Abstract:
A method and apparatus for removing drill cuttings from an oil and gas well drilling platform provides for the separation of drill cuttings from at least a volume of the well drilling fluid (i.e. drilling mud) on the drilling platform so that the drilling fluids can be recycled into the well bore. The cuttings are then transferred to a cuttings collection area on the platform. The separated drill cuttings are then suctioned with a first suction line having an intake portion. The suctioned drill cuttings are transmitted to a vacuum holding tank or multiple tanks on the platform, each having a tank interior. A vacuum is formed within the holding tank interior with a blower that is in fluid communication with the tank interior via a second vacuum line. The holding tank is then connected to a floating work boat with a discharge flow line. Cuttings are then transmitted from the tank on the platform to the work boat via the flow line. In an alternate embodiment, cuttings can be transferred to an underwater storage area. In this fashion, multiple holding tanks on the drilling platform can be used to store cuttings until a work boat arrives. The work boat can be provided with its own high capacity work boat holding tank (for example 100-1000 barrels) for receiving cuttings from the multiple tanks on the drilling platform when disposal is desired. The underwater storage tank can be used in place of or as a supplement to the work boat holding tanks.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/182,623, filed Oct. 29, 1998, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/071,820, filed May 1, 1998, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,971,084, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/039,178, filed Mar. 13, 1998, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,913,372, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/950,296, filed Oct. 14, 1997, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,009,959, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/813,462, filed Mar. 10, 1997, which is now U.S. Pat. No. 5,839,521, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/729,872, filed Oct. 15, 1996, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,842,529, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/416,181, filed Apr. 4, 1995 (now U.S. Pat. No. 5,564,509) which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/197,727, filed Feb. 17, 1994 (now U.S. Pat. No. 5,402,857), each of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
     Not applicable 
     REFERENCE TO A “MICROFICHE APPENDIX” 
     Not applicable 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to oil and gas well drilling and more particularly to the handling of cuttings that are generated during oil and gas well drilling activity. Even more particularly, the present invention relates to an improved vacuum tank apparatus and method for handling cuttings that are generated during oil and gas well drilling and in oil and gas exploration. Tanks are provided on an oil and gas well drilling platform and on a work boat positioned next to the platform. Both the platform and work boat have vacuum units that help transfer cuttings from the platform to the work boat. 
     2. General Background of the Invention 
     In the drilling of oil and gas wells, a drill bit is used to dig many thousands of feet into the earth&#39;s crust. Oil rigs typically employ a derrick that extends above the well drilling platform and which can support joint after joint of drill pipe connected end to end during the drilling operation. As the drill bit is pushed farther and farther into the earth, additional pipe joints are added to the ever lengthening “string” or “drill string”. The drill pipe or drill string thus comprises a plurality of joints of pipe, each of which has an internal, longitudinally extending bore for carrying fluid drilling mud from the well drilling platform through the drill string and to a drill bit supported at the lower or distal end of the drill string. 
     Drilling mud lubricates the drill bit and carries away well cuttings generated by the drill bit as it digs deeper. The cuttings are carried in a return flow stream of drilling mud through the well annulus and back to the well drilling platform at the earth&#39;s surface. When the drilling mud reaches the surface, it is contaminated with small pieces of shale and rock which are known in the industry as well cuttings or drill cuttings. 
     Well cuttings have in the past been separated from the reusable drilling mud with commercially available separators that are known as “shale shakers”. Other solids separators include mud cleaners and centrifuge. Some shale shakers are designed to filter coarse material from the drilling mud while other shale shakers are designed to remove finer particles from the well drilling mud. After separating well cuttings therefrom, the drilling mud is returned to a mud pit where it can be supplemented and/or treated prior to transmission back into the well bore via the drill string and to the drill bit to repeat the process. 
     The disposal of the separated shale and cuttings is a complex environmental problem. Drill cuttings contain not only the mud product which would contaminate the surrounding environment, but also can contain oil that is particularly hazardous to the environment, especially when drilling in a marine environment. 
