling fluids holding tank so that the drilling fluids can be recycled into the well bore during drilling operations; andj) discharging the separated drill cuttings via the shaker drill cuttings discharge opening into a holding tank.