Abstract: A traveling cuttings distributor (TCD) system that is capable of horizontal and vertical positioning for use in vacuuming, auguring or pumping drill cuttings from a drill rig shaker screen trough, drying/minimizing the cuttings and depositing by gravity cuttings while under vacuum into individual cuttings boxes as it moves from one cuttings box to the next or to a bulk system, a cuttings injection system or other cuttings processing system, the system including a vacuum tank having a filter system therein and a large silencer or exhaust system separated by a blower system capable of producing a high vacuum on an opening in the vacuum tank for engaging an opening in a cuttings box or other cuttings processing equipment. The TCD system is capable of being operated without the need for skilled service personnel, while further improving drilling performance, providing reduced environmentally friendly waste material and volumes, recovers expensive drilling mud, thus, reducing the cost of cuttings waste disposal.

Abstract: The short mud saver, which can be used with top drive or rotary table drilling system is housed in a short sub, has a large axial bore for the passage of drilling mud therethrough, a fixed and a movable seal assembly. The movable seal assembly is urged into normally closed position by a stack of Belleville, wave or similar disc stack of springs. The force of the spring stack can be over-ridden by application of sufficient mud pressure from top drive or Kelly to move the moveable seal assembly. Upon application of sufficient mud pressure the movable seal assembly moves downward allowing for flow through the large axial bore. Upon closer of the mud saver a flexible washer associated with fixed seal assembly allows pressure below the mud saver to be relieved to the top of the mud saver, from where return is precluded unless the mud saver is re-opened by application of mud pressure from top drive or Kelly.

Abstract: A system for continuously feeding drill cuttings extracted from a cutting source into a liquid. The system has an open bottomed vacuum hood, means for positioning the open bottom of the vacuum hood in a liquid, means for creating a vacuum in the vacuum hood, a conduit for transporting the drill cuttings from the cutting source to the open bottomed vacuum hood, from which vacuum hood the drill cuttings fall, under the influence of gravity, through the open bottom of the vacuum hood and are thereby deposited into said liquid. Embodiments include means for removing and recovering residual drilling fluids extracted with the drill cuttings, reducing the size of the drill cuttings so they may be injected into a porous earth formation, relieving choke points and blockages.

Abstract: The short mud saver, which can be used with “top drive” of “Kelly/rotary table” drilling system is housed in a short “sub”, has a large axial bore for the passage of drilling mud therethrough, a fixed and a movable seal assembly. The movable seal assembly is urged into normally closed position by a stack of Belleville, wave or similar disc stack of springs. The force of the spring stack can be over-ridden by application of sufficient mud pressure from top drive or Kelly to move the moveable seal assembly. Upon application of sufficient mud pressure the movable seal assembly moves downward allowing for flow through the large axial bore. Upon closer of the mud saver a flexible washer associated with fixed seal assembly allows pressure below the mud saver to be relieved to the top of the mud saver, from where return is precluded unless the mud saver is re-opened by application of mud pressure from top drive or Kelly.

Abstract: An improved cuttings system located adjacent a drilling rig's shale shaker system utilizing a vacuum collection/gravity fed processing system, thereby eliminating expensive and complicated cuttings transfer systems. The use of a vacuum cuttings collection system combined within a common fluid-filled open tank and submersible grinding pumps eliminate the need for extensive circulating and holding systems. Cuttings are sized and chemically prepared within the same tank and fed directly to an injection pump for discharge to cuttings transport tanks or injected down hole. Other improvements include non-restrictive cuttings sizing, filtering, and an injection pump cuttings relief system.

Abstract: A system for continuously feeding drill cuttings extracted from a cutting source into a liquid. The system has an open bottomed vacuum hood, means for positioning the open bottom of the vacuum hood in a liquid, means for creating a vacuum in the vacuum hood, a conduit for transporting the drill cuttings from the cutting source to the open bottomed vacuum hood, from which vacuum hood the drill cuttings fall, under the influence of gravity, through the open bottom of the vacuum hood and are thereby deposited into said liquid. Embodiments include means for removing and recovering residual drilling fluids extracted with the drill cuttings, reducing the size of the drill cuttings so they may be injected into a porous earth formation, relieving choke points and blockages.

Abstract: The frame-less, split pipe disclosed herein includes a fixed actuator assembly with carries a blade-like pipe wiper element and a sliding actuator assembly which carries a similar blade-like pipe wiper element. Each of the pipe wiper elements is disposed between a clamp and the base of their respective actuator assemblies. The sliding actuator assembly is disposed in a pair of channels disposed above the claim of the fixed actuator assembly. A pair of pneumatic cylinders, one on each side of the fixed actuator assembly moves the sliding actuator assembly between open and closed positions. For installation, removal or maintenance on a pipe wiper it may be split into two open-throated components by removing the pins which attach the operating rods of the pneumatic cylinders to clevises of the sliding actuator assembly.

Abstract: A continuous open discharge vacuum chamber for gravity feeding drill cuttings extracted from a cuttings source by vacuum and depositing them by gravity into a fluid. Embodiments include means for removing and recovery of drilling fluids, sizing the cuttings and relieving choke points and blockages.

Abstract: An improved cuttings system located adjacent a drilling rig's shale shaker system utilizing a vacuum collection/gravity fed processing system, thereby eliminating expensive and complicated cuttings transfer systems. The use of a vacuum cuttings collection system combined within a common fluid-filled open tank and submersible grinding pumps eliminate the need for extensive circulating and holding systems. Cuttings are sized and chemically prepared within the same tank and fed directly to an injection pump for discharge to cuttings transport tanks or injected down hole. Other improvements include non-restrictive cuttings sizing, filtering, and an injection pump cuttings relief system.

Abstract: An improved cuttings system located adjacent a drilling rig's shale shaker system utilizing a vacuum collection/gravity fed processing system, thereby eliminating expensive and complicated cuttings transfer systems. The use of a vacuum cuttings collection system combined within a common fluid-filled open tank and submersible grinding pumps eliminate the need for extensive circulating and holding systems. Cuttings are sized and chemically prepared within the same tank and fed directly to an injection pump for discharge to cuttings transport tanks or injected down hole. Other improvements include non-restrictive cuttings sizing, filtering, and an injection pump cuttings relief system.