IP Library Granted Patent US 11,603,723
Granted Patent B2
US 11,603,723 · App. 16/557,644 · Granted Mar 14, 2023

Cuttings processing unit

Inventors: Peter Brent Rochon (Edmonton, CA); Joel Taylor Cawkell (Edmonton, CA)
Assignee: NOV CANADA ULC
E21B21/066B02C13/06B02C13/2804B02C2013/28654
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,603,723
App. No.
16/557,644
Granted
Mar 14, 2023
Kind
B2
Abstract

A cuttings processing unit may include a conveyor interface configured to interface with a mud cleaning complex to receive drill cuttings. The cuttings processing unit may further include a breaker mill module operably positioned to receive the cuttings via the conveyor interface, a cuttings tank module operably positioned beneath the breaker mill module, and a pump module operably positioned beneath the cuttings tank module. The breaker mill module may be configured to grind the cuttings into a finer composition. The cuttings tank module may be configured to agitate the finer composition and create a slurry. The pump module may be configured to move the slurry.

Claims (32)

1. A cuttings processing unit, comprising:

a plurality of containerized modules each having a longitudinal length and a width and arranged in stacked fashion, the plurality of containerized modules having a rig side configured for arrangement along and immediately adjacent a mud cleaning complex on a rig pad and an opposing courtyard side, each of the rig side and the courtyard side extending along the longitudinal length, the plurality of containerized modules comprising:

a conveyor interface arranged on the rig side of the plurality of containerized modules and configured to interface directly with the mud cleaning complex to receive drill cuttings;

a containerized breaker mill module operably positioned to receive drill cuttings from the conveyor interface, the breaker mill module configured to grind the cuttings into a finer composition;

a containerized cuttings tank module operably and physically stacked beneath the breaker mill module, the cuttings tank module configured to agitate the finer composition and create a slurry; and

a containerized pump module operably and physically stacked beneath the cuttings tank module, the pump module configured to move the slurry.

2. The cuttings processing unit of claim 1 , further comprising:

a control center module electrically coupled to the pump module and configured to control the cuttings processing unit.

3. The cuttings processing unit of claim 1 , further comprising:

a transporter configured to move the cuttings processing unit.

4. The cuttings processing unit of claim 3 , wherein the transporter includes a lift and roll system.

5. The cuttings processing unit of claim 1 , wherein the containerized breaker mill module includes a ball mill.

6. The cuttings processing unit of claim 1 , wherein the containerized cuttings tank module includes a tank housing an auger.

7. The cuttings processing unit of claim 1 , further comprising:

suction piping coupled to the containerized cuttings tank module and the containerized pump module, such that the suction piping is configured to transfer the slurry from the containerized cuttings tank module to the containerized pump module.

8. The cuttings processing unit of claim 7 , wherein the containerized pump module includes at least one pump configured to create suction in the suction piping.

9. The cuttings processing unit of claim 1 , wherein the containerized breaker mill, containerized cuttings tank, and containerized pump modules are configured to be assembled to form a single integrated unit and disassembled into individual containerized modules.

10. The cuttings processing unit of claim 1 , further comprising:

a utility interface module operably positioned above the containerized breaker mill module, wherein the utility interface module includes a utility interface.

11. A cuttings processing unit, comprising:

a containerized breaker mill having a rig side positioned along and immediately adjacent to a mud cleaning complex of a rig pad and configured to receive cuttings from the mud cleaning complex directly via a conveyor interface arranged on the rig side and grind the cuttings into a finer composition;

a containerized cuttings tank stacked below the containerized breaker mill to receive the finer composition from the containerized breaker mill, the containerized cuttings tank including an auger configured to agitate the finer composition, wherein the containerized cuttings tank is configured to transform the finer composition into a slurry;

at least one containerized pump stacked beneath the containerized cuttings tank; and

piping in fluid connection with the containerized cuttings tank and the at least one containerized pump, such that the at least one containerized pump is configured to move the slurry through the piping.

12. The cuttings processing unit of claim 11 , wherein:

the at least one containerized pump includes a first pump and a second pump; and

the piping includes a first set of piping and a second set of piping, wherein the first set of piping is in fluid communication with the containerized cuttings tank and the first pump and the second set of piping is in fluid connection with the containerized cuttings tank and the second pump.

13. The cuttings processing unit of claim 11 , wherein the piping includes:

suction piping extending between the containerized cuttings tank and the at least one containerized pump;

discharge piping extending between the containerized pump and at least one output; and

a plurality of valves positioned to control movement of the slurry.

14. The cuttings processing unit of claim 11 , wherein the containerized cuttings tank and the containerized breaker mill are configured such that gravity causes the finer composition to move from the containerized breaker mill to the containerized cuttings tank.

Assignments (2)
MERGER Recorded Nov 11, 2021
From: DRECO ENERGY SERVICES ULC
To: NOV CANADA ULC
Reel/Frame 058731/0478 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 30, 2019
From: ROCHON, PETER BRENT; CAWKELL, JOEL TAYLOR
To: DRECO ENERGY SERVICES ULC
Reel/Frame 050226/0471 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20210062595A1 · Mar 4, 2021