NZ724583A - A desanding apparatus and a method of using same - Google Patents
A desanding apparatus and a method of using sameInfo
- Publication number
- NZ724583A NZ724583A NZ724583A NZ72458315A NZ724583A NZ 724583 A NZ724583 A NZ 724583A NZ 724583 A NZ724583 A NZ 724583A NZ 72458315 A NZ72458315 A NZ 72458315A NZ 724583 A NZ724583 A NZ 724583A
- Authority
- NZ
- New Zealand
- Prior art keywords
- vessel
- fluid
- desanding device
- liquid
- gas
- Prior art date
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Abstract
apparatus and method for removing particulates from a multiple- phase fluid stream is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a treatment chamber having a fluid inlet for receiving the multiple-phase fluid stream. The apparatus also comprises a recovery chamber having a gas channel and a liquid channel in fluid communication with the treatment chamber at a gas and a liquid port, respectively. The gas and liquid channels converge at an intake port of a fluid outlet for discharging particulate-removed gas and liquid. l in fluid communication with the treatment chamber at a gas and a liquid port, respectively. The gas and liquid channels converge at an intake port of a fluid outlet for discharging particulate-removed gas and liquid.
Description
A DESANDING APPARATUS AND A METHOD OF USING SAME
FIELD
The present sure generally relates to an apparatus and a method
for removing particulates from multiphase fluid streams, and in particular, relates to
an tus and a method for removing sands from multiphase fluid streams
produced from an oil or gas well while minimizing the abrasion to the equipment
BACKGROUND
Production from wells in the oil and gas industry often contains
particulates such as sand. These ulates could be part of the formation from
which the hydrocarbon is being produced, introduced from hydraulic fracturing, or
fluid loss material from drilling mud or fracturing fluids, or from a phase change of
produced hydrocarbons caused by changing conditions at the wellbore (Asphalt or
wax formation). As the particulates are produced, problems occur due to abrasion
and plugging of tion equipment. In a typical startup after stimulating a well by
fracturing, the stimulated well may produce sand until the well has ized, often
lasting for several months after production commences. Other wells may produce
sand for a much longer period of time.
Erosion of the production equipment is severe enough to cause
catastrophic failure. High fluid stream ties are typical and are even purposefully
ed for elutriating particles up the well and to the surface. An erosive failure of
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this nature can become a serious safety and environmental issue for the well
operator. A failure such as a breach of high pressure piping or equipment releases
rolled high ty flow of fluid which is hazardous to service personnel.
Releasing such fluid to the environment is damaging to the environment resulting in
expensive cleanup and loss of production. Repair costs are also high.
In all cases, retention of ulates contaminates surface equipment
and the ed fluids and impairs the normal operation of the oil and gas
gathering systems and process facilities. Therefore, desanding devices are required
for removing sand from the fluid stream. Due to the nature of the gases handled,
including pressure and toxicity, all vessels and pressure piping in desanding devices
must be manufactured and approved by appropriate boiler and pressure vessel
safety authorities.
In one existing system, a pressurized tank (“P-Tank”) is placed on the
wellsite and the well is allowed to produce fluid and particulates. The fluid stream is
ed from a wellhead and into a P-Tank until sand production ceases. The large
size of the P-Tank usually restricts the maximum operating pressure of the vessel to
something in the order of 1,000 — 2,100 kPa. In the case of a gas well, this requires
some re control to be placed on the well to t the P-Tank. Further, for a
gas well, a pressure reduction usually is associated with an increase in gas velocity
which in turn makes sand-laden wellhead effluent much more abrasive and places
the pressure lling choke at risk of failure. Another problem associated with this
type of desanding que is that it is only a temporary solution. If the well
continues to make sand, the solution becomes prohibitively expensive. In most
situations with this kind of temporary solution, the gas vapors are not conserved and
sold as a commercial product.
Another known system includes employing filters to remove
particulates. A common design is to have a number of fiber-mesh filter bags placed
inside a pressure vessel. The density of the filter bag fiber-mesh is d to the
anticipated size of the particulates. Filter bags are generally not effective in the
removal of particulates in a multiphase condition. Usually multiphase flow in the oil
and gas operations is unstable. Large slugs of fluid followed by a gas mist are
common. In these cases, the fiber bags become a cause of pressure drop and often
fail due to the liquid flow there through. Due to the high chance of failure, filter bags
may not be trusted to remove particulates in critical applications or where the flow
parameters of a well are unknown. An additional problem with filter bags in most
jurisdictions is the cost ated with disposal. The mesh filter bags are
considered to be contaminated with hydrocarbons and must be ed of in
accordance to local environmental regulation.
Hydrocylone or cyclone devices are also known for separating particles
from liquid mixture by exploiting the centripetal force. By injecting the liquid mixture
into a vessel and spinning therein, heavy or large particles move outward towards
the wall of the vessel due to the centripetal force, and spirally move down to the
bottom of the vessel. Light ents move towards the center of the vessel and
may be rged via an outlet. However, Hydrocylone devices have difficulty in
ting particulates from effluents with more than two , and have an
associated pressure drop issue that is undesirable in many oilfield situations.
In Canadian Patent Number 2,433,741, issued February 3, 2004, and
in Canadian Patent Number 2,407,554, issued June 20, 2006, both assigned to the
Applicant of the subject patent application, a desander is disclosed having an
elongate, horizontal vessel with an inlet at one end and an outlet at the other end.
The fluid inlet is adapted for connection to a fluid stream F, which typically comprises
a variety of phases including gas G, some liquid L and entrained particulates P such
as sand. The fluid stream F containing particulates P enters through the inlet end
and is received by a freeboard portion. The freeboard area is set by a downcomer
flow barrier, or a weir. Accordingly, the velocity of the fluid stream F slows to a point
below the entrainment or elutriation velocity of at least a portion of the ulates P
in the fluid stream. Given sufficient horizontal distance without interference, the
particulates P eventually fall from the freeboard portion. Particulates P and liquids L
accumulate over time in a belly n under the freeboard portion, and the
desanded fluid stream, typically liquid L and gas G, emanates from the fluid outlet.
The accumulated particulates in the vessel require periodical clean-out
at sufficient intervals to ensure that the maximum accumulated depth does not
encroach on the fluid outlet. r, for larger vessels, manual cleaning becomes
difficult and time consuming.
Canadian Patent Application Number 2,799,278, filed on December
19, 2012, and assigned to the Applicant, discloses a desander having a tilted vessel,
however, this desander has a given ulate storage capacity that also es
ic withdrawal from e and depressurization for removal of sand.
Therefore, there continues to exist the desire of further improving
capacity, separation efficiency and the ease with which the vessel with can be
cleaned.
It is an objective of this sure to provide a desanding device for
removing particulates from a fluid stream.
According to one aspect, there is provided a desanding device for
removing at least particulates from a multiple-phase fluid stream containing at least
gas and entrained particulates. The ing device ses: a vessel, at least a
portion of the vessel forming a treatment r, the treatment chamber having a
fluid inlet for receiving the fluid stream; and a recovery chamber having: a first, upper
port in fluid communication with an upper portion of the treatment chamber for
receiving gas therefrom, a second, lower port in fluid ication with a lower
portion of treatment chamber, and a fluid outlet intermediate the first and second
ports for discharging at least particulate-removed gas out of the treatment chamber.
In one ment, the recovery chamber is external to the vessel.
In one embodiment, the recovery r is a conduit, said conduit in
fluid communication with the treatment chamber via the first and second ports.
In one embodiment, the ry chamber is located within the vessel
in fluid communication with the treatment chamber via the first and second ports.
In one embodiment, the treatment chamber is a first portion of the
vessel and the recovery chamber is a second portion of the vessel, the first and
second ns of the vessel are separated by a baffle, and the first and second
ports are on the baffle.
In one embodiment, the ry chamber is a conduit within the
vessel
In one embodiment, a first portion of the recovery chamber is external
to the vessel and a second portion of the recovery r is located within the
vessel
In one embodiment, the fluid outlet is at an elevation lower than the
fluid inlet.
In one ment, the cross-sectional area of the recovery chamber
is much smaller than the cross-sectional area of the treatment chamber.
In one embodiment, the treatment chamber comprises a side wall, said
side wall having a non-zero inclination angle or with respect to a horizontal plane.
In one embodiment, the inclination angle or is between about 25° and
about 90°.
In one embodiment, the inclination angle or is between about 30° and
about 90°.
In one embodiment, the inclination angle or is about 45°.
In one embodiment, the treatment chamber further comprises a
particulate drain for removing particulate from said ent r.
In one embodiment, the particulate drain comprises a horizontally
oriented body.
In one embodiment, the particulate drain further comprises a transition
section, the transition section having an inclined bottom wall with an inclination angle
y greater than zero and smaller than the inclination angle d.
In one embodiment, the fluid stream further comprises liquid.
In one embodiment, the fluid inlet extends adjacent to or along a
bottom wall of the vessel.
In one ment, the ry chamber receives liquid through the
second port.
In one embodiment, a freeboard interface is formed in the recovery
chamber and the treatment chamber at the ion of the fluid outlet.
In one embodiment, the fluid inlet extends to an elevation such that a
discharge end of the fluid inlet is at about the freeboard interface.
In one embodiment, the treatment chamber further comprises an
elongated shroud receiving therein the fluid inlet, said shroud extending along the
treatment chamber and having an upper opening at an elevation above the fluid
outlet and a lower opening below the fluid outlet.
In one embodiment, the ent chamber further comprises a flow
barrier between the fluid inlet and the first port for directing the fluid stream
thereabout.
According to one aspect, there is provided a method of removing at
least particulates from a le-phase fluid stream containing at least gas and
entrained particulates. The method comprises: establishing a treatment chamber in
a ; ishing a recovery chamber; said ry chamber in fluid
communication with an upper portion of the treatment chamber via a first, upper port
for receiving gas therefrom, and said recovery chamber in fluid communication with
a lower portion of treatment chamber via a second, lower port; injecting, via a fluid
inlet, said fluid stream into the treatment chamber to allow at least a substantial
amount of the entrained particulates fall out of the fluid stream and move into a lower
portion of the treatment chamber; and discharging the particulate-removed gas via a
fluid outlet, said fluid out let ediate the first and second ports.
