Abstract: A hermetically sealed horizontal washing decanter centrifuge for enhanced drilling fluid recovery and drilled solids washing. A process and apparatus for liquid phase-solid phase separation of oil based drilling mud-containing drill cuttings is described including flowing the drilling mud-containing drill cuttings into a horizontal washing decanter wherein the stresses imposed within the decanter act as a wash as the diluent and oil based drilling mud move away from the drill cuttings. Diluent is added prior to flowing the drilling mud containing drill cutting to the hermetically sealed horizontal washing decanter centrifuge. The entire process is performed in a gas-tight environment preventing escape of diluent from the process into the external atmosphere and preventing introduction of gases into the process from the external atmosphere.

Abstract: A gas tight shale shaker for enhanced drilling fluid recovery and drilled solids washing. A process and apparatus for liquid phase-solid phase separation of oil base drilling mud-containing drill cuttings is described including flowing the drilling mud-containing drill cuttings over a vibrating screen bed to cause a least a portion of the drilling mud to pass through the screen bed and the drill cuttings to remain on the screen bed. A diluent is added to the oil base drilling mud containing drill cuttings prior to flowing the drilling mud containing drill cutting over the screen bed. The entire process is performed in a gas-tight environment preventing escape of diluent from the process into the external atmosphere and preventing introduction of gases into the process from the external atmosphere.

Abstract: A gas tight shale shaker for enhanced drilling fluid recovery and drilled solids washing. A process and apparatus for liquid phase-solid phase separation of oil base drilling mud-containing drill cuttings is described including flowing the drilling mud-containing drill cuttings over a vibrating screen bed to cause a least a portion of the drilling mud to pass through the screen bed and the drill cuttings to remain on the screen bed. A diluent is added to the oil base drilling mud containing drill cuttings prior to flowing the drilling mud containing drill cutting over the screen bed. The entire process is performed in a gas-tight environment preventing escape of diluent from the process into the external atmosphere and preventing introduction of gases into the process from the external atmosphere.

Abstract: A process for removing hydrocarbons and water from hydrocarbon and/or water containing drilling waste. The process includes introducing hydrocarbon contaminated drill cuttings and a cleaning solvent into a solvent wash tank. Prior to introducing the hydrocarbon contaminated drill cuttings into a solvent wash tank, the hydrocarbon contaminated drill cuttings are treated with a hydrocarbon solvent such as hexane to break the surface tension of the hydrocarbons in a solvent sealed vertical centrifugal separator to remove hydrocarbons from the hydrocarbon contaminated drill cuttings, resulting in improved efficiency of the hydrocarbon removal process. Apparatus for performing the process is also described.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for removing hydrocarbons from hydrocarbon containing drilling waste. The process includes introducing hydrocarbon contaminated drill cuttings into one or more centripetal cuttings separators to create two distinct phases, thereafter discarding the bulk solids containing less hydrocarbons and treating the concentrated liquids phase in a solvent wash apparatus, resulting in improved efficiency of the facility throughput, while not substantially impacting the capital cost or operating cost of a solvent wash process facility. Apparatus for performing the process is also described.

Abstract: A hermetically sealed horizontal washing decanter centrifuge for enhanced drilling fluid recovery and drilled solids washing. A process and apparatus for liquid phase-solid phase separation of oil based drilling mud-containing drill cuttings is described including flowing the drilling mud-containing drill cuttings into a horizontal washing decanter wherein the stresses imposed within the decanter act as a wash as the diluent and oil based drilling mud move away from the drill cuttings. Diluent is added prior to flowing the drilling mud containing drill cutting to the hermetically sealed horizontal washing decanter centrifuge. The entire process is performed in a gas-tight environment preventing escape of diluent from the process into the external atmosphere and preventing introduction of gases into the process from the external atmosphere.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for removing hydrocarbons from hydrocarbon containing drilling waste. The process includes introducing hydrocarbon contaminated drill cuttings into one or more centripetal cuttings separators to create two distinct phases, thereafter discarding the bulk solids containing less hydrocarbons and treating the concentrated liquids phase in a solvent wash apparatus, resulting in improved efficiency of the facility throughput, while not substantially impacting the capital cost or operating cost of a solvent wash process facility. Apparatus for performing the process is also described.

