Auger tank apparatus for wellbore cuttings

Abstract

A skid-mounted auger tank apparatus includes a hopper-bottomed receiving tank contiguous with a hopper-bottomed loadout tank, which is typically higher than the receiving tank. The sloped-wall hopper bottom of the receiving tank transitions into an auger trough extending the length of the hopper bottom and into the loadout tank. The receiving tank is positioned adjacent a drilling rig so that raw wellbore cuttings and centrifuge underflow from a drilling rig shale shaker can flow by gravity into the receiving tank. A first horizontal auger disposed in an auger trough in the bottom of the receiving tank moves received cuttings toward and into the loadout tank. A second horizontal auger disposed in an auger trough in the bottom of the loadout tank moves cuttings from the loadout tank toward a sump. An inclined third auger lifts cuttings from the sump for discharge into a transport vehicle.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An auger tank apparatus comprising:
 (a) a hopper-bottomed receiving tank having a lower region defining a generally horizontal receiving tank auger trough;   (b) a hopper-bottomed loadout tank having a lower region defining a generally horizontal loadout tank auger trough, said loadout tank being contiguous with the receiving tank;   (c) a sump contiguous with the loadout tank auger trough;   (d) a generally horizontal receiving tank auger disposed within the receiving tank auger trough, and operable to convey overlying material toward the loadout tank;   (e) a generally horizontal loadout tank auger disposed within the loadout tank auger trough, and operable to convey overlying material toward the sump; and   (f) an elongate loadout auger having an inlet end and a discharge end, said loadout auger being oriented at a vertical angle with said inlet end disposed within the sump and with said discharge end elevated above the loadout tank and extending beyond the perimeter of the loadout tank.   
     
     
         2 . An auger tank apparatus as in  claim 1  wherein the receiving tank auger trough is contiguous with the sump. 
     
     
         3 . An auger tank apparatus as in  claim 2  wherein the sump is located proximal to the juncture between the receiving tank and the loadout tank. 
     
     
         4 . An auger tank apparatus as in  claim 2  wherein the sump is located wholly with the loadout tank. 
     
     
         5 . An auger tank apparatus as in  claim 1  wherein the receiving tank auger trough and the receiving tank auger extend into the loadout tank and bypass the sump. 
     
     
         6 . An auger tank apparatus as in  claim 1  wherein the top of the loadout tank is higher than the top of the receiving tank. 
     
     
         7 . An auger tank apparatus as in  claim 1  wherein the receiving tank and the loadout tank are open-top tanks. 
     
     
         8 . An auger tank apparatus as in  claim 1  wherein the receiving tank and the loadout tank have grating-covered floors. 
     
     
         9 . An auger tank apparatus as in  claim 8  wherein the grating-covered floor over the receiving tank has a plurality of hinged sections. 
     
     
         10 . An auger tank apparatus as in  claim 1  wherein the receiving tank is adapted to receive a flow of wet fines from a centrifuge associated with a shale shaker. 
     
     
         11 . An auger tank apparatus as in  claim 7  wherein the discharge end of the loadout auger extends through the open top of the loadout tank. 
     
     
         12 . An auger tank apparatus as in  claim 8  wherein the discharge end of the loadout auger extends through an opening in the floor over the loadout tank. 
     
     
         13 . An auger tank apparatus as in  claim 1  wherein the discharge end of the loadout auger extends through an end wall of the loadout tank. 
     
     
         14 . An auger tank apparatus as in  claim 1  wherein the discharge end of the loadout auger extends through a sidewall of the loadout tank. 
     
     
         15 . An auger tank apparatus comprising:
 (a) a hopper-bottomed receiving tank;   (b) a hopper-bottomed loadout tank contiguous with the receiving tank;   (c) a sump formed into and extending below the hopper bottom of the loadout tank;   (d) a generally horizontal receiving tank auger disposed in the bottom of the receiving tank, and operable to convey overlying material toward the loadout tank;   (e) a generally horizontal loadout tank auger disposed in the bottom of the loadout tank, and operable to convey overlying material toward the sump; and   (f) an elongate loadout auger having an inlet end and a discharge end, said loadout auger being oriented at a vertical angle with said inlet end disposed within the sump and with said discharge end elevated above the loadout tank and extending beyond the perimeter of the loadout tank.   
     
     
         16 . An auger tank apparatus as in  claim 15  wherein the sump is located proximal to the juncture between the receiving tank and the loadout tank. 
     
     
         17 . An auger tank apparatus as in  claim 15  wherein the sump is located wholly with the loadout tank. 
     
     
         18 . An auger tank apparatus as in  claim 15  wherein the receiving tank auger is configured to discharge into the sump. 
     
     
         19 . An auger tank apparatus as in  claim 15  wherein the receiving tank auger extends into the loadout tank and bypasses the sump.