Offshore thermal treatment of drill cuttings fed from a bulk transfer system

1. A method for offshore treatment of drill cuttings, comprising:

pneumatically conveying contaminated drill cuttings into a first pressurized vessel having a lower conical section structured to achieve mass flow of the contaminated drill cuttings;

transferring the contaminated drill cuttings to a reactor unit by applying a compressed gas to the pressurized vessel whereby the contaminated drill cuttings flow out of the pressurized vessel into the reactor unit by positive pressure;

applying heat to the contaminated drill cuttings so as to vaporize contaminants from the contaminated drill cuttings;

removing the vaporized contaminants from the reactor; and

re-injecting the de-contaminated drill cuttings into a well.

2. A method for offshore treatment and disposal of drill cuttings, comprising:

pneumatically conveying contaminated drill cuttings into a pressurized vessel structured to achieve mass flow of the contaminated drill cuttings;

transferring the contaminated drill cuttings to a reactor unit by applying a compressed gas to the pressurized vessel whereby the contaminated drill cuttings flow out of the pressurized vessel into the reactor unit by positive pressure;

applying heat to the contaminated drill cuttings so as to vaporize contaminants from the contaminated drill cuttings while also producing drill cuttings having a reduced size;

removing the vaporized contaminants and the reduced size drill cuttings from the reactor;

combining a fluid with the reduced size drill cuttings to produce a slurry; and

re-injecting the slurry into a well.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the method further comprises:

classifying the slurry with a classifier.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the classifier comprises:

determining at least one of a group consisting of a density of the slurry and a viscosity of the slurry.

5. The method of claim 2 , wherein the fluid comprises water, sea water, brine solution, liquid polymers, or combinations thereof.

6. The method of claim 2 , wherein the size of the reduced size drill cuttings is about 9 microns.

7. The method of claim 2 , further comprising storing the slurry.

8. The method of claim 2 , wherein the combining occurs in a tank.

9. The method of claim 2 , wherein the combining occurs in a pump.

10. A method of offshore treatment of drill cuttings, comprising:

pneumatically conveying contaminated drill cuttings into a first pressurized vessel having a lower conical section structured to achieve mass flow of the contaminated drill cuttings;

transferring the contaminated drill cuttings to a separator by applying a compressed gas to the pressurized vessel whereby the contaminated drill cuttings flow out of the pressurized vessel into the separator by positive pressure;

removing at least a portion of liquid content from the contaminated drill cuttings;

transferring the contaminated drill cuttings to a reactor unit;

applying heat to the contaminated drill cuttings so as to vaporize contaminants from the contaminated drill cuttings and produce dry cuttings;

removing the vaporized contaminants from the reactor;

combining a fluid with the dry cuttings to produce a slurry;

transferring the slurry to a storage vessel; and

transferring the slurry from the storage vessel to a cuttings re-injection system.

11. A system for offshore treatment of drill cuttings, comprising:

a first pressurized vessel configured to receive contaminated drill cuttings and adapted to allow a compressed gas be introduced therein as the sole means for inducing movement of said contaminated drill cuttings in the first pressurized vessel, whereby at least a portion of the contaminated drill cuttings is discharged from the first pressurized vessel; and

a reactor unit in fluid connection with the first pressurized vessel for separating the contaminated drill cuttings into drill cuttings and contaminants, comprising:

a processing chamber having at least one inlet and outlet;

a rotor mounted in the processing chamber, comprising:

a shaft; and

a plurality of fixed rotor arms extending radially from the shaft

a first pump;

a first transfer line fluidly connecting the reactor unit and the pump, the transfer line comprising:

a fluid inlet for receiving a fluid;

a storage vessel fluidly connected to the pump for storing a slurry;

a second pump; and

a second transfer line fluidly connecting the storage vessel to a wellbore.

12. The system of claim 11 , wherein the system further comprises:

a programmable logic controller.

13. A system for offshore disposal of drill cuttings, comprising:

a cleaning system for treating contaminated drill cuttings into drill cuttings and contaminants;

a transport system for moving the drill cuttings;

a slurrification system for making a slurry of the treated drill cuttings; and

a cuttings re-injection system for injecting the slurry into a well,

wherein the slurrification system comprises a classification system,

wherein the transport system comprises a pneumatic transfer system comprising a first pressurized vessel configured to receive contaminated drill cuttings and adapted to allow a compressed gas be introduced therein as the sole means for inducing movement of said contaminated drill cuttings in the first pressurized vessel and a second pressurized vessel in fluid communication with the first pressurized vessel configured to receive the contaminated drill cuttings from a separation means and deliver the contaminated drill cuttings to the first pressurized vessel.

14. The system of claim 13 , wherein the cleaning system comprises a hammermill.

15. The system of claim 13 , wherein the slurrification system comprises a tank and a pump.

16. The system of claim 13 , wherein the cuttings re-injection system comprises a high pressure pump.

17. The system of claim 13 , wherein the system further comprises:

a programmable logic controller.

18. The system of claim 13 , wherein the cleaning system_comprises a reactor unit in fluid connection with the transport system for separating the contaminated drill cuttings into drill cuttings and contaminants, comprising:

a processing chamber having at least one inlet and outlet; and

a rotor mounted in the processing chamber, comprising:

a shaft; and

a plurality of fixed rotor arms extending radially from the shaft.

19. The system of claim 13 , wherein the classification system determines the size range of the slurry based on diameter.