In one ment, said establishing the recovery chamber further
comprises: establishing the recovery chamber external to the vessel.
In one embodiment, said ishing the recovery chamber further
comprises: establishing the recovery chamber using a conduit external to the vessel,
said conduit in fluid communication with the treatment chamber via the first and the
second ports.
In one ment, said establishing the recovery r further
comprises: establishing the recovery r within the vessel.
In one embodiment, said establishing the treatment chamber in the
vessel further comprises: ishing the treatment chamber using a first portion of
vessel; and said establishing the recovery chamber further comprises: establishing
the recovery chamber using a second portion of vessel, said first and second
portions of the vessel being ted by a baffle, and the first and second ports
being on the baffle.
In one embodiment, said establishing the ry chamber further
comprises: ishing the recovery chamber using a conduit within the vessel.
In one embodiment, said establishing the recovery chamber further
comprises: establishing a first portion of the recovery chamber external to the
vessel; and establishing a second portion of the recovery chamber within the vessel.
In one embodiment, said discharging the particulate-removed gas via
the fluid outlet further ses: discharging the particulate-removed gas via the
fluid outlet, said fluid outlet intermediate the first and second ports, and at an
elevation lower than the fluid inlet.
In one embodiment, said establishing the recovery chamber further
comprises: establishing the ry chamber having a sectional area much
smaller than that of the treatment chamber.
In one ment, the method further comprises: tilting said vessel at
a non-zero inclination angle or with respect to a horizontal plane.
In one embodiment, the method further ses: tilting said vessel at
a non-zero inclination angle or between about 25° and about 90° with respect to a
horizontal plane.
In one embodiment, the method r comprises: tilting said vessel at
a non-zero inclination angle or between about 30° and about 90° with respect to a
horizontal plane.
In one ment, the method further ses: tilting said vessel at
a non-zero inclination angle or of about 45° with respect to a horizontal plane.
In one embodiment, the method further comprises: establishing a
particulate drain coupled to a lower portion of the treatment chamber; and
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discharging particulates accumulated in the lower n of the treatment chamber
via the particulate drain.
In one embodiment, said establishing the particulate drain further
ses: establishing the particulate drain coupled to the lower portion of the
treatment chamber, the particulate drain comprising a horizontally oriented body.
In one embodiment, said establishing the particulate drain further
comprises: establishing the particulate drain coupled to the lower portion of the
treatment chamber, the particulate drain comprising a horizontally ed body and
a transition section, the transition section having an ed bottom wall with an
ation angle v greater than zero and smaller than the inclination angle d.
In one embodiment, the fluid stream further comprises liquid.
In one embodiment, the method further comprises: extending the fluid
inlet along a bottom wall of the .
In one embodiment, the method further comprises: directing liquid into
the recovery chamber through the second port.
In one embodiment, the method further comprises: forming a freeboard
interface in the recovery chamber and the treatment chamber at the elevation of the
fluid .
In one embodiment, the method further comprises: extending the fluid
inlet to an elevation such that a discharge end of the fluid inlet is about the freeboard
interface.
In one embodiment, the method further comprises: ing the fluid
inlet into an elongated shroud, said shroud extending along the treatment chamber
and having an upper opening at an elevation above the fluid outlet and a lower
opening below the fluid outlet.
In one embodiment, the method further comprises: establishing a flow
barrier in the treatment chamber between the fluid inlet and the first port for directing
the fluid stream bout.
According to one aspect, there is provided a device for removing at
least ulates from a multiple-phase fluid stream containing gas, liquid and
entrained ulates, and for separating gas and liquid. The device comprises: a
vessel having a fluid inlet for receiving the fluid stream; a gas outlet at an upper
portion of the vessel; a liquid outlet spaced from the gas outlet and at an elevation
therebelow; and a shroud receiving therein the fluid inlet and having a first, upper
opening in fluid communication with an upper portion of the vessel for flowing gas
from the fluid inlet into the upper portion of the , and a second, lower opening
in fluid communication with the vessel at an elevation below the liquid . In one
embodiment, the device further ses a liquid level controller for controlling the
liquid level at about or below a discharge end of the fluid inlet.
BRIEF PTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a desanding device according to one
embodiment, the desanding device comprising an inclined vessel forming a
treatment chamber, and an inclined conduit forming a recovery chamber having gas
channel and a liquid channel both in fluid communication with the treatment
chamber;
Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of the desanding device of Fig. 1
along section A-A;
Figure 3 is a perspective view of a desanding device according to an
alternative embodiment, the desanding device comprising an inclined vessel forming
a treatment chamber, and a recovery chamber having a gas channel and a liquid
channel both in fluid communication with the ent chamber, the recovery
chamber forming a triangular structure with the vessel;
Figure 4 is a sectional view of the desanding device of Fig. 3
along section A-A;
Figure 5 is a perspective view of a desanding device according to an
alternative ment, the desanding device comprising an inclined vessel, a
baffle in the vessel dividing the vessel into a treatment chamber and a recovery
chamber;
Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view of the desanding device of Fig. 5
along section A-A;
Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view of the desanding device of Fig. 5
along section 8-8;
Figure 8 is a cross-sectional view of a desanding device according to
an alternative embodiment, the desanding device comprising an inclined vessel and
a conduit received in the vessel for forming a recovery chamber, and defining a
treatment r between the vessel and the t, the recovery chamber
having a gas and a liquid channel in fluid communication with the ent
chamber;
Figure 9 is a perspective view of a desanding device according to an
alternative embodiment, the desanding device sing an inclined, conical
shaped vessel forming a treatment chamber, and an inclined conduit forming a
recovery chamber;
Figure 10 is a cross-sectional view of a desanding device according to
an alternative embodiment, the desanding device comprising a vertically oriented
vessel and a vertically ed conduit extending from the top wall of the vessel to
the bottom wall thereof, the t forming a ry chamber and defining a
treatment chamber between the vessel and the conduit;
Figure 11 is a cross-sectional view of a ing device according to
an alternative embodiment, the desanding device comprising a vertically ed
vessel and a vertically oriented conduit extending from a location proximate the top
wall of the vessel to a location proximate the bottom wall thereof, the t forming
a recovery chamber and defining a treatment chamber between the vessel and the
conduit;
Figure 12 is a cross-sectional view of a desanding device according to
an alternative embodiment, the desanding device is similar to that of Fig. 11 except
that an intake end or opening of the fluid outlet is received in the conduit;
Figure 13 is a cross-sectional view of a desanding device according to
an alternative embodiment, the desanding device sing a vertically oriented
vessel and a ally oriented baffle in the vessel dividing the vessel into a
treatment chamber and a recovery chamber in fluid communication with each other;
Figure 14 is a cross-sectional view of a ing device according to
an alternative embodiment, the desanding device is similar to that of Fig. 12 except
that the vessel comprises a tapering, conical shaped lower portion;
Figure 15 is a cross-sectional side view of a desanding device
according to an ative embodiment, the ing device is similar to that of
Fig. 14 except that the fluid inlet is oriented generally horizontally and tangential to
the side wall of the vessel;
Figure 16 is a cross-sectional top view of the desanding device of Fig.
Figure 17 is a sectional view of a ing device according to
an alternative embodiment, the ing device comprising a conical shaped
vessel and a vertically oriented conduit extending from the top wall of the vessel to
the bottom wall thereof, the conduit forming a recovery chamber and defining a
treatment chamber between the vessel and the conduit;
Figure 18 is a cross-sectional view of a desanding device according to
an ative embodiment, the desanding device comprising a vertically oriented
treatment vessel having a fluid inlet and a vertically oriented recovery tank having a
fluid outlet, the treatment vessel being in fluid communication with the recovery tank
via a gas conduit and a liquid conduit;
Figure 19 is a cross-sectional view of a desanding device according to
an alternative embodiment, the desanding device being similar to that of Figs. 1 and
2 but comprising a horizontally oriented particulate drain;
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Figure 20 is a cross-sectional view of a desanding device according to
an ative embodiment, the desanding device being similar to that of Figs. 1 and
2 but comprising a horizontally oriented particulate drain, the particulate drain
comprising a transition section at a proximal end thereof for coupling to the
desanding vessel;
Figure 21 is a cross-sectional view of a desanding device having a
horizontally oriented particulate drain, ing to an alternative embodiment, the
body of the particulate drain comprising an eccentric distal end to reduce the
diameter of the body;
Figure 22 is a cross-sectional view of a desanding device according to
an alternative embodiment, the desanding device being similar to that of Fig. 9 but
comprising a horizontally oriented particulate drain;
Figure 23 is a cross-sectional view of a ing device according to
an alternative ment, the desanding device being r to that of Figs. 3 and
4 but comprising a horizontally oriented particulate drain;
Figure 24 is a cross-sectional view of a ing device according to
an alternative embodiment, the desanding device being similar to that of Figs. 5 and
6 but comprising a horizontally oriented particulate drain having an ric distal
end;
Figures 25 and 26, respectively, are cross-sectional views of
desanding devices according to alternative embodiments, which are similar to those
of Figs. 11 and 14, respectively, but each comprises a horizontally oriented
particulate drain;
Figure 27 is a cross-sectional of a desanding device according to an
alternative embodiment, the desanding device being similar to that of Fig. 8 and
having an extended fluid inlet;
Figure 28 is an end view of the desanding device of Fig. 27, viewed
from the upper end wall f along the axis X-X;
Figure 29 is a sectional of a desanding device according to an
alternative embodiment, the desanding device including a gas liquid separator
portion for liquid l separate from the gas;
Figure 30 is an end view of the desanding device of Fig. 29, viewed
from the upper end wall thereof along the axis X-X;
Figure 31 is a cross-sectional of a desanding device according to an
alternative embodiment, the desanding device being similar to that of Fig. 8 and
having an extended fluid inlet; and
Figure 32 is an end view of the desanding device of Fig. 31, viewed
from the upper end wall thereof along the axis X-X.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
A desanding device is typically inserted between, or as a replacement
for, existing piping such as connecting piping coupled to a wellhead and downstream
equipment such as piping, valves, chokes, hase tors and other
downstream equipment. The use of the desanding device may be of fixed term,
during high sand production, or more permanent. As will be described in more detail
later, the ing device comprises a vessel having a treatment chamber that
comprises a fluid inlet, and a recovery chamber that comprises a fluid outlet. The
treatment and recovery rs are in fluid communication by an upper port and a
lower port. The treatment chamber receives a multiple-phase fluid stream F therein
and separates particulates from gas. Particulates and any liquid are collected in the
treatment chamber. Particulate-free gas communicates with the recovery chamber
via the upper port for recovery and is rged at the fluid outlet. Particulate-free
liquid, if any, communicates with the recovery chamber via the lower port for
recovery and is discharged with the gas at the fluid outlet. A freeboard interface, if
any, will form at the elevation of the fluid outlet as particulate-free liquid is carried
with the gas stream to downstream equipment. As the recovery chamber and
treatment chamber are in fluid communication via the lower port, the freeboard
interface also forms in the ent chamber. The ns of the freeboard
interface in the recovery chamber and treatment chamber, respectively, are at
ntially the same elevation given the hydraulics of the chambers. The recovery
chamber comprises a gas channel connected to the first upper port, and a liquid
l connected to the second lower port, converging at the fluid outlet.
The ing device receives, via the fluid inlet, a multiphase fluid
stream F from the wellhead, and injects the fluid stream F into the treatment
chamber. Herein, in this embodiment, the hase fluid F typically comprises a
variety of phases including gas G, some liquid L such as water and/or oil, and
entrained particulates P such as sand.
The fluid stream F injected into the treatment chamber is ed to go
along a downward path therein. Because of gravity, particulates P and liquid L fall
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out of the fluid stream F into the lower portion of the treatment chamber, so called an
accumulator portion. As the lower portion of the treatment chamber has an
inclination angle greater than the angle of repose of a bank of wet particulates,
particulates P migrate from the ent chamber down into a particulate collection
ure. Liquid L is accumulated in the lower portion of the treatment chamber and
particulates settle therefrom s the particulate collection structure. The
particulate-free liquid enters the liquid channel of the recovery r via the lower
port.
Gas G traverses the upper portion of the treatment chamber, so called
a freeboard portion, and enters the gas channel via the first upper port or gas port.
As the liquid and gas channels are merged of ge at the fluid outlet, liquid and
gas are recombined at the fluid outlet and are discharged to downstream equipment.
The accumulator portion is separated from the freeboard portion by a freeboard
interface ed to in industry as a liquid interface, being an interface between gas
G and liquid L. The terms “freeboard interface” and “liquid interface” may be used
interchangeably herein.
The embodiments disclosed herein have advantages including
requiring less horizontal operational space and the provision of a large accumulator
portion for reduced accumulator or storage velocities for enhanced settling therein
and increased particulate storage as necessary.
With reference to Figs. 1 and 2, in one ment, a desanding
device 100 is presented for separating hase fluid stream injected therein. The
desanding device 100 comprises a vessel 102 for receiving a multiphase fluid
2015/051266
stream F. In this embodiment, the vessel 102 is an inclined, ted cylindrical
ner with a volume sufficient for removing particulates from the fluid injected
therein. In particular, the vessel 102 comprises a cylindrical bounding wall
terminated at opposing upper and lower end walls 110 and 112. A portion of the
bounding wall forms a top wall 114 and a portion thereof forms a bottom wall 116.
In other words, the vessel 102 is a cylindrical vessel having top and bottom heads,
typically hemispherical for pressure service, or suitable flat heads.
In this embodiment, the vessel 102 is inclined at a predefined angle or
greater than the angle of repose of a bank of wet particulates. Hereinafter, the
angles introduced in this disclosure are all measured with respect to a horizontal
plane. In one embodiment, the inclination angle or is between about 25° and about
90°. In r embodiment, the inclination angle or is between about 30° and about
90°.
In this embodiment, the entire vessel 102 forms a treatment chamber
106 for removing particulates from the multiple-phase fluid stream F injected therein.
The vessel 102 comprises a fluid inlet 118 adjacent its upper end wall 110 oriented
in a direction lly along the longitudinal axis X-X for receiving the multiphase
fluid stream F, and a particulate drain 120 in proximity with its lower end 112
coupling to a particulate tion structure 104. A recovery chamber 103 is
provided external and adjacent the vessel 102. The vessel 102 also comprises a
first, upper opening or port 122 and a , lower g or port 124 along the
top wall 114 for fluidly connecting with upper and lower ends 126, 128 respectively
of the recovery chamber 103. The recovery chamber is an elongated conduit 108
positioned above the vessel 102 and generally parallel thereto. Where vessel 102 is
a pressure vessel, then t 108, upper port 126 and lower port 128 are also
pressure rated, such as using the appropriate pipe and fittings.
The ry chamber’s conduit 108 is in gas communication with the
vessel 102 via the upper port 122 (denoted as the gas port) for gas G to pass
through, and in liquid communication with the vessel 102 via the lower port 124
(denoted as the liquid port) for liquid L to pass through. The t 108 further
comprises a fluid outlet 132 located intermediate the upper and lower ports 126,128
and, as shown, closer to the upper opening 126. The fluid outlet 132 has an intake
opening or port 138 for receiving particulate-free gas and liquid.
The opening 138 is an intake port of the fluid outlet 132, while the fluid
outlet 132 may take any suitable shape, orientation and length as required. The
ion of the intake opening 138 of the fluid outlet 132 sets a freeboard interface
in the recovery and treatment chambers 103,102. The intake port 138 of the fluid
outlet 132 defines a freeboard interface 142. The freeboard interface 142 is
described in greater detail below. As shown in Fig. 2, the intake port 138 of the fluid
outlet 132 is at an ion below the gas port 122 and the discharge end 148 of the
fluid inlet 118 but above the liquid port 124.
The intake port 138 of the fluid outlet 132 divides the recovery
chamber 103 into an upper, gas channel 134 from the gas port 122 of the conduit
108 to the intake port 138 of the fluid outlet 132, and a lower, liquid channel 136
from the liquid port 124 of the t 108 to the intake port 138 of the fluid outlet
132. Both channels 134 and 136 are in fluid communication with the treatment
chamber 106, which is the ty of vessel 102 in this embodiment, via the gas port
122 and liquid port 124, respectively. The gas and liquid channels 134 and 136
converge at the intake port 138 of the fluid outlet 132, are contiguous and in fluid
communication.
As shown in Fig. 2, the treatment chamber 106 comprises therein a
flow barrier or downcomer 130 laterally intermediate the fluid inlet 118 and the gas
port 122, extending from the upper end wall 110 downwardly along the longitudinal
axis X-X to a location vertically intermediate the gas port 122 of the ent
chamber 106 and the intake port 138 of the fluid outlet 132. The axis X-X extends
lly from the top wall 114 to the bottom wall 116. The downcomer 130 may be
a flat plate, a curved plate or the like that has a length and width sufficient for
blocking direct access from the fluid inlet 118 to the gas port 122. Herein laterally
refers to g perpendicular from the longitudinal axis X-X of the treatment
r 106. The downcomer 130 eliminates any shortcut path from the fluid inlet
118 to the upper opening 122, and reduces the opportunity that small particulates
may flow from the fluid inlet 118 to the upper opening 122.
The intake port 138 of the fluid outlet 132 defines a freeboard interface
142 horizontally extending rom and across both the conduit 108 and the
treatment chamber 106. The freeboard interface 142 partitions the treatment
r 106 into a freeboard portion 144 formed thereabove and an accumulator
portion 146 formed therebelow. The intake port 138 of the fluid outlet 132 is
positioned at a location below the discharge end 148 of the fluid inlet 118, the fluid
inlet 118 being directed into the freeboard portion 144.
As described above, the treatment chamber 106 comprises a
particulate drain 120 in proximity with its lower end 112 coupling to a particulate
tion structure 104. In this embodiment, the particulate collection structure 104
comprises a sand accumulation chamber 174 ched between an inlet valve
172 and a discharge valve 176. Here, the inlet and discharge valves 172 and 176
are rated for sand slurry service.
The inlet valve 172 is ted to the particulate drain 120 on top
thereof and to the sand accumulation chamber 174 therebelow, and the sand
accumulation r 174 is in turn connected to the discharge valve 176
elow. The particulate collection structure 104 also comprises a particulate
detector 178, e.g., an ultrasonic sand detector, to detect particulate accumulation in
the sand accumulation chamber 174.
As will be described in more detail later, the inlet valve 172 may be set
to the open position and the discharge valve 176 set to the closed position in normal
operation to allow the sand accumulation chamber 174 to collect ulates and
liquid from the particulate drain 120.
tional pressure safety valves and other gas phase d
devices and instrumentation (not shown) may be reliably installed on the vessel 102.
Although not shown in the figures, the vessel 102 is supported by
suitable supporting structure to maintain the vessel 102 in its tilted orientation. In
some use scenarios, the desanding device 100 is set up at an oil and gas well site.
The connective piping of the fluid inlet 118 is connected to a wellhead, and the fluid
outlet 132 is connected to downstream equipment.
In operation, the multiphase fluid stream F is injected from the
wellhead through the fluid inlet 118 into the treatment r 106 downwardly at
the angle or. As the fluid inlet 118 has a cross-section area smaller than that of the
ent chamber 106, the velocity of the fluid in the treatment chamber 106 is
reduced comparing to that in the fluid inlet 118.
Under the influence of gravity, particulates P and liquid L in the fluid
flow fall towards the bottom of the treatment chamber 106 via a trajectory path 150.
The trajectory for dropping particulates P and the liquid L is governed by the fluid
properties and the geometry of the ent chamber 106. Once the particulates P
and liquid L have d into the accumulator portion 146, they remain separated
from the active flow stream and form a wet sand bank 152 on the bottom wall 116 of
the treatment chamber 106. Such a sand bank 152 is unstable as the slope of the
bottom wall 116 of the treatment chamber 106, defined by the inclination angle or, is
steeper than the angle of repose of the wet sand bank. Therefore, particulates P
and liquid L migrate towards the ulate collection structure 104. To aid in
automated l, the particulates P fall through the open inlet valve 172 into the
sand accumulation chamber 174, as indicated by the arrow 154.
After start of operation, liquid L accumulates in the accumulate portion
146, and liquid L and particulates P removed from the fluid stream continue to
accumulate n. Particulates can be ically removed, however at steady
state, liquids accumulate until they reach the fluid outlet 132. Thus, in cases that the
fluid stream F contains more liquid L than particulates P, a liquid surface of the
accumulated liquid L rises upward towards and forms the freeboard interface 142.
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As the inflow of liquid L exceeds removal with accumulated ulates
P, the freeboard interface would ue to grow higher but for the fluid outlet 132.
Liquid L accumulates in both the treatment chamber and the recovery chamber,
lically balanced through lower port 128. Particulate laden liquid dominates in
the treatment chamber 106 and particulate-free liquid dominants in the recovery
chamber 103. Liquid L from the treatment chamber 106 enters the liquid channel
136, and moves ly towards the fluid outlet 132, as indicated by the arrow
156.
Gas G, having been ed of any particulates therein, traverses the
freeboard portion 144, and enters the gas channel 134 via the upper gas port 122 of
the treatment chamber 106. Gas G moves down the gas channel 134 towards the
fluid outlet 132 as indicated by the arrow 158, and is discharged from the fluid outlet
132 while particulates P and liquid L continue to accumulate in the accumulator
portion 146.
Those skilled in the art appreciate that, before the liquid surface
reaches the liquid port 124, gas G may also enter the liquid channel 136 from the
liquid port 124. Moreover, before the steady state, i.e., before a liquid surface grows
to the freeboard interface 142, gas G may also enters the liquid channel 136 from
the gas port 122 via the gas channel 134.
As stated, at a steady state, the level of the liquid surface grows to the
freeboard interface 142, formed at the intake port 138 of the fluid outlet 132. As
liquid inflow continues to exceed liquid associated with ulates P collected at the
collection structure 104, incoming oil and other liquids are re-entrained with the gas
G exiting at the fluid outlet 132. Such a steady state operations last as long as
accumulated particulates are removed, or sufficient accumulate storage volume is
ed, so as maintain collected particulates free from the lower liquid port 124.
Blockage of the lower port 124 of the ry chamber 103 signals desanding
failure, resulting in particulates being recovered at the fluid outlet 132, endangering
the integrity of the downstream equipment and requiring a manual service cleaning
cycle. Such desanding failure is prevented by automatically, uously or
periodically removing accumulated particulates from the ulate collection
structure 104.
In cases that the fluid stream contains significant fraction of
particulates, particulates accumulate quickly. Desanding would be y
compromised if the accumulated particulates reach and plug the liquid port 124.
Such an ence is prevented by removing accumulated particulates from the
particulate collection structure 104.
The removal of accumulated particulates can be ted
continuously or periodically with the treatment chamber 106 remaining pressurized
and in operation. In one embodiment, valves 172 and 176 are controlled ly
by an operator or automatically with a timer or an ultrasonic sand detector to
periodically open and close. Typically, an interlock is used to prevent the inlet and
discharge valves from being open at the same time. In particular, the valve 172,
between the treatment chamber 106 and the sand accumulation chamber 174 is
normally open except at the time of particulate removal, allowing particulates to fall
into the sand accumulation r 174. The discharge valve 176 is normally
closed except at the time of particulate l.
To remove particulates while maintaining the desanding device 100 in
operation, the valve 172 is first closed. Valve 176 is then opened allowing the
particulates ned in the sand accumulation chamber 174 to exit. After removing
particulates from the sand accumulation chamber 174, valve 176 is closed and valve
172 is then reopened to allow particulates in the treatment r 106 to migrate
into the sand accumulation chamber 174. Persons skilled in the art appreciate that
the treatment chamber 106 has sufficient space to store particulates therein during
the particulates-removing process, and the volume of the sand lation
chamber 174 is sufficiently large to discharge enough particulates within a cleaning
cycle so as not to cause a backup of particulates into valve 172 thereby preventing
the valve to close. Both valves 172 and 176 are required to have service rated for
ve slurries.
As an alternate, substantially continuous removal could be
accomplished in a mass balance scenario with an automatic bleed down solids and
some liquid as come in using flow of solids level control. Alternatively, periodic
opening of a control valve, such as valve 172, could be performed manually, such
controlled by visual inspection of the fraction of particulates in the blowdown while
the valve is open, and closing once the flow is inately liquid L. In such
scenarios, valve 172 can be left open or cycled open and closed. Accordingly, valve
176 is opened only for a short period of time, or pulsed, sufficient to allow the
volume of the sand accumulation chamber 174 to be evacuated, and closed again
before the liquid inventory thereabove is exhausted.
s skilled in the art appreciate that various alternative
embodiments are readily ble. For example, the gas and liquid channels 134
and 136 may be formed in various ways according to various alternative
embodiments.
With reference to Figs. 3 and 4 a desanding device 200, according to
an alternative embodiment, is similar to the desanding device 100 of Figs. 1 and 2,
wherein the entire vessel 102 forms a ent r 106. However, the
ry chamber 103, having the liquid and gas channels 136 and 134, in this
embodiment is made of two conduits, which, together with the vessel 102, form a
generally triangular structure relative to the vessel 102, the gas channel 134 sloping
somewhat to the fluid outlet 132, whilst the liquid channel 136 being substantially
vertical.
In this embodiment, the liquid channel 136 is formed by a vertically
oriented conduit 214 extending upwardly from the liquid port 124. The conduit 214
comprises an opening 138 near its upper end at a location lower than the gas port
122. A conduit 212 extends from the opening 138 ly at an inclination angle 6
to the gas port 122, forming the gas l 134. The portion of the conduit 214
from the liquid port 124 to the opening 318 forms the liquid channel 136, and the
portion of the conduit 214 from the opening 318 to the upper end thereof forms a
fluid outlet 132, with the opening 138 acting as the intake port thereof. The gas and
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liquid channels 134 and 136 converge at the intake port 138 of the fluid outlet 132,
and are in fluid communication therewith.
The intake port 138 of the fluid outlet 132 defines a freeboard interface
142 extending horizontally in the gas channel 134 and the treatment r 106.
The ard interface 142 partitions the treatment chamber 106 into a freeboard
portion 144 thereabove and an accumulator n 146 therebelow.
Similar to the desanding device 100 of Figs. 1 and 2, the discharge
end 148 of the fluid inlet 118 is at an elevation above the intake port 138 of the fluid
outlet 132. Also, the treatment chamber 106 comprises therein a downcomer 130
laterally intermediate the fluid inlet 118 and the gas port 122, extending from the
upper end wall 110 downwardly along the longitudinal axis X-X to a location
vertically intermediate the gas port 122 and the intake port 138 of the fluid outlet
132. The downcomer 130 may be a flat plate, a curved plate or the like that has a
length and width sufficient for blocking direct access from the fluid inlet 118 to the
gas port 122. The operation of the desanding device 200 is the same as that of the
desanding device 100 of Figs. 1 and 2.
With reference to Figs. 5 to 7, a desanding device 300 is shown,
ing to another embodiment, the device 300 having a recovery chamber 103
comprising a gas and a liquid channel 134 and 136 within the vessel 302. As the
gas and liquid channels 134 and 136 are within the vessel 302, displacing treatment
chamber volume, the vessel 302 has a larger cross-section than does the vessel
102 of Figs. 1 and 2 for achieving the same desanding hput or capacity.
As can be seen, the desanding device 300 comprises a vessel 302
similar to the vessel 102 of Figs. 1 and 2. The vessel 302 is an elongated cylindrical
container inclined at a predefined inclination angle or greater than the angle of
repose of a bank of wet particulates. Similar to the vessel 102 of Figs. 1 and 2, the
vessel 302 comprises a top wall 114, a bottom wall 116, an upper end wall 110 and
a lower end wall 112.
In this embodiment, the vessel 302 comprises therein a baffle 304
extending from a position adjacent to the top end 110 of the vessel 302 rdly
in a direction generally along the inclined longitudinal axis X-X to a position adjacent
to the bottom end 112 f, and extending laterally from one side wall 308 of the
vessel 302 to the other side wall 310 thereof (see Fig. 7).
The baffle 304 divides the vessel 302 to an upper portion 320
thereabove and a lower portion 322 therebelow, the lower portion 322 having a
sectional area much larger than that of the upper n 302. The upper and
lower portions 320 and 322 are in fluid communication via an upper, gas port 122,
i.e., the gap between the baffle 304 and the upper end wall 110 of the vessel 302,
and a lower, liquid port 124, i.e., the gap between the baffle 304 and the lower end
112 of the vessel 302.
The upper portion 320 of the vessel 302 comprises a fluid outlet 132
on the top wall 114 near the upper end wall 110 with an intake port 138 at an
elevation below the gas port 122 but above the liquid port 124.
The lower n 322 of the vessel 302 comprises a fluid inlet 118 at
the upper end wall 110 of the vessel 302 oriented in a direction generally along the
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longitudinal axis X-X for receiving the multiphase fluid stream F. The fluid inlet 118
comprises a rge end 148 at an ion above the intake port 138 of the fluid
outlet 132.
The lower portion 322 of the vessel 302 forms a treatment chamber
306. A gas channel 134 is formed in the upper portion 320 from gas port 122 to the
intake port 138 of the fluid outlet 132. The gas channel 134 is in communication with
the treatment chamber 306 via the gas port 122 lly for gas G to pass
therethrough. A liquid channel 136 is formed in the upper portion 320 from the liquid
port 124 to the intake port 138 of the fluid outlet 132. The liquid channel 136 is in
communication with the treatment chamber 306 via the liquid port 124 generally for
liquid L to pass therethrough. The gas and liquid channels 134 and 136 converge at
the intake port 138 of the fluid outlet 132, and are in fluid communication therewith.
The intake port 138 of the fluid outlet 132 defines a freeboard interface
142 extending horizontally in the gas channel 134 and the treatment chamber 306.
The freeboard interface 142 partitions the treatment chamber 306 into a freeboard
portion 144 thereabove and an accumulator portion 146 therebelow.
Similar to the desanding device 100 of Figs. 1 and 2, the treatment
chamber 306 of the desanding device 300 ses therein a downcomer 130
laterally intermediate the fluid inlet 118 and the gas port 122, ing from the
upper end wall 110 downwardly along the longitudinal axis X-X to a location
vertically intermediate the gas port 122 and the intake port 138 of the fluid outlet
132. The downcomer 130 may be a flat plate, a curved plate or the like that has a
length and width sufficient for blocking direct access from the fluid inlet 118 to the
gas port 122. The operation of the desanding device 300 is the same as that of the
desanding device 100 of Figs. 1 and 2.
In an alternative embodiment, the baffle 304 extends from the top end
wall 110 of the vessel 302 downwardly in a direction generally along the inclined axis
X-X to the bottom end wall 112 f, and extending from one side wall 308 of the
vessel 302 to the other side wall 310 thereof. The baffle 304 sing an upper
hole adjacent to the upper end wall 110 of the vessel 302, forming the upper, gas
port 122, and a lower hole adjacent to the lower end 112 of the vessel 302, forming
the lower, liquid port 124. Other aspects of the desanding device in this embodiment
is the same as the desanding device 300 of Figs. 5 to 7.
Fig. 8 shows a cross-sectional view of a desanding device 400
according to yet another embodiment. Similar to the desanding s described
above, the desanding device 400 comprises an elongated vessel 502 inclined at a
predefined angle or greater than the angle of repose of a bank of wet particulates.
The vessel 502 receives n an elongated conduit 504 extending from the upper
end wall 110 along the axis X-X of the vessel 502 to the lower end wall 112. The
conduit 504 has a cross-sectional area much smaller than that of the vessel 502,
and comprises an upper, gas port 122 adjacent its upper end, and a lower, liquid
port 124 adjacent its lower end. The t 504 further comprises a fluid outlet 508
coupling to a fluid outlet 132 of the vessel 502. The fluid outlet 508 comprise an
intake port 138 on the conduit 504 at an elevation ediate the gas and liquid
ports 122 and 124, and below the discharge end 148 of the fluid inlet 118.
The conduit 504 forms the recovery chamber 103 comprising the gas
and liquid channels 134 and 136. In particular, the upper, gas channel 134 is formed
by the n of the conduit 504 from the gas port 122 to the intake port 138 of the
fluid outlet 508, and the liquid channel 136 is formed by the portion of the conduit
504 from the liquid port 124 to the intake port 138 of the fluid outlet 508. The gas
and liquid channels converge at the intake port 138 of the fluid outlet 508, and are in
fluid communication therewith.
The t 504 also defines a treatment chamber 506 being the
annulus n the vessel 502 and the conduit 504, i.e., the interior space of the
vessel 502 outside the conduit 504. The treatment chamber 506 is in communication
with the gas channel 134 via the gas port 122 and in communication with the liquid
channel 136 via the liquid port 124.
The intake port 138 of the fluid outlet 508 defines a freeboard interface
142 horizontally extending therefrom and across the gas channel 134 and the
ent r 506. The freeboard interface 142 partitions the treatment
chamber 506 into a freeboard portion 144 bove and an accumulator n
146 therebelow.
Similar to the desanding device 100 of Figs. 1 and 2, the treatment
chamber 506 comprises therein a downcomer 130 laterally intermediate the fluid
inlet 118 and the gas port 122, extending from the upper end wall 110 downwardly
along the longitudinal axis X-X to a location vertically intermediate the gas port 122
and the intake port 138 of the fluid outlet 132. The downcomer 130 may be a flat
plate, a curved plate or the like that has a length and width sufficient for blocking
direct access from the fluid inlet 118 to the gas port 122. The operation of the
desanding device 400 is the same as that of the ing device 100 of Figs. 1
and 2.
Although in above embodiments, the vessel is a cylindrical tube, those
skilled in the art appreciate that the vessel may alternatively have a different shape
such as a frustum or conical shape, a cubic shape or the like, in accordance with the
particular design and pressure-resistance requirements. Fig. 9 shows a desanding
device 500 that is the same as the desanding device 100 of Figs. 1 and 2 except
that the vessel 502 in this embodiment has a frustum shape with the lower end wall
112 larger than the upper end wall 110. Of course, those skilled in the art appreciate
that, in an ative embodiment, the vessel 502 may have a frustum shape with
the lower end wall thereof larger than the upper end wall thereof.
In some alternative embodiments, the vessel may be vertically
oriented, i.e., having an inclination angle or of 90°. For example, Fig. 10 shows a
desanding device 600 according to one embodiment. In this example and the
examples hereinafter, the ulate collection structure is not shown for the ease of
illustration.
The desanding device 600 comprises a ally oriented vessel 602
receiving therein an also ally oriented conduit 604 extending from the top wall
110 of the vessel 602 to the bottom wall 112 thereof. The conduit 604 has a cross-
sectional area much r than that of the vessel 602, and comprises an upper,
gas port 122 and a lower, liquid port 124. A fluid outlet 132 extends downwardly into
the vessel 602 from the top wall 110 f and couples to the conduit 604 at an
intake port 138.
The conduit 604 forms the recovery chamber 103 comprising the gas
and liquid ls 134 and 136. In particular, the upper, gas channel 134 is formed
by the portion of the conduit 604 from the gas port 122 to the intake port 138 of the
fluid outlet 132, and the liquid channel 136 is formed by the portion of the conduit
604 from the liquid port 124 to the intake port 138 of the fluid outlet 132. The gas
and liquid channels converge at the intake port 138 of the fluid outlet 132, and are in
fluid communication therewith.
The conduit 604 also defines a treatment r 606 being the
s between the vessel 602 and the conduit 604, which is in communication
with the gas channel 134 via the gas port 122 and in communication with the liquid
channel 136 via the liquid port 124.
The intake port 138 of the fluid outlet 132 defines a freeboard interface
142. The treatment chamber 606 comprises a fluid inlet 118 extending downwardly
from the top wall 110 of the vessel 602 with a discharge end 148 above the intake
port 138 of the fluid outlet 132.
In this embodiment, the treatment chamber 606 further comprises
therein a downcomer 130 laterally intermediate the fluid inlet 118 and the gas port
122, extending from the upper end wall 110 downwardly to a location vertically
intermediate the gas port 122 and the intake port 138 of the fluid outlet 132. The
downcomer 130 may be a flat plate, a curved plate or the like that has a length and
width ient for blocking direct access from the fluid inlet 118 to the gas port 122.
In some alternative embodiments, the vessel may not comprise a
downcomer 130 for blocking direct access from the fluid inlet 118 to the gas port
122. For example, Fig. 11 shows a desanding device 700 according to one
embodiment. The desanding device 700 comprises a vertically oriented vessel 702
receiving therein a vertically oriented conduit 704 extending from a on
proximate the top wall 110 of the vessel 702 to a location proximate the bottom wall
112 thereof, forming the recovery chamber 103. The conduit 704 has a cross-
sectional area much smaller than that of the vessel 702, and comprises an upper,
gas port 122 and a lower, liquid port 124. A fluid outlet 132 extends from an intake
port 138 on the conduit 704 radially outwardly to the side wall 708 of the vessel 700.
The intake port 138 of the fluid outlet 132 divides the t 704 or
recovery chamber 103 into an upper, gas channel 134 from the gas port 122 of the
conduit 704 to the intake port 138 of the fluid outlet 132, and a lower, liquid channel
136 from the liquid port 124 of the conduit 108 to the intake port 138 of the fluid
outlet 132. The conduit 704 also defines a ent chamber 706 being the annulus
between the vessel 702 and the conduit 704.
Both channels 134 and 136 are in fluid communication with the
treatment chamber 706 via the gas port 122 and liquid port 124, respectively. The
gas and liquid channels 134 and 136 converge at the intake port 138 of the fluid
outlet 132, and are in fluid communication therewith. The intake port 138 of the fluid
outlet 132 s a freeboard ace 142.
The treatment r 706 comprises a fluid inlet 118 extending
rdly from the top wall 110 of the vessel 702 with a discharge end 148 above
the intake port 138 of the fluid outlet 132. In this embodiment, the discharge end 148
is sufficiently spaced from the gas port 122 for preventing direct access from the
fluid inlet 118 to the gas port 122. ore, the treatment chamber 706 does not
comprise any downcomer laterally intermediate the fluid inlet 118 and the gas port
122.
Fig. 12 shows a desanding device 800 according to one embodiment.
The desanding device 800 comprises a vertically ed vessel 802 receiving
therein a vertically oriented conduit 804 extending from a location proximate the top
wall 110 of the vessel 802 to a location proximate the bottom wall 112 thereof,
forming the recovery chamber 103. The conduit 804 has a cross-sectional area
much smaller than that of the vessel 702, and ses an upper, gas port 122 and
a lower, liquid port 124. A fluid outlet 132 extends from the top wall 110 of the vessel
700 downwardly into the conduit 804 such that an intake port 138 of the fluid outlet
132 is within the conduit 804. In this embodiment, the conduit 804 is laterally d
approximate one side of the vessel 802.
The intake port 138 of the fluid outlet 132 divides the conduit 804 or
the ry chamber 103 into an upper, gas channel 134, which is the annulus
between the conduit 804 and the fluid outlet 132 from the gas port 122 of the conduit
804 to the intake port 138 of the fluid outlet 132, and a lower, liquid channel 136
from the liquid port 124 of the conduit 108 to the intake port 138 of the fluid outlet
132. The conduit 804 also defines a treatment chamber 806 being the annulus
between the vessel 802 and the conduit 804. Both channels 134 and 136 are in fluid
ication with the treatment chamber 806 via the gas port 122 and liquid port
124, respectively. The gas and liquid channels 134 and 136 converge at the intake
port 138 of the fluid outlet 132, and are in fluid communication therewith. The intake
port 138 of the fluid outlet 132 defines a freeboard interface 142. Other aspects of
the desanding device 800 are similar to the desanding device 700 of Fig. 11.
As shown in Fig. 13, in an alternative embodiment, the desanding
device 900 comprises a vertically oriented vessel 902. A vertically oriented baffle
904 extending from the top wall 110 of the vessel 902 to the bottom wall 112 thereof
divides the vessel 902 into a first portion 906 as the recovery chamber 103 and a
second portion 908 as the treatment chamber 908, the second portion 908 having a
cross-sectional area much larger than that of the first portion 906. The baffle 904
comprises an upper, gas port 122 and a lower, liquid port 124. A fluid inlet 118
extends downwardly from the top wall 110 of the vessel 902 into the second portion
908, and a fluid outlet 132 s downwardly from the top wall 110 of the vessel
700 into the first portion 906. The intake port 138 of the fluid outlet 132 is at an
ion intermediate the gas port 122 and the liquid port 124. The discharge end
148 of the fluid inlet 118 is at an ion intermediate the gas port 122 and the
intake port 138.
The intake port 138 of the fluid outlet 132 divides the first n 906
or the recovery chamber 103 into an upper, gas channel 134, which is the annulus
between the first portion 906 and the fluid outlet 132 from the gas port 122 of the
baffle 904 to the intake port 138 of the fluid outlet 132, and a lower, liquid channel
136 from the liquid port 124 of the baffle 904 to the intake port 138 of the fluid outlet
132. The second portion 908 forms a treatment chamber 908. Both channels 134
and 136 are in fluid communication with the treatment chamber 908 via the gas port
122 and liquid port 124, respectively. The gas and liquid channels 134 and 136
converge at the intake port 138 of the fluid outlet 132, and are in fluid communication
therewith. The intake port 138 of the fluid outlet 132 s a freeboard interface
142. Other aspects of the ing device 800 are similar to the desanding device
300 of Figs. 5 and 6.
As described above, the vessel of the desanding device may have any
suitable shape. For example, Fig. 14 shows a ing device 1000 in an
alternative embodiment. The desanding device 1000 is the same as the desanding
device 800 of Fig. 12 except that, in this embodiment, the vessel 1002 of the
desanding device 1000 has a conical lower portion 1004 tapering downwardly to a
bottom wall 112 of a er smaller than that of the rest part of the vessel 1002.
In above embodiments, the fluid inlet 118 is oriented generally el
to the longitudinal axis of the vessel. However, in some alternative embodiments, the
fluid inlet 118 may be oriented in other directions.
Figs. 15 and 16 show a desanding device 1100 in another
embodiment. The desanding device 1100 is the same as the desanding device 1000
of Fig. 14 except that, in this embodiment, the vessel 1002 of the desanding device
1100 comprises a fluid inlet 1118 on its side wall 1106. The fluid inlet 1118 is
oriented generally horizontally and comprises a discharge end 1120 discharging a
fluid stream into the vessel 1002 along a direction generally tangential to the side
wall 1106 thereof. In this embodiment, the fluid outlet 132 and the conduit 804 are
biased from the horizontal center of the vessel 1002. However, those skilled in the
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art appreciate that the fluid outlet 132 and the conduit 804 may alternatively be
concentric with the vessel 1002.
Fig. 17 shows a desanding device 1200 in another embodiment. The
desanding device 1200 is the same as the desanding device 600 of Fig. 10 except
that, in this embodiment, the vessel 1202 has a frustum shape with the top wall 100
larger than the bottom wall 112, and that the fluid inlet 1218 is oriented towards the
side wall 1204 of the vessel 1202. In this embodiment, the side wall 1204 has an
angle or with respect to a horizontal plane that is greater than the angle of repose of
a bank of wet particulates. A disadvantage of the desanding device 1200 is that the
fluid stream F discharged from the fluid inlet 1218 impinges the side wall 1204,
g erosion thereto.
Fig. 18 shows a desanding device 1300 according to an alternative
embodiment. As shown, the desanding device 1300 ses a vertically oriented
treatment vessel 1302 receiving a fluid inlet 118 extending downwardly from the top
wall 110 of the vessel 1302. The desanding device 1300 also comprises a vertically
oriented ry tank 1304 receiving a fluid outlet 132 extending downwardly from
the top wall 1310 of the tank 1304. The vessel 1302 and the tank 1304 are in fluid
communication via an upper conduit 1306 and a lower conduit 1308, which forms
the gas port 122 and liquid port 124, respectively. The intake port 138 of the fluid
outlet 132 is at an ion intermediate the gas port 122 and the liquid port 124.
The discharge end 148 of the fluid inlet 118 is at an elevation intermediate the gas
port 122 and the intake port 138.
The entire vessel 1302 forms a treatment chamber 1312. The intake
port 138 of the fluid outlet 132 divides the tank 1304 into an upper, gas channel 134,
which is the annulus between the tank 1304 and the fluid outlet 132 from the gas
port 122 to the intake port 138 of the fluid outlet 132, and a lower, liquid channel 136
from the liquid port 124 to the intake port 138 of the fluid outlet 132. Both channels
134 and 136 are in fluid communication with the treatment chamber 1312 via the gas
port 122 and liquid port 124, respectively. The gas and liquid channels 134 and 136
converge at the intake port 138 of the fluid outlet 132, and are in fluid communication
ith. The intake port 138 of the fluid outlet 132 defines a freeboard ace
142. Other aspects of the desanding device 800 are similar to the desanding devices
described above.
In above embodiments, the discharge end 148 of the fluid inlet 118 is
above the freeboard interface 142 defined by the intake port 138 of the fluid outlet
132. In an alternative embodiment, the discharge end 148 of the fluid inlet 118 is
below the freeboard interface 142. The disadvantage of the desanding device in this
embodiment is that, the liquid level may grow above the discharge end 148 of the
fluid inlet 118, and when it occurs, the fluid stream is injected into the treatment
chamber under the liquid e, and may cause greater turbulence than injecting
the fluid stream above the liquid surface.
Those skilled in the art iate that the particulate collection
structure 104 may atively se different components. For example, in an
alternative embodiment, the particulate collection structure 104 may be a sand sump
having a normally-closed valve, a blind, or quick access port or the like, coupled to
WO 86307
the particulate drain 120, which is closed when the desanding device is in operation,
and is open for cleaning out particulates accumulated in the accumulator portion
146.
In an alternative embodiment, the fluid inlet comprises a nozzle, such
as a replaceable nozzle as set forth in Applicant’s Canadian Patent Number
2,535,215 issued May 8, 2008, the content of which is incorporated herein by
reference in its entirety.
In another embodiment, the fluid inlet 118 ses a nozzle having a
ntally oriented injection end for connecting to a wellhead, and an inclined
discharge end 148 oriented in a direction lly along the inclined axis X-X, such
as a nozzle as set forth in Applicant’s Canadian Patent ation Number
2,799,278 filed on December 19, 2012, the content of which is incorporated herein
by reference in its entirety.
In some other embodiments, an inlet nozzle having a diverting wall at
the discharge end 148 may be used. The detail of such inlet nozzle is disclosed in
Applicant’s Canadian Patent Application Number 2,836,437, filed in December 16,
2013, the content of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
The desanding devices described in this disclosure generally exploit
the effect of gravity to separate ulates from the multiphase fluid stream injected
into a vessel having a limited size, which provide significant advantage for use in oil
and gas sites that offer limited ional space.
In above embodiments, the multiple-phase fluid stream comprises
liquid L. In some alternative embodiments, the multiple-phase fluid stream does not
comprise liquid L. In these embodiment, both the gas channel 134 and the liquid
l 136 are used for directing gas G from the vessel to the fluid outlet 132.
In above embodiments, the gas and liquid channels are physically
separated from the treatment chamber by one or more walls. In some embodiments
described above, the gas and liquid channels are al to the vessel while in
other embodiments described above, the gas and liquid channels are received in the
vessel. ln embodiments that the gas and liquid channels 134 and 136 are within the
vessel, e.g., in embodiments of Figs. 5-7, 8, and 10-17, it is preferable to design the
desanding device in such a way that the ent chamber has a cross-sectional
area much larger than the cross-sectional areas of the gas and liquid channels,
respectively. The advantage of such a design is that, for a vessel with a d
sectional area, smaller cross-sectional areas of the gas and liquid channels
result in a larger cross-sectional area of the treatment chamber, which means that
the fluid stream injected into the treatment chamber experiences r velocity
slow-down, giving rise to better desanding result. er, with r cross-
sectional areas of the gas and liquid channels, more interior space of the vessel is
used as the treatment chamber, improving the desanding capacity.
Those skilled in the art appreciate that, in some alternative
embodiments, one of the gas and liquid channels may be outside the vessel and the
other of the gas and liquid channels may be received in the vessel.
Those skilled in the art appreciate that, the desanding device may be
made of suitable material, such as steel or the like, with specifications satisfying
relevant safety code requirement. Also, in embodiments that the desanding device is
used for removing particulates from ressure fluid streams, the shape of the
vessel may also be modified to meet relevant safety requirements. For example, the
upper and lower ends of the vessel may be of a semi-spherical shape to provide
higher re resistance.
In above embodiments, the vessel 102 ses a vertically oriented
particulate drain 120. In some alternative embodiments, the ulate drain 120
may be oriented in other directions.
For example, Fig. 19 is a cross-sectional view of a desanding device
1400 according to an alternative embodiment. The desanding device 1400 is similar
to that of Figs. 1 and 2 except that the desanding device 100 in this embodiment
comprises a horizontally oriented particulate drain 1900 coupled to the vessel 102 in
proximity with the lower end 112 thereof. No particulate tion structure is used.
As shown, the vessel 102 comprises a lower end 112 coupled to a
proximal end 1902 of a particulate drain 1900 having a horizontally oriented tubular
body 1904. The body 1904 is coupled by suitable means such as welding, threaded
couplings, flanges, or the like. The body 1904 is an ion of the vessel and can
receive fluids and particulates. A quick closure structure 1908 is coupled to a distal
end 1906 of the particulate drain 1900. The quick closure structure 1908 comprises
a pressure-rated, hemispherical head 1910 pivotable from the particulate drain body
1904. A gantry 1912 ts the head 1910 and assists in manipulation of the
head 1910 for access to the interior of the particulate drain body 1904.
The horizontal orientation of the body 1904 of the particulate drain
1900 aids in operation of the head 1910 of the quick closure structure 1908.
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Further, the body forms a base for accumulating particulates thereon and for forming
the wet sand bank 152 of particulates at about an angle of repose in the body and
extending up into the vessel 102. The horizontal extent and height of the body can
be sized to arrange a toe 153 of the wet sand bank 152 at about the distal end 1906.
