US3901254A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Pollution-free well cuttings disposal apparatus
Assignee: NL Industries Inc
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Filing: 1973-10-05
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Granted: 1975-08-26
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Expires: 1993-10-05
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus for cleaning oily mud from cuttings at offshore drilling locations and disposing of the cuttings without the formation of an oil slick comprising a cuttings washer in which the cuttings are sprayed with a wash liquid and then conveyed to a partially submerged down pipe and discharged therein below the water level, whereby the cuttings fall to bottom, releasing their oily coating which rises within the down pipe to a submersible pump therein which pumps the released oil to a receiver for optional recycling into the mud system.
Inventors
- 👤 Marvin O Stearns
- 👤 James A Gill
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 16:28
CPC Classifications
E; E21; E21B; E21B41/00; E21B41/005; E21B21/00; E21B21/06; E21B21/063; E21B21/065; E21B21/066
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
197 words
Apparatus for removing oil from drill cuttings at an offshore drilling location above the surface of a body of water comprising in combination a platform; a partially submerged down pipe extending both above the surface of the water and below the surface of the water; means on said platform for shaking oily mud from said cuttings by vibratory screening action; means on said platform for discharging said shaken cuttings onto cuttings washer means; means on said platform and associated with said cuttings washer means for spraying said cuttings with a wash liquid; pump means on said platform for collecting said wash liquid subsequent to its contact with said cuttings and for pumping it to desilting means located on said platform; return flow means for recirculating said desilted wash liquid to said cuttings washer means; means for conveying said washed cuttings from said platform to a point within said down pipe and below the surface of said water; pump means for pumping oil dislodged from said cuttings in said down pipe and present within said down pipe adjacent the surface level of said water to oil-water separating means; means for receiving oil discharged from said oil-water separating means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
197 words
Apparatus for removing oil from drill cuttings at an offshore drilling location above the surface of a body of water comprising in combination a platform; a partially submerged down pipe extending both above the surface of the water and below the surface of the water; means on said platform for shaking oily mud from said cuttings by vibratory screening action; means on said platform for discharging said shaken cuttings onto cuttings washer means; means on said platform and associated with said cuttings washer means for spraying said cuttings with a wash liquid; pump means on said platform for collecting said wash liquid subsequent to its contact with said cuttings and for pumping it to desilting means located on said platform; return flow means for recirculating said desilted wash liquid to said cuttings washer means; means for conveying said washed cuttings from said platform to a point within said down pipe and below the surface of said water; pump means for pumping oil dislodged from said cuttings in said down pipe and present within said down pipe adjacent the surface level of said water to oil-water separating means; means for receiving oil discharged from said oil-water separating means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said detergent wash liquid comprises at least 10% of its volume of a mutual solvent for petroleum oil and water.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
13 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said desilting means comprises a cyclone.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
27 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 3 wherein said detergent wash liquid comprises at least 10% of its volume of a mutual solvent for petroleum oil and water.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
176 words
Apparatus for removing oil from drill cuttings at an offshore drilling location above the surface of a body of water comprising in combination a platform; a partially submerged down pipe extending both above the surface of the water and below the surface of the water; means on said platform for shaking oily mud from said cuttings by vibratory screening action; means on said platform for discharging said shaken cuttings onto cuttings washer means located on said platform; means located on said platform associated with said cuttings Washer means for spraying said cuttings with a wash liquid which comprises at least 10% of its volume of a mutual solvent for petroleum oil and water; means for conveying said washed cuttings from said platform to a point within said down pipe and below the surface of said water pump means for pumping oil dislodged from said cuttings in said down pipe and present within said down pipe adjacent the surface level of said water to oil-water separating means; means for receiving oil discharged from said oil-water separating means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
176 words
Apparatus for removing oil from drill cuttings at an offshore drilling location above the surface of a body of water comprising in combination a platform; a partially submerged down pipe extending both above the surface of the water and below the surface of the water; means on said platform for shaking oily mud from said cuttings by vibratory screening action; means on said platform for discharging said shaken cuttings onto cuttings washer means located on said platform; means located on said platform associated with said cuttings Washer means for spraying said cuttings with a wash liquid which comprises at least 10% of its volume of a mutual solvent for petroleum oil and water; means for conveying said washed cuttings from said platform to a point within said down pipe and below the surface of said water pump means for pumping oil dislodged from said cuttings in said down pipe and present within said down pipe adjacent the surface level of said water to oil-water separating means; means for receiving oil discharged from said oil-water separating means.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-08-25 | 1979-02-24 | 1979-08-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-08-25 | 1983-02-24 | 1983-08-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-08-25 | 1987-02-24 | 1987-08-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |