Patents by Inventor Alexander R. Harper

Alexander R. Harper has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20080128173
    Abstract: A system for handling drill cuttings conveys cuttings into bulk tanks via a conduit. The bulk tanks have a lower portion that converges to an elongated opening. A conveyance member positioned at the elongated opening forces the cuttings out of a discharge port at the bottom of the bulk tank. Once suitable conveyance member is a screw-type conveyor coupled to a motor that applies a motive force to the cuttings. The bulk tank lower portion can be formed as a wedge or trough that generally conforms to the configuration of the conveyance member. The bulk tanks hold the cuttings until it can be discharged via the discharge port to a transport vessel for processing or disposal. For offshore operations, the system includes a separation unit on the rig that forms the cuttings from fluid returning from the wellbore and a cuttings flow unit that conveys the cuttings from the separation unit to the bulk tanks.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 5, 2007
    Publication date: June 5, 2008
    Applicant: BAKER HUGHES INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Glynn M. Hollier, Alexander R. Harper, Daniel Bruce