Patent ID: 8267201

Claim:
A method of disposing of drill cuttings from an oil and/or gas well drilling platform, comprising: (a) providing a barge, the barge having a first storage area, a first cover comprising a plurality of cover plates positioned adjacent each other and covering the first storage area; (b) placing the first storage area in a first open state by moving one or more cover plates so that cuttings can be placed in the first storage; (c) receiving cuttings in the barge's first and second storage areas from the drilling platform; (d) placing the first storage area in a closed state so that the cuttings in the storage area are contained; (e) transporting the barge from the drilling platform to a collection site; (f) placing the first storage area in a second open state so that the cuttings can be removed, the second open state having a larger open area compared to the first open state wherein more of the cover plates are moved in the second open state then were moved in step “b”; (g) removing the cuttings from the barge's first storage area; and (h) during steps “b” through “g” the first storage area is at atmospheric pressure.