Abstract: A transport vessel and method specifically adapted for safely transporting liquid containing unstabilized drill cuttings. Typically drilling waste is stabilized using binding agents like fly-ash, liquids absorbing pellets or sawdust. In many jurisdictions binding agents are required to stabilize the drilling waste prior to transport. A sealed transport vessel is described herein which is specifically designed, sized and positioned over a set of axles so as to provide for safe, non-spilling transport, and particular ease of emptying for unstabilized drill cuttings.

Abstract: A process for removing hydrocarbons and water from hydrocarbon and/or water containing drilling waste. The process includes introducing hydrocarbon contaminated drill cuttings and a cleaning solvent into a solvent wash tank. Prior to introducing the hydrocarbon contaminated drill cuttings into a solvent wash tank, the hydrocarbon contaminated drill cuttings are treated with a hydrocarbon solvent such as hexane to break the surface tension of the hydrocarbons in a solvent sealed vertical centrifugal separator to remove hydrocarbons from the hydrocarbon contaminated drill cuttings, resulting in improved efficiency of the hydrocarbon removal process. Apparatus for performing the process is also described.

Abstract: A gas tight shale shaker for enhanced drilling fluid recovery and drilled solids washing. A process and apparatus for liquid phase-solid phase separation of oil base drilling mud-containing drill cuttings is described including flowing the drilling mud-containing drill cuttings over a vibrating screen bed to cause a least a portion of the drilling mud to pass through the screen bed and the drill cuttings to remain on the screen bed. A diluent is added to the oil base drilling mud containing drill cuttings prior to flowing the drilling mud containing drill cutting over the screen bed. The entire process is performed in a gas-tight environment preventing escape of diluent from the process into the external atmosphere and preventing introduction of gases into the process from the external atmosphere.

Abstract: A transport vessel and method specifically adapted for safely transporting liquid containing unstabilized drill cuttings. Typically drilling waste is stabilized using binding agents like fly-ash, liquids absorbing pellets or sawdust. In many jurisdictions binding agents are required to stabilize the drilling waste prior to transport. A sealed transport vessel is described herein which is specifically designed, sized and positioned over a set of axles so as to provide for safe, non-spilling transport, and particular ease of emptying for unstabilized drill cuttings.

Abstract: A data processing method and system according to the present invention in which a mass storage device (DASD) of a data processing system is partitioned to include a service partition. The service partition includes the current versions of peripheral device firmware, any BIOS extensions, and device drivers. During a system boot, the boot code will compare the firmware versions of all the peripheral devices against the archived firmware versions stored in the service partition. If a mismatch is detected, the system boot will typically force an update of the peripheral device firmware to the level that is known to be good. Any such firmware updates are recorded in a log that is accessible to system management applications. Any revisions to firmware may be imaged into the service partition so that the revised version will be incorporated into the peripheral device itself during the next subsequent system boot.

Abstract: A data processing method and system according to the present invention in which a mass storage device (DASD) of a data processing system is partitioned to include a service partition. The service partition is typically located on a portion of the DASD beyond the highest address accessible to the operating system and application programs. The service partition will typically include the current versions of peripheral device firmware, any BIOS extensions, and device drivers. During a system boot, the boot code will invoke a peripheral device call that reports the device's firmware version level to compare the firmware versions of all the peripheral devices against the archived firmware versions stored in the service partition. If a mismatch is detected, the system boot will typically force an update of the peripheral device firmware to the level that is known to be good. Any such firmware updates are recorded in a log that is accessible to system management applications.