     In the Gulf of Mexico for example, there are hundreds of drilling platforms that drill for oil and gas by drilling into the subsea floor. These drilling platforms can be in many hundreds of feet of water. In such a marine environment, the water is typically crystal clear and filled with marine life that cannot tolerate the disposal of drill cuttings waste such as that containing a combination of shale, drilling mud, oil, and the like. Therefore, there is a need for a simple, yet workable solution to the problem of disposing of oil and gas well cuttings in an offshore marine environment and in other fragile environments where oil and gas well drilling occurs. 
     Traditional methods of cuttings disposal have been dumping, bucket transport, cumbersome conveyor belts, screw conveyors, and washing techniques that require large amounts of water. Adding water creates additional problems of added volume and bulk, messiness, and transport problems. Installing conveyors requires major modification to the rig area and involves many installation hours and very high cost. 
     The following U.S. patents are incorporated herein by reference: U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,867,877; 4,255,269; 5,129,469; and 5,109,933. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides a method for disposal of drill cuttings from an oil and gas well drilling platform. The method includes the steps of separating the drill cuttings from substantially all of the well drilling fluid in which the drill cuttings have been conveyed from an area being drilled. 
     The cuttings are then transferred to a materials collection area such as a materials trough. 
     The drill cuttings are then transported to a holding tank using a vacuum and a first suction line. 
     A vacuum is generated within the holding tank using a blower so that drill cuttings are transported from the trough or collections area to the tank via a suction line. 
     Cuttings are then transferred from the holding tank to a work boat via a flow line. Further treatment such as recycling of drilling mud can be performed on the boat. 
     The drill cuttings are typically transported directly to a holding tank via a first suction line. 
     The vacuum is generated by a vacuum generating means or blower that is in fluid communication with the holding tank via a second suction line. 
     The work boat preferably provides its own holding tank of very large volume such as 100-1000 barrels. The holding tank on the work boat is likewise provided with a blower that pulls a vacuum on the tank to aid in transfer of cuttings from the holding tanks on the platform to the holding tank on the work boat. 
     In one embodiment, the work boat simply collects cuttings transferred to it from the drilling platform. In another embodiment, the boat is equipped with treatment units that process the cuttings. The cuttings can be slurried on one deck of the boat and then pumped for storage to another deck area on the boat. In yet another embodiment, the boat is equipped with treatment apparatus that separates and recycles drilling fluids such as more expensive synthetics. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIGS. 1-1A are elevational views of the preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a partial elevational view of the preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention; 
     FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along lines  3 — 3  of FIG. 2; 
     FIG. 3A is a sectional view illustrating an alternate construction for the tank shown in FIGS. 2 and 3; 
     FIG. 4 is a fragmentary elevational view of the preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention illustrating the boat, vacuum unit and tank situated on the deck of the boat; 
     FIG. 5 is an elevational view of the preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention showing an alternate arrangement of storage tanks on the work boat portion thereof; 
     FIG. 6 is a plan view of the preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention showing the work boat configuration of FIG. 5; 
     FIG. 7 is an elevational view of the preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention showing an alternate arrangement of storage tanks on the work boat portion thereof; 
     FIG. 8 is a top, plan view of the work boat of FIG. 7; 
     FIG. 9 is an elevational view of the preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention showing another alternate arrangement of storage tanks on the work boat portion thereof; 
     FIG. 10 is a top, plan view of the work boat of FIG. 9; 
     FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram showing the preferred embodiment of the apparatus of he present invention and utilizing the work boat of FIGS. 7 and 8; 
     FIG. 12 is a schematic diagram of the preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention and utilizing the work boat of FIGS. 9 and 10; 
     FIG. 13 is a sectional view taken along lines  13 — 13  of FIG. 5; 
     FIGS. 14 and 15 are fragmentary perspective views of the preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention showing the hose used to off load cuttings from rig to boat; 
     FIG. 16 is an elevational view of an underwater storage tank for use with the method of the present invention and showing an alternate apparatus of the present invention; 
     FIG. 17 is an end view of the underwater storage tank of FIG. 7; 
     FIG. 18 is a perspective view of the storage tank of FIGS. 7 and 8 while in tow; and 
     FIG. 19 is a schematic view of the alternate embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention and showing the alternate method of the present invention using an underwater storage tank. 
    