Accordingly, when the hemispherical head 1910 is opened to access the drain 1900,
the bulk of the particulates do not flow uncontrollably from the vessel, the wet sand
152 bank retaining its structure for the most part, subject to some erosion as liquid
flows thereby. As the angle of repose is generally known, the sizing of the drain
body can be pre-determined; the smaller the diameter of the drain body 1904, the
r is the horizontal extent thereof.
The operation of the desanding device 1400 of this embodiment is
similar to that described above, except that, in this embodiment, particulates P and
liquid L accumulate in the accumulator n 146 and in the particulate drain 1900.
The removal of accumulated particulates can be conducted
periodically. To remove particulates, the operation of the ing device 1400 is
first stopped. Then, the vessel 102 is depressurized. After that, the head 1910 of the
particulate drain 1900 is pivoted to an open position. An operator then removes
particulates from the particulate drain 1900.
Fig. 20 shows a desanding device 2000 having a ntally ed
particulate drain 1940, according to an alternative embodiment. As shown, the
horizontally ed particulate drain 1940 comprises a transition section 1942 at its
proximal end 1902, coupling to the desanding vessel 102. The bottom wall 1944 of
the transition section 1942 has an inclination angle v greater than zero (0) but
smaller the ation angle or of the bottom wall 116 of the vessel 102.
Fig. 21 shows a desanding device 2100 having a horizontally oriented
particulate drain 1960, according to an alternative embodiment. In this embodiment,
the particulate drain body 1904 comprises an ric distal end 1906 to reduce the
diameter of the body 1904.
Fig. 22 shows a desanding device 2100 having a ntally oriented
particulate drain 1980, according to an alternative embodiment. The desanding
device 2100 is similar to the desanding device 500 of Fig. 9. However, in this
embodiment, the lower end wall 112 of the conical vessel 102 has an opening 1992.
The opening 1992 has a smaller diameter than that of the lower end wall 112, and
couples to a particulate drain 1980. In this embodiment, the particulate drain 1980
comprises a transition section 1942.
In various embodiments, the horizontally oriented particulate drain
1900, 1940, 1960 or 1980 may be used with other desanding devices described
above. For e, Fig. 23 shows a desanding device 2300 similar to the
desanding device 200 of Figs. 3 and 4, but uses a horizontally oriented particulate
drain 1900. Fig. 24 shows a desanding device 2400 similar to the ing device
300 of Figs. 5 and 6, but uses a horizontally oriented particulate drain 1960 having
an eccentric distal end 1906. Figs. 25 and 26 show desanding devices 2500 and
2600 similar to the ing device 700 of Fig. 11 and the desanding device 800 of
Fig. 14, respectively, but uses a horizontally oriented particulate drain 1900.
WO 86307
Fig. 27 is a cross-sectional view of a ing device 2700,
according to an alternative embodiment. Fig. 28 is an end view of the desanding
device 2700 viewed from the upper end wall 110 along the axis X-X, as indicated by
the arrow 2706 (which also indicates the direction of the multi-phase fluid stream F).
The desanding device 2700 is similar to that of Fig. 8, and thus the
following description focuses on the differences therebetween.
As shown, the vessel 2702 of the desanding device 2700 has a
tapered upper and lower ends 110 and 112 for implementation considerations. Of
course, those skilled in the art appreciate that, the upper and lower ends 110 and
112 can be any other suitable shapes in alternative embodiments.
In the embodiment of Figs. 27 and 28, the desanding device 2700
further controls discharge of the fluid stream F at or about the freeboard ace
142. Applicant has determined that, in the typical multi-phase flow ning liquid,
ulates tend to pre-separate somewhat to the bottom of the transport lines prior
to discharge from the fluid inlet 118 and readily enter the accumulator portion 146 for
capture. However, when the fluid stream F is “dry”, having less liquid, the efficiency
of particulates separation and capture at the accumulator portion 146 is less
efficient. For maintaining efficiency of particulate removal, when the fluid stream is
dry, the mass rate of flow of the fluid stream F can be manipulated, typically
reduced, to maintain a liquid level forming the freeboard interface 142.
The device 2700 comprises a fluid inlet 118 extending into the vessel
2702 from the upper end 110 and parallel to the vessel axis X-X to an ion such
that its discharge end 148 is at about or in ity with the freeboard interface 142.
The elevation of the freeboard interface 142 is again determined by the intake port
138 of the fluid outlet 132, and is spaced from the first, upper g 122 of the
elongated conduit 504. The fluid inlet 118 delivers the fluid stream, even chaotic or
turbulent flow of dry gas and particulates more vely to the liquid at the
freeboard interface 142, reducing the opportunity for transport of fine particulates to
avoid the ard interface and flow directly to the upper opening 122.
The short or zero gap between the discharge end 148 of the fluid inlet
118 and the ard interface 142 is advantageous. As described before, in a
steady, the liquid level or liquid surface of the liquid accumulated in the accumulator
portion 146 is at about the freeboard interface 142. As the discharge end 148 of the
fluid inlet 132 is in ity with the liquid surface, particulates discharged from the
fluid inlet 132 more directly or immediately impinge liquid accumulated in the
accumulator portion 146 and become wet, more effectively trapping particulates in
the accumulator n 146.
Those skilled in the art appreciate that, in an alternative embodiment,
the discharge end 148 may be extended into the liquid. However, the operation
efficiency may be reduced.
To further improve the trapping of particulates into the accumulator
portion 146, in this embodiment, the fluid inlet 118 is extended from the upper end
110 of the vessel 2702 adjacent to or along the bottom wall 116 of the vessel 2702,
reducing the distance that wet particulates have to travel before reaching the bottom
wall 116. Those d in the art appreciate that, in some alternative ments,
the fluid inlet 118 may be spaced from the bottom wall 166 or not extend parallel
thereto. For example, the fluid inlet 118 may extend from the upper end 110 of the
vessel 2702 at an angle to the bottom wall 116 to a location such that its discharge
end 148 converges with the bottom wall at or about the freeboard interface 142.
However, the bottom wall 116 above the freeboard interface 142 is exposed to
particulates impingement.
In the embodiment of Figs. 27 and 28, a particulate drain 120 is
located is at the lower end 112 of the vessel 2702. Although not shown, the
ulate drain 120 may be coupled to a particulate collection ure similar to
the previously described particulate collection structure 104 or any suitable closure.
In this ment, the desanding device 2700 also comprises a
normally-closed wash bar/sand probe port 2704 for nance access purposes
or for receiving a sand probe. The desanding device 2700 can further comprise a
water injection port 2706 for maintenance purposes.
As introduced above, in many well sites, a first gas and liquid separator
vessel is ted from particulate damage with an added, second desanding
vessel as described in ments above. This added desanding vessel is often
temporary and removed once sand production has diminished to acceptable rates.
Other sites, due to sand production characteristics or other operational reasons,
prefer to place a desander in continuous use. Two pressure-rated vessels are
expensive and require additional inspection and maintenance. Accordingly, in
another embodiment, the desander can be adapted to also function as a separator,
eliminating the first gas and liquid tor vessel.
Figure 29 is a cross-sectional view of a device 2800 for removing
particulates from a multi-phase fluid stream, and further for separating liquid and
gas, ing to yet another embodiment. Figure 30 is an end view of the device
2800 of Fig. 29, viewed from the upper end wall 2808 along the axis X-X, as
indicated by the arrow 2812 (which also indicates the direction of the multi-phase
fluid stream F).
As shown, the device 2800 comprises an elongated vessel 2802 tilted
at an angle or, e.g., 45°. r to the vessels bed above, the vessel 2802
comprises a top wall 2804, a bottom wall 2806, an upper end wall 2808 and a lower
end wall 2810. The vessel 2802 also comprises, on its top wall 2804, a gas outlet
2820 on an upper portion of the vessel 2802, a liquid outlet 2822 spaced from the
lower end wall 2810 and below the gas outlet 2820, and a particulate drain 2824 at
the lower end wall 2810.
A fluid inlet 2826 extends from the upper end wall 2808 into the vessel
2802 parallel to the axis X-X thereof. The vessel 2802 comprises a shroud 2830
receiving, along a bottom wall f, the fluid inlet 2826. The shroud 2830 in this
embodiment is an elongated conduit positioned along the bottom wall 2806 of the
vessel 2802 and is mounted to the top wall 2804 by a pair of supports 2832. The
shroud 2830 has an upper opening 2834 in fluid communication with an upper
portion of the vessel 2802 and at an elevation about the gas outlet 2820, and a lower
opening 2836 at an elevation below the liquid outlet 2822. The shroud 2830 has a
diameter larger than that of the fluid inlet 2826 for receiving, at its upper end 2834,
the fluid inlet 2826 while ng gas to flow out from an s formed between
the fluid inlet 2826 and the shroud 2830.
In an alternative embodiment, the upper opening 2834 does not need
to be at an elevation about the gas outlet 2820.
The vessel 2802 also comprises a liquid level controller 2842 active to
maintain liquid in the vessel 2802 and automatically remove steady state
accumulations of liquid from the liquid outlet 2822. The liquid level controller 2842
determines a freeboard interface 2844, which is the liquid level at a steady state of
operation, such that a discharge end 2828 of the fluid inlet 2826 is at or in proximity
with the liquid level at steady state which is, for ulate capture purposes, a
design similar to that of Figs. 27 and 28. Similarly, the freeboard interface 2844
separates a freeboard n 2846 at an upper portion of the vessel 2902 and an
accumulator portion 2848 at a lower portion thereof.
The vessel 2802 may further comprise other components such as a
wash bar 2852, a depressurization valve 2854 and a pressure safety valve (PSV)
2856. Although not shown in the figures, the vessel 2802 is supported by suitable
supporting structure to maintain the vessel 2802 in its tilted ation.
In operation, a multi-phase fluid stream F is ed into the vessel
2802 through the fluid inlet 2826 (as indicated by the arrow 2812), and is discharged
from the discharge end 2828 of the fluid inlet 2826 into the shroud 2830. The shroud
2830 divides the vessel 2802 into a treatment chamber 2862 within the shroud 2830,
and a recovery chamber 2864 between the shroud 2830 and the vessel 2802.
