US2008164068A1PendingUtilityA1

System and method for cleaning drill cuttings with degassed water

39
Assignee: MI LLCPriority: Dec 21, 2006Filed: Dec 18, 2007Published: Jul 10, 2008
Est. expiryDec 21, 2026(~0.4 yrs left)· nominal 20-yr term from priority
Inventors:Alan Wayne Burkhard
E21B 21/066E21B 43/00E21B 12/06
39
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Claims

Abstract

A system for cleaning drill cuttings is disclosed, the system including a degassing module configured to substantially degas water; a washing module in fluid communication with the degassing module configured to wash drill cuttings with a washing fluid containing the degassed water; a gassing module in fluid communication with the washing module configured to gas the washing fluid; and an oil removal module in fluid communication with the gassing module configured to separate oily contaminants from the gassed washing fluid. A method for cleaning drill cuttings is also disclosed, the method including substantially degassing water; washing drill cuttings with a washing fluid containing the degassed water; gassing the washing fluid; and separating oily contaminants from the gassed washing fluid.

Claims

exact text as granted — not AI-modified
1 . A system for cleaning drill cuttings, comprising:
 a degassing module configured to substantially degas water;   a washing module in fluid communication with the degassing module configured to wash drill cuttings with a washing fluid containing the degassed water;   a gassing module in fluid communication with the washing module configured to gas the washing fluid; and   an oil removal module in fluid communication with the gassing module configured to separate oily contaminants from the gassed washing fluid.   
   
   
       2 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a solids removal module configured to separate the drill cuttings from the gassed washing fluid. 
   
   
       3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the degassing module uses a centrifugal force to remove gasses entrained in the water. 
   
   
       4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the degassing module further comprises a mechanical degasser. 
   
   
       5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the drill cuttings are separated from process fluids prior to entering the washing module. 
   
   
       6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the gassing module comprises an aeration device. 
   
   
       7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the drill cuttings pass through a stream of the washing fluid in the washing module. 
   
   
       8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the drill cuttings are submerged in the washing fluid in the washing module. 
   
   
       9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the washing module further comprises at least one selected from the group consisting of a shaker, a vibrator, a rotator, and a heater. 
   
   
       10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the washing module is coupled to a separator for removing the drill cuttings from the washing fluid. 
   
   
       11 . A method for cleaning drill cuttings, comprising:
 substantially degassing water;   washing drill cuttings with a washing fluid containing the degassed water;   gassing the washing fluid; and   separating oily contaminants from the gassed washing fluid.   
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the separating comprises flocculating the oily contaminants. 
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the degassing comprises exerting a centrifugal force on gasses entrained in the water. 
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the degassing is performed by a mechanical degasser. 
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the drill cuttings are separated from process fluids prior to the washing. 
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the gassing comprises aerating the washing fluid. 
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the washing comprises passing the drill cuttings through a stream of the washing fluid. 
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the washing comprises submerging the drill cuttings in the washing fluid. 
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the washing is assisted by at least one selected from a group consisting of shaker, a vibrator, a rotator, and a heater. 
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising separating the drill cuttings from the washing fluid, after the washing, using a separator.

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