    
     For a further understanding of the nature, objects, and advantages of the present invention, reference should be had to the following detailed description, read in conjunction with the following drawings, wherein like reference numerals denote like elements and wherein: 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     FIGS. 1-1A and  11 - 12  show generally the preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention and the method of the present invention, designated generally by the numeral  10  in FIGS. 1,  1 A and by the numerals  10 A,  10 B in FIGS. 11,  12  respectively. In FIG. 1, a jack-up rig type drilling vessel is shown for use with the method and apparatus of the present invention. In FIG. 1A, a fixed drilling platform is shown. Cuttings disposal apparatus  10  is shown in FIGS. 1-1A in an offshore marine environment that includes an offshore oil and gas well drilling platform  11 . The platform  11  (FIG. 1A) can include a lower support structure or jacket  12  that extends to the ocean floor and a short distance above the water surface  13 . The platform  11  can also be a jack-up rig (FIG. 1) or a semi-submersible. A superstructure is mounted upon the jacket  12  or upon jack-up rig legs  12 A, the superstructure including a number of spaced apart decks including lower deck  14 , upper deck  15  and in FIG. 1A an intermediate deck  16 . Such a platform  11  typically includes a lifting device such as crane  17  having boom  18  and lifting line  19 . In general, the concept of an offshore oil and gas well drilling platform is well known in the art. 
     In FIGS.  1 A and  4 - 10 , a work boat  20  is shown moored next to platform  11  for use in practicing the method of the present invention. Work boat  20  has deck  21  that supports vacuum unit  22 , vacuum lines  25 , and one or more storage tanks  23 . In FIGS. 5-10, multiple tanks are provided, designated respectively by the numerals  23 A- 23 E in FIGS. 5-6 and designated respectively of the numerals  101 ,  103  in FIGS. 7-10. 
     The drilling platform or drilling rig  11  supports one or more tanks for holding cuttings that have been removed from the well bore during drilling, such as the plurality of rig tanks  26 ,  27 ,  28  in FIG.  1 A and tanks  26 ,  27 ,  28 ,  29  in FIG.  1 . 
     The tanks  23  and  23 A- 23 E on boat  20  are preferably very large tanks, each having a volume of between for example between 100 and 1000 barrels. The tanks  26 - 29  on platform  11  can be, for example, between about 50 and 1000 barrels in volume each. A suction line  24 ,  24 A,  24 B can be used to form a removable connection between the plurality of rig vacuum tanks  26 ,  27 ,  28 ,  29  and the boat storage tanks  23  or  23 A- 23 E. The suction line  24  can be attached for example to a discharge manifold  31  (see FIGS. 1,  1 A and  2 ). In another embodiment, (see FIGS.  7 - 10 ), the suction line  24  can be used to transmit cuttings from tanks  26 ,  27 ,  28 ,  29  to an underwater storage tank, as will be described more fully hereinafter. In FIGS. 14,  15 , a connection arrangement is shown for joining line  24  between platform  11  and boat  20 . 
     During oil and gas well drilling operations, a receptacle on rige  11  such as trough  77  receives drill cuttings that are removed from the well bore and preferably after those drill cuttings have been subjected to solids control, such as the removal of drilling fluids (e.g. drilling mud) therefrom. 
     Cuttings in trough  77  are moved from the trough  77  to one or more of the storage tanks  26 ,  27 ,  28 ,  29  using a vacuum unit  30 . Vacuum unit  30  is connected to suction manifold  34  as shown in FIGS. 1A and 2. Arrow  39  in FIG. 2 shows the direction of air flow in the suction manifold  34 . The suction manifold  34  communicates between vacuum unit  30  and each of the rig vacuum tanks  26 ,  27 ,  28 ,  29  via a spool piece or suction line  35 . The suction line  35  includes valve  36  for valving the flow of air from each tank  26 ,  27 ,  28 ,  29  to vacuum unit  30  via suction manifold  34 . An additional suction manifold  37  communicates with each of the tanks  26 ,  27 ,  28 ,  29  and with trough  77  via suction intake  38 . In this fashion, valving enables cuttings to be transmitted to any selected tank  26 ,  27 ,  28 ,  29 . 
