A method and apparatus for disposing of drill cuttings 500 from an oil
and/or gas well drilling platform 510, comprising (a) transporting the
drill cuttings 520 to a cuttings collection area 530 on the platform 510;
(b) providing a barge 10, the barge 10 having at least one storage area
30, a cover 100 operably connected to the at least one storage area 30,
and covering the at least one storage area 30; (c) placing the cover 100
in a first open state so that cuttings 500 can be placed in the at least
one storage area 30; (d) transporting the drill cuttings 500 from the
cuttings collection area 530 to the at least one storage area of the
barge 10; (e) placing the cover 100 in a closed state so that the
cuttings 520 in the storage area 30 of the barge 10 are contained; (f)
transporting the barge 10 from the drilling platform 510 to a collection
site 540; (g) placing the cover 100 in a second open state so that the
cuttings 520 in the storage area 30 can be removed; and (h) removing the
cuttings 520 from the storage area 30.