A gas portion G of the multi-phase fluid stream F flows upwardly
through the annulus between the fluid outlet 2826 and the shroud 2830, enters the
freeboard portion 2846 via the upper g 2834 of the shroud 2830, and is
discharged out of the vessel 2802 via the gas outlet 2820 (indicated by the arrow
2876).
On the other hand, liquid L and particulates fall out of the stream
(indicated by the arrow 2872) onto the bottom wall of the shroud 2830, and settle
through the treatment chamber 2862 towards the bottom of the vessel 2802
(indicated by the arrow 2874). Consequently, particulates fall out of and liquid flows
from the lower opening 2836 of the shroud 2830, and accumulate in the accumulator
portion 2848.
When the multi-phase fluid stream F comprises much more liquid than
particulates, the level of liquid grows (indicated by the arrows 2878) much faster
than that of particulates. When reaching the liquid outlet 2822, the liquid level
controller 2842 discharges liquid L out of the vessel 2802 via the liquid outlet 2822.
The liquid discharge rate may be controlled to be smaller than the rate that liquid
enters the vessel 2802 from the fluid inlet 2826, such that the liquid level continues
to grow in both the ent chamber 2862 and the recovery chamber 2864 while
liquid being discharged through the liquid outlet 2822, until the liquid level s
the ard interface 2842.
The liquid controller 2842 controls the liquid level in the vessel 2802 to
be at about the freeboard interface at the steady state of operation. Many suitable
means may be used for controlling the liquid level. For example, the liquid outlet
2822 may comprise a valve, and the liquid ller 2842 controls the open and
close of the valve of the liquid outlet 2822 to maintain the liquid level at about the
freeboard interface 2844. Alternatively, the liquid controller 2842 may itself be a
liquid outlet having a valve on the vessel at about the freeboard interface 2844 for
rging excess liquid from the vessel 2802 to maintain the liquid level at about
the freeboard interface 2844.
At the steady state, the ulates discharged from the rge end
2828 of the fluid inlet 2826 quickly become wet and fall onto the bottom wall of the
shroud 2830 due to the short distance between the discharge end 2828 of the fluid
inlet 2826 and the liquid level, and due to the short distance between the discharge
end 2828 of the fluid inlet 2826 and the bottom wall of the shroud 2830. The wet
particulates migrate to the bottom of the vessel 2802 (indicated by the arrow 2874),
and accumulate in the accumulator portion 2848 (indicated by the broken line 2880).
The accumulated particulates may be d from the particulate drain 2824 in a
manner similar to what is described above.
In another embodiment of a desander, not providing liquid and gas
separation, Fig. 31 is a cross-sectional view of a desanding device 2900
implementing the shroud or extended fluid inlet or both. Fig. 32 is an end view of the
desanding device 2900 viewed from the upper end wall 2808 along the axis X-X, as
indicated by the arrow 2812 (which also indicates the direction of the multi-phase
fluid stream F).
The desanding device 2900 is similar to the device 2800 of Figs. 29
and 30 with the following differences. First, the desanding device 2900 only
comprises a liquid/gas outlet 2920 rather than separate liquid and gas outlets. The
liquid/gas outlet 2920 is located at an elevation about that of the discharge end 2828
of the fluid inlet 2826 such that the ard interface 2844, and thus the liquid level
at a stead state, are determined by the liquid/gas outlet 2920 at an elevation about
that of the discharge end 2828 of the fluid inlet 2826. Moreover, as in the desanding
device of Fig. 27, the desanding device 2900 does not comprise any liquid level
controller.
In this embodiment, the upper opening 2834 of the shroud 2830 is at
an elevation above the liquid/gas outlet 2920, and the lower opening 2836 of the
shroud 2830 is at an elevation below the liquid/gas outlet 2920. The treatment
chamber 2862 is defined by the shroud 2830, and the recovery chamber 2864 is the
vessel 2802 excluding the space occupied by the shroud 2830.
In an alternative ment, the desanding device is similar to that of
Figs. 31 and 32, but further comprises an elongated t similar to the elongated
conduit 504 of Fig. 8 or Fig. 27 for connecting to the fluid outlet 2920.
In above embodiments, the fluid outlet 132, the gas outlet and the
liquid outlet are conveniently located on the top wall of the vessel. However, in some
alternative embodiments, any or all of these outlets may be located more generally
on an upper portion of the vessels, including on a sidewall of the vessel.
In an alternative ment for desanding a multiple-phase, “dry”
fluid stream F comprising gas and particulates, a desanding device similar to any
one of the above described ing devices may comprise a liquid makeup inlet
having a liquid makeup valve for ing suitable liquid, such as water or oil, into
WO 86307
the vessel. Prior to or during the desanding operation, an operator may operate the
liquid makeup valve to inject liquid into the vessel for filling the accumulator portion
and form a liquid e at about the freeboard interface.
During operation of desanding the “dry” fluid stream, liquid in the
vessel may be gradually depleted, e.g., being carried out by gas from the fluid outlet.
Thus, the liquid makeup valve may be operated, periodically or as needed, to refill
liquid into the vessel to maintain the liquid surface at about the freeboard interface.
The operation of the liquid makeup valve may be manual or automatic. For example,
the liquid makeup valve may be ly or automatically turned on and off
ing to a predefined schedule. As another example, the vessel may comprise a
liquid level controller to automatically control the liquid makeup valve on and off to
maintain the liquid level in the vessel.
In another embodiment, the liquid makeup valve may be operated to
maintain the liquid surface at a level lower than the freeboard interface.
In yet another embodiment, the liquid makeup valve is shut off during
operation.
In still another embodiment, the liquid makeup valve may also be used
for maintenance es during maintenance. For example, the desanding device
may be that of Fig. 27, wherein the water injection port 2706 is used as a liquid
makeup inlet during operation, and used for cleaning the vessel during maintenance.
Although embodiments have been described above with nce to
the accompanying drawings, those of skill in the art will appreciate that variations
and modifications may be made without departing from the scope thereof as d
by the appended claims.
THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION FOR WHICH AN EXCLUSIVE
Claims (24)
1. A desanding device for removing at least particulates from a multiple-phase fluid stream ning at least gas and entrained particulates, the desanding device comprising: a vessel, at least a n of the vessel forming a treatment chamber, the treatment chamber having a fluid inlet for receiving the fluid ; and a ry chamber having: a first, upper port in fluid communication with an upper portion of the treatment chamber for receiving gas therefrom, a second, lower port in fluid communication with a lower portion of treatment chamber, and a fluid outlet intermediate the first and second ports for discharging at least particulate-removed gas out of the treatment r.
2. The desanding device of claim 1 wherein the recovery chamber is al to the vessel.
3. The desanding device of claim 2 wherein the recovery chamber is a conduit, said conduit in fluid communication with the treatment chamber via the first and second ports.
4. The desanding device of claim 1 wherein the recovery chamber is located within the vessel in fluid ication with the treatment r via the first and second ports.
5. The desanding device of claim 4 wherein the treatment chamber is a first portion of the vessel and the recovery chamber is a second n of the vessel, the first and second portions of the vessel are separated by a , and the first and second ports are on the baffle.
6. The desanding device of claim 4 wherein the recovery chamber is a conduit within the vessel.
7. The desanding device of claim 1 wherein a first portion of the recovery chamber is external to the vessel and a second portion of the recovery chamber is located within the vessel.
8. The desanding device of any one of claims 1 to 7 wherein the fluid outlet is at an elevation lower than the fluid inlet.
9. The ing device of any one of claims 1 to 8 wherein the cross-sectional area of the recovery chamber is much smaller than the cross- sectional area of the treatment chamber.
10. The desanding device of any one of claims 1 to 9 wherein the treatment chamber comprises a side wall, said side wall having a non-zero inclination angle or with respect to a horizontal plane.
11. The desanding device of claim 10 wherein the inclination angle or is between about 25° and about 90°.
12. The desanding device of claim 10 wherein the inclination angle or is between about 30° and about 90°.
13. The desanding device of claim 10 wherein the inclination angle or is about 45°.
14. The desanding device of any one of claims 1 to 13 wherein the treatment chamber further comprises a particulate drain for removing particulate from said treatment chamber.
15. The desanding device of claim 14 wherein the particulate drain ses a horizontally oriented body.
16. The desanding device of claim 15 wherein the particulate drain further comprises a tion n, the transition section having an inclined bottom wall with an inclination angle y greater than zero and smaller than the inclination angle or.
17. The desanding device of any one of claims 1 to 16 wherein the fluid stream further comprises liquid.
18. The desanding device of claim 17 wherein the fluid inlet extends adjacent to or along a bottom wall of the .
19. The desanding device of claim 17 or 18 wherein the recovery chamber receives liquid h the second port.
20. The desanding device of any one of claims 17 to 19 wherein a freeboard interface is formed in the recovery chamber and the treatment chamber at the elevation of the fluid outlet.
21. The desanding device of claim 20 n the fluid inlet extends to an elevation such that a discharge end of the fluid inlet is at about the ard interface.
22. The desanding device of any one of claims 1 to 21 wherein the ent chamber further comprises an elongated shroud receiving therein the fluid inlet, said shroud extending along the treatment chamber and having an upper opening at an elevation above the fluid outlet and a lower opening below the fluid outlet.
23. The desanding device of any one of claims 1 to 20 wherein the treatment chamber further comprises a flow barrier between the fluid inlet and the first port for directing the fluid stream thereabout.
24. A method of removing at least particulates from a multiple- phase fluid stream containing at least gas and ned particulates, the method comprising: establishing a treatment chamber in a vessel; establishing a ry chamber; said recovery chamber in fluid communication with an upper n of the treatment chamber via a first, upper port for receiving gas therefrom, and said recovery r in fluid communication with a lower portion of treatment chamber via a , lower port; injecting, via a fluid inlet, said fluid stream into the treatment chamber to allow at least a substantial amount of the entrained particulates fall out of the fluid stream and move into a lower portion of the treatment chamber; and discharging the particulate-removed gas via a fluid outlet, said fluid out let intermediate the first and second ports.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
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US62/087,604 | 2014-12-04 | ||
US14/566,849 | 2014-12-11 |
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NZ724583A true NZ724583A (en) |
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