     Valves  36  control flow of cuttings between each tank  26 ,  27 ,  28 ,  29  and manifold  37 . Pressurized air from supply header  45  can be injected into discharge line  32  downstream of valve  33  to assist the flow of cuttings. Valves  48  can be used to valve such air flow. Once vacuum unit  30  is activated, drill cuttings in trough  77  are suctioned from trough  29  using the intake  38  end of header  37 . The intake end  38  of suction header  37  can be in the form of a 3″-8″ flexible hose, for example. Cuttings can then be transmitted via header  37  to the desired tank  26 ,  27 ,  28  or  29 . 
     FIGS. 2,  3 ,  3 A and  13  show the construction of one of the rig vacuum tanks  26 ,  27 ,  28 ,  29  more particularly. In FIG. 3,  3 A, the tank  28  is shown as a pressure vessel capable of holding a vacuum (e.g. sixteen to twenty-five inches of mercury) and having an interior  40  surrounded by cylindrically shaped side wall  41  and two dished end portions  42 ,  43 . At the lower end of tank  28  interior  40 , an auger or augers  44  can be used to transfer cuttings that settle in tank  28  to discharge line  32 . The well drill cuttings can then enter manifold  31 . A valve  33  can be positioned in between each tank  26 ,  27 ,  28  and discharge line  32  for valving the flow of cuttings from the tank interior  40  to discharge manifold  31 . Auger  44  can be operated by motor drive  46 , having a geared transmission as an interface between motor drive  46  and auger  44 . 
     The tank  28  in FIG. 3A has some features that are optional and additional to the tank  28  of FIG.  3 . Tank  28  in FIG. 3A has a cylindrically shaped side wall  41  and dished end portions  42 ,  43 . Augers  44  can be used to transfer cuttings that settle in tank  28  to discharge  32 . Drilling fluid to be recycled can be suctioned from interior  40  of tank  28  using suction line  78  that is adjustable up and down as shown by arrow  91  in FIG.  3 A. The suction line  78  can be used to recycle drilling fluid after solids within the interior  40  of tank  28  have settled, leaving the drilling fluid as the upper portion of the material contained within interior  40  of tank  28 . Suction line  79  fits through sleeve  80  that can be fitted with a set screw, pin, taper lock fitting or similar fitting to grasp suction line  78  at the desired elevational position. 
     In FIGS. 14 and 15, a connection is shown that can be used to join the hose  24  that transmits cuttings from the rig  11  to the boat  20 . In FIGS. 14 and 15, the hose  24  can be in two sections,  24 A,  24 B that are joined together using fittings  99 A- 99 B. Crane lift line  19  attaches with its lower end portion to fitting  96  using a hook, for example, and an eyelet on the fitting  96  as shown in FIG.  14 . The fitting  96  can include a pair of spaced apart transversely extending pins  97 ,  98  that fit recesses  94 ,  95  respectively on respective saddle plates  92 ,  93  that are welded to the rig  11  as shown in FIG.  14 . In this fashion, the rig operator can raise the lower portion  24 B of hose  24  upwardly until the pins  97 ,  98  engage the recesses  94 ,  95  as shown in FIG.  15 . With the hose lower end portion  94 B so supported by the saddle plates  92 ,  93 , the pins  97 ,  98  rest in the recesses  94 ,  95 . A rig operator then connects the coupling member  99 A to the coupling member  99 B as shown in FIGS. 14 and 15. The upper end portion  24 A of hose  24  can be connected to header  31  as shown in FIG.  1 . 
     FIGS. 7-8 and  11  shown an alternate arrangement of the apparatus of the present invention that incorporates optional treatment features on the boat  20 . In of FIGS. 7,  8  and  11 , the boat  20  is shown outfitted with storage tanks  103  in addition to optional processing equipment that further processes the mixture of cuttings and drilling fluids that are transmitted to the boat  20  via flow line  24 . 
     In FIGS. 7 and 8, the vessel  20  has an upper deck  100  with a plurality of tanks  101  stored under the deck  100  in hold  102 , and a second plurality of tanks  103  above deck  100  as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8. Vacuum system  22  on the boat  20  can pull a vacuum on any selected one of the tanks  26 - 29 . Each rig tank  26 - 29  in FIG. 11 provides a discharge that communicates with discharge header  31 . The tanks  26 - 29  are constructed in accordance with the tank  28  of FIG. 3 or  3 A. 
