Use of cuttings vessel for tank cleaning

Abstract

A tank cleaning system for use at a drilling location, including a first cuttings storage vessel comprising an inlet and an outlet, at least one tank cleaning machine configured to clean a tank, a disposal vessel, and a module including a pump configured to facilitate the transfer of fluids from a clean water vessel to the at least one tank cleaning machine, and a fluid connection configured to facilitate the transfer of fluids from the outlet of the first cuttings storage vessel to the disposal vessel.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A tank cleaning system comprising:
 a tank;   at least one tank cleaning machine configured to clean the tank;   a water recycling unit comprising a water recovery tank;   a first pump configured to transfer a tank slop from inside the tank to the water recycling unit;   a disposal vessel; and   a separator in fluid communication with the water recovery tank, the separator configured to separate the tank slop into a solids-lean fraction and a solids-rich fraction,   wherein the solids-rich fraction is directed to the disposal vessel, and the solids-lean fraction is directed to the tank.   
     
     
         2 . The tank cleaning system of  claim 1 , wherein the first pump is located downstream of the tank and upstream of the water recycling unit. 
     
     
         3 . The tank cleaning system of  claim 1 , further comprising a second pump configured to transfer the solids-lean fraction from the water recycling unit to the tank. 
     
     
         4 . The tank cleaning system of  claim 3 , wherein the second pump is located downstream of the water recycling unit and upstream of the tank. 
     
     
         5 . The tank cleaning system of  claim 3 , further comprising a power unit coupled to at least one of the first pump and the second pump. 
     
     
         6 . A tank cleaning system comprising:
 a tank;   a tank cleaning machine disposed in the tank;   a first pump disposed between the tank and a water recycling unit, the water recycling unit comprising a water recovery tank;   a separator disposed in the water recycling unit, the separator configured to direct a solids-lean fraction to the tank cleaning machine;   a disposal vessel; and   a fluid connection configured to facilitate the transfer of the solids-rich fraction from the water recycling unit to the disposal vessel.   
     
     
         7 . The tank cleaning system of  claim 6 , wherein the first pump is configured to transfer a tank slop from the tank to the water recovery tank. 
     
     
         8 . The tank cleaning system of  claim 6 , wherein the separator is configured to separate the tank slop into the solids-rich fraction and the solids-lean fraction. 
     
     
         9 . The tank cleaning system of  claim 6 , wherein the separator comprises at least one of a hydrocyclone, a centrifuge, a filter, a filter press, and a hydrocarbon filter. 
     
     
         10 . The tank cleaning system of  claim 6 , wherein the tank cleaning machine comprises a plurality of rotary jet head washers. 
     
     
         11 . The tank cleaning system of  claim 6 , wherein the water recovery tank comprises a sloped bottom. 
     
     
         12 . The tank cleaning system of  claim 6 , further comprising a second pump configured to facilitate the transfer of the solids-lean fraction from the water recycling unit to the tank cleaning machine. 
     
     
         13 . The tank cleaning system of  claim 12 , wherein a power unit is coupled to at least one of the first pump and the second pump. 
     
     
         14 . A method comprising:
 providing a fluid to a tank;   transferring a tank slop from the tank to a water recycling unit with a first hydraulic pump;   separating solids from the tank slop in the water recycling unit to produce a solids-lean fraction and a solids-rich fraction;   transferring the solids-rich fraction to a disposal vessel; and   transferring the solids-lean fraction to the tank.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the transferring the solids-lean fraction to the tank further comprises transferring the solids-lean fraction through a second pump. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising transferring the solids-lean fraction from the water recycling unit to a tank cleaning machine, and dispersing the solids-lean fraction inside the tank with the tank cleaning machine. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the transferring the solids-lean fraction to the tank further comprises adding at least one cleaning chemical to the solids-lean fraction. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the separating the solids from the tank slop comprises transferring the tank slop to at least one separator disposed in the water recycling unit. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the transferring the tank slop from the tank further comprises transferring the tank slop to a water recovery tank disposed in the water recycling unit. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising settling solids from the tank slop in the water recovery tank, and collecting the solids-rich fraction in a bottom portion for disposal.