A method and apparatus for separating components of wet cement. A reclaim gate includes a tumbler flange with a tumbler flange opening. A strainer having strainer openings passes sand, rinse water, and cement slurry while blocking cement aggregates. A fixed plate entraps the strainer in place. The fixed plate has a reclaim aperture aligned with the screen. A rotating turn plate having a matching reclaim aperture is adjacent the fixed plate. A gate actuator retains the turn plate adjacent the fixed plate such that the turn plate can turn to selectively align the turn plate aperture with the fixed plate aperture. In use the aggregates are blocked by the screen, the sand passes through and is filtered; the slurry passes through and is collected and settled. The aggregates, sand, and rinse water can be recovered.

An improved drum for a lorry-based concrete mixer is described. The drum comprises a drum body having an edge defining an aperture for permitting access to a drum body interior and a manhole cover hingedly attached to the drum body, the manhole cover being movable from an aperture dosed position, in which the aperture is sealed, to an aperture open position, in which the aperture is open and the drum body interior may be accessed. The drum further comprises at least one locking mechanism adapted to lock the manhole cover In the aperture dosed position, an edge of the manhole cover being trapped between the/each locking mechanism and the drum edge in the aperture closed position. The at least one locking mechanism is adapted to support the manhole cover in a retained position between the aperture dosed position and the aperture open position.

A bulk storage plant for providing cement mixtures oil well construction is disclosed. The bulk storage plant includes bulk storage sources, an additive station, a weigh batcher, and a tumble blender. The bulk storage sources are adapted to contain cement ingredients. The additive station is adapted to provide an additive for adjusting cement properties. The weigh batcher is connected to the bulk storage silos and the additive station. The weigh batcher is adapted to receive the cement ingredients from the bulk storage sources and the additive from the additive station. The tumble blender is connected to the weigh batcher and is adapted to receive the cement ingredients and the additive from the weigh batcher. The tumble blender is adapted to blend the ingredients and provide the blended ingredients to one of a temporary storage silo and a storage vessel for transport to the oil well site.