     In FIGS. 7-8 and  11 , the boat  20  is provided with optional equipment to further treat the cuttings that are collected in the plurality of tanks  103  after the cuttings or a mixture of cuttings and drilling fluid has been transferred via flow line  24  to the boat  20 . 
     The cuttings received in the plurality of tanks  103  on the upper deck  100  of vessel  20  are further treated to slurrify the combination of cuttings and drilling fluid in order to obtain a desired particle size and a desired viscosity. This enables this further treated mixture of cuttings and fluid to be pumped into tanks  101  that are under deck  100 . In this fashion, storage can be maximized by slurrifying, and storing the cuttings/drilling fluid mixture in the tanks  101  that are under deck  100  in hold  102 . 
     In FIGS. 7,  8  and  11 , the flow line  24  transmits cuttings to header  104  that is valved with valves V so that incoming cuttings can be routed to any particular of the tanks  103  as desired. Vacuum unit  22  on boat  20  can pull a vacuum through header  105  on any selected tank  103 . This is because each of the tanks  103  is valved with valves V between the tank  103  and header  105 . A walkway  106  accessible by ladder  107  enables an operator to move between the various valves V and headers  104 ,  105  when it is desired to open a valve V or close a valve V that communicates fluid between a header  104  or  105  and a tank  103 . 
     By closing all of the valves V that are positioned in between a tank  103  and the vacuum header  105 , the vacuum can be used to pull a vacuum on cuttings grinder unit  108  via flow line  109  (see FIG.  11 ). A discharge header  110  is used to communicate discharged fluid that leaves a tank  103  to cuttings grinder unit  108 . Valves V are used to control the flow of fluid between each tank  103  and header  110  as shown in FIG.  11 . Pump  111  enables material to be transferred from cuttings grinder unit  108  via flow line  112  to shaker  113  and holding tank  114 . Material that is too large to be properly slurried is removed by shaker  113  and deposited in cuttings collection box  115  for later disposal. Material that passes through shaker  113  into holding tank  114  is slurried by recirculation from tank  114  to pump  116  and back to tank  114 . When a desired particle size and viscosity are obtained, the slurry is pumped with pump  116  to one of the tanks  101 . Each of the tanks  101  is valved between discharge header  119  and tanks  101  as shown in FIG.  11 . 
     When the boat  20  reaches a desired disposal facility, pump  118  receives fluid from discharge header  119  for transmission via line  120  to a desired disposal site such as a barge, on land disposal facility or the like. 
     In FIGS. 9-10 and  12 , the apparatus of the present invention is shown fitted with optional treatment features, designated generally by the numeral  10 B in FIG.  12 . In the embodiment of FIGS. 9,  10  and  12 , processing is used to remove desirable drilling fluid from cuttings that are transferred to boat  20  via line  24 . In FIGS. 9,  10  and  12 , the rig  11  has a plurality of tanks  26 - 29 , and inlet header  37 , a vacuum system  30 , a vacuum header  34 , and pumps  90  to remove desirable drilling fluid at the rig or platform  11  for recycling. However, in FIGS. 9-10 and  12 , recycling of drilling fluid also occurs on boat  20 . Thus, the equipment located on rig  11  is the same in the embodiment of FIGS. 11 and 12. The equipment on boat  20  differs in the embodiment of FIGS. 9-10 and  12 . The boat  20  in FIGS. 9-10 and  12  includes a plurality of tanks  103  that discharge cuttings to a first conveyor such as auger  121 . Auger  121  directs cuttings that are discharged by tanks  103  to a conveyor such as screw conveyor  122 . Screw conveyor  122  deposits cuttings in separator  123 . In separator  123 , some drilling fluids are removed and transmitted via flow line  124  to recycled liquid holding tank  125 . The separator  123  is preferably a hopper with a vibrating centrifuge, spinning basket driven by a motor. Such separators  123  are commercially available. 
