Patent ID: 8656991

Claim:
A clog free waste removal system for removing waste or drilling cuttings from a wellbore at the rate that waste is being produced, the clog free waste removal system comprising: a. a first incoming transportation system for receiving separated drill cuttings, waste, or combinations thereof, from a solids removal system associated with a natural gas, oil or other well, wherein the first incoming transportation system comprises: a dense phase conveyance system, a vacuum conveyance system, a dilute conveyance system, an auger, or combinations thereof; b. a rig buffer storage connected to the first incoming transportation system, wherein the rig buffer storage comprises: (i) a lifting frame; (ii) a tank supported by the lifting frame, wherein the tank receives the drill cuttings or waste from the first incoming transportation system via an upper tank inlet, a lower tank inlet, or combinations thereof; and further wherein the tank discharges drill cuttings or cut waste through a discharge port; (iii) a central sweep member having a plurality of blades for cutting segments of drill cuttings or waste in the tank; (iv) a low horsepower controllable central sweep motor connected to the central sweep member for rotating the plurality of blades; (v) a moveable weir in the tank for adjustably containing a volume of drill cuttings or waste to be cut by the plurality of blades; (vi) a weir controller for adjusting a height of the moveable weir; (vii) a gear reduction equipment for amplifying torque from the low horsepower controllable central sweep motor to initiate rotation of the plurality of blades, allowing the plurality of blades to cut the waste or drill cuttings; (viii) a controller in communication with the low horsepower controllable central sweep motor, a vent valve, and a discharge valve; (ix) an outer ring with a plurality of peripheral sweep members in a plane identical to the plurality of blades of the central sweep member, wherein the outer ring and peripheral sweep members are for clearing cut waste and flowing the cut waste to the discharge port; and c. a first outgoing transportation device in communication with the rig buffer storage; comprising a dense phase conveyance system, a vacuum conveyance system, a dilute conveyance system, an auger, or combinations thereof, for communicating cut waste or drill cuttings from the tank; and d. a post treatment device, or a moveable, relocatable skip fluidly connected to the first outgoing transportation device for receiving the cut waste or drill cuttings from the first outgoing transportation device; further wherein the post treatment device is selected from the group: (i) a friction based heating system to strip oil from the cuttings or waste; (ii) a microwave based heating system to strip oil from the drill cuttings or waste; (iii) a solvent extraction system; or (iv) a micro-emulsion based wash system for treating the drill cuttings and waste to remove oil from the drill cuttings and waste.