| 摘要 |
A method and apparatus of removing drill cuttings from an oil and gas well drilling platform includes the steps of separating the drill cuttings from the well drilling fluid on the drilling platform so that the drilling fluids can be recycled into the well bore during drilling operations. The cuttings are then transmitted via gravity flow to a materials trough (11) having an interior defined by sidewalls and a bottom portion. The drill cuttings are suctioned from the bottom portion of the trough interior with a suction line (22) having an intake portion that is positioned at the materials trough bottom. Drill cuttings are transmitted via the suction line to a pair of hoppers (204, 205) that each have an interior. A vacuum is formed in sequence within the interi or of each hopper using a blower (57) that is in fluid communication with the hopper interiors. The two hoppers are positioned one above the other so that cuttings can be added to the first, upper hopper (204) via the suction line and then fed by gravity to the secon d, lower hopper (205). A valuing arrangement maintains vacuum within the interior of at least one hopper at all times. A conduit discharges from the lower hopper into a selected holding tank so that a number of holding tanks (209, 210) can be filled in sequential, continuous fashion.
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