     After drilling fluid has been separated at separator  123 , dry cuttings are transmitted to cuttings dryer unit  126  using screw conveyor  127 . The cuttings dryer unit  126  further dries the cuttings so that they can be transferred to a vessel, barge, etc. or dumped overboard via discharge pipe  130 . Any fluid that is removed from the cuttings at cuttings dryer unit  126  can be recycled through pump  128  and flow line  129  to liquid holding tank  125  and then to the platform  11  via flow line  131 . 
     FIGS. 16-19 show an underwater tank assembly  51  that can be used to replace or supplement the tank  23  of FIG. 1 or the plurality of tanks  23 A- 23 E in FIGS. 5 and 6. In FIGS. 16-19, underwater tank assembly  51  can be stored on the sea bed  76  so that it does not occupy rig space or space on the deck  21  of vessel  20 . Rather, the underwater tank assembly  51  can receive cuttings that are discharged from tanks  26 ,  27 ,  28  on rig  11  by discharging the cuttings from the selected tank  26 ,  27 ,  28  via header  31  and into cuttings flowline  60 . The cuttings flowline  60  can be attached to header  31  in a similar fashion to the attachment of flowline  24  shown in FIG.  1 . 
     The flowline  21  transmits cuttings from header  31  to tank  23  on boat  20  or to a plurality of tanks  23 A- 23 E on boat  20 . The cuttings flow line  60  would be of sufficient length to extend from the discharge flowline  31  to the sea bed  76  and specifically to inlet fitting  59  on main tank  52  of underwater tank assembly  51 , as shown in FIG.  7 . In this fashion, cuttings can be discharged from the rig  11  tanks  26 ,  27 ,  28  to underwater tank assembly  51  in the direction of arrow  61 . As with the embodiment of FIGS. 1-6, a vacuum unit such as vacuum unit  22  on vessel  20  or a vacuum unit such as vacuum unit  30  on rig  11  can be used to pull a vacuum on main tank  52 . 
     In FIG. 16, main tank  52  provides a vacuum fitting  56  to which vacuum line  57  is attached. A vacuum unit  22  or  30  can pull a vacuum on tank  52  with air flowing in the direction of arrow  58 . This flow enhances the flow of cuttings from the tanks  26 ,  27 ,  28  on rig  11  into main tank  52  in the direction arrow  61 . 
     The main tank  52  has ballasting in the form of a plurality of ballast tanks  53 ,  54 . The combination of tanks  52 ,  53 ,  54  are connected by a welded construction for example using a plurality of connecting plates  74 . 
     Ballast piping  62  communicates with fittings  63 ,  64  that are positioned respectively on the ballast tanks  53 ,  54  as shown on FIG.  8 . Control valve  65  can be used to transmit pressurized air in the direction of arrow  66  into the ballast tanks  53 ,  54  such as when the underwater tank assembly  51  is to be raised to the surface, as shown in FIG. 19, the upward movement indicated by arrows  75 . 
     Arrow  67  in FIG. 16 indicates the discharge of air from ballast tanks  53 ,  54  using control valve  65  when the underwater tank assembly  51  is to be lowered to the sea bed  76 . In FIG. 19, arrows  68  indicate the discharge of water from tanks  53 ,  54  when the underwater tank assembly is to be elevated. Outlet fittings  69 ,  70  enable water to be discharged from ballast tanks  53 ,  54 . 
     Support frame  55  can be in the form of a truss or a plurality of feet for engaging the sea bed  76  when the underwater tank assembly  51  is lowered to the sea bed prior to be being filled with drill cuttings during use. 
     When main tank  52  has been filled with well drill cuttings and the tank assembly  51  has been raised to the water surface  13 , the tank assembly  51  can be towed to a disposal sight using tow line  72 , tug boat  73  and tow eyelet  71  on tank  52 . 
     It should be understood that the underwater tank assembly  51  can be used to supplement tanks  23 ,  23 A- 23 E as described in the preferred embodiment of FIGS. 1-6. Alternatively, the underwater tank assembly  51  can be used for storage instead of the boat mounted tanks  23 ,  23 A- 23 E. 
     The following table lists the parts numbers and parts descriptions used herein and in the drawings attached hereto. 
     
       
         
               
             
               
               
             
           
               
                   
               
               
                 PARTS LIST 
               
             
          
           
               
                 Part Number 
                 Description 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 10 
                 cuttings disposal 
               
               
                   
                 apparatus 
               
               
                 11 
                 platform 
               
               
                 12 
                 jacket 
               
               
                 13 
                 water surface 
               
               
                 14 
                 lower deck 
               
               
                 15 
                 upper deck 
               
               
                 16 
                 intermediate deck 
               
               
                 17 
                 crane 
               
               
                 18 
                 boom 
               
               
                 19 
                 lifting line 
               
               
                 20 
                 work boat 
               
               
                 21 
                 aft deck 
               
               
                 22 
                 vacuum unit 
               
               
                 23 
                 storage tank 
               
               
                  23A 
                 storage tank 
               
               
                  23B 
                 storage tank 
               
               
                  23C 
                 storage tank 
               
               
                  23D 
                 storage tank 
               
               
                  23E 
                 storage tank 
               
               
                 24 
                 first suction line 
               
               
                 25 
                 second suction line 
               
               
                 26 
                 rig vacuum tank 
               
               
                 27 
                 rig vacuum tank 
               
               
                 28 
                 rig vacuum tank 
               
               
                 29 
                 rig vacuum tank 
               
               
                 30 
                 vacuum unit 
               
               
                 31 
                 discharge manifold 
               
               
                 32 
                 discharge line 
               
               
                 33 
                 outlet valve 
               
               
                 34 
                 suction manifold 
               
               
                 35 
                 suction line 
               
               
                 36 
                 valve 
               
               
                 37 
                 manifold 
               
               
                 38 
                 suction intake 
               
               
                 39 
                 arrow 
               
               
                 40 
                 interior 
               
               
                 41 
                 wall 
               
               
                 42 
                 end 
               
               
                 43 
                 end 
               
               
                 44 
                 auger 
               
               
                 45 
                 supply header 
               
               
                 46 
                 motor drive 
               
               
                 47 
                 valve 
               
               
                 48 
                 valve 
               
               
                 49 
                 walkway 
               
               
                 50 
                 header 
               
               
                 51 
                 underwater tank assembly 
               
               
                 52 
                 main tank 
               
               
                 53 
                 ballast tank 
               
               
                 54 
                 ballast tank 
               
               
                 55 
                 support frame 
               
               
                 56 
                 vacuum fitting 
               
               
                 57 
                 vacuum line 
               
               
                 58 
                 arrow 
               
               
                 59 
                 inlet fitting 
               
               
                 60 
                 cuttings flow line 
               
               
                 61 
                 arrow 
               
               
                 62 
                 ballast piping 
               
               
                 63 
                 ballast fitting 
               
               
                 64 
                 ballast fitting 
               
               
                 65 
                 control valve 
               
               
                 66 
                 arrow 
               
               
                 67 
                 arrow 
               
               
                 68 
                 arrow 
               
               
                 69 
                 outlet 
               
               
                 70 
                 outlet 
               
               
                 71 
                 towing eyelet 
               
               
                 72 
                 towline 
               
               
                 73 
                 tugboat 
               
               
                 74 
                 connecting plate 
               
               
                 75 
                 arrow 
               
               
                 76 
                 seabed 
               
               
                 77 
                 trough 
               
               
                 78 
                 suction line 
               
               
                 79 
                 screen 
               
               
                 80 
                 sleeve 
               
               
                 90 
                 pump 
               
               
                 91 
                 arrow 
               
               
                 92 
                 plate 
               
               
                 93 
                 plate 
               
               
                 94 
                 recess 
               
               
                 95 
                 recess 
               
               
                 96 
                 fitting 
               
               
                 97 
                 pin 
               
               
                 98 
                 pin 
               
               
                 99A 
                 coupling member 
               
               
                 99B 
                 coupling member 
               
               
                 100 
                 deck 
               
               
                 101 
                 tank 
               
               
                 102 
                 hold 
               
               
                 103 
                 tank 
               
               
                 104 
                 header 
               
               
                 105 
                 header 
               
               
                 106 
                 walkway 
               
               
                 107 
                 ladder 
               
               
                 103 
                 cuttings grinder unit 
               
               
                 109 
                 flowline 
               
               
                 110 
                 header 
               
               
                 111 
                 pump 
               
               
                 112 
                 flowline 
               
               
                 113 
                 shaker 
               
               
                 114 
                 holding tank 
               
               
                 115 
                 collection box 
               
               
                 116 
                 pump 
               
               
                 117 
                 header 
               
               
                 118 
                 pump 
               
               
                 119 
                 header 
               
               
                 120 
                 flow line 
               
               
                 121 
                 auger 
               
               
                 122 
                 screw conveyor 
               
               
                 123 
                 separator 
               
               
                 124 
                 flow line 
               
               
                 125 
                 tank 
               
               
                 126 
                 cuttings dryer unit 
               
               
                 127 
                 conveyor 
               
               
                 128 
                 pump 
               
               
                 129 
                 flow line 
               
               
                 130 
                 discharge pipe 
               
               
                 131 
                 flow line 
               
               
                 V 
                 valve 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     The foregoing embodiments are presented by way of example only; the scope of the present invention is to be limited only by the following claims.