WO2001028659A1 - Procede et appareil pour l'elimination de sable d'un puits produisant du gaz - Google Patents

Procede et appareil pour l'elimination de sable d'un puits produisant du gaz Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2001028659A1
WO2001028659A1 PCT/US2000/041371 US0041371W WO0128659A1 WO 2001028659 A1 WO2001028659 A1 WO 2001028659A1 US 0041371 W US0041371 W US 0041371W WO 0128659 A1 WO0128659 A1 WO 0128659A1
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WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
sand
gas
vessel
fluid stream
valve
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/US2000/041371
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
James Randall Cobb
Paul L. Ammon
Original Assignee
Incorporated Tank Systems
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Incorporated Tank Systems filed Critical Incorporated Tank Systems
Publication of WO2001028659A1 publication Critical patent/WO2001028659A1/fr

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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01D—SEPARATION
    • B01D45/00—Separating dispersed particles from gases or vapours by gravity, inertia, or centrifugal forces
    • B01D45/12—Separating dispersed particles from gases or vapours by gravity, inertia, or centrifugal forces by centrifugal forces
    • B01D45/16—Separating dispersed particles from gases or vapours by gravity, inertia, or centrifugal forces by centrifugal forces generated by the winding course of the gas stream, the centrifugal forces being generated solely or partly by mechanical means, e.g. fixed swirl vanes

Definitions

  • This invention relates to the field of separators and, more particularly, to a method and apparatus for separating sand from gas being produced from a gas well prior to delivery to a pipeline.
  • Another common method of separating solids from gas is to have a settling area where the solids can settle out from the gas.
  • a settling tank There is always velocity to the gas as it flows from the producing well to the pipeline.
  • a problem in the prior art is the abrasive nature of the sand flowing with the gas.
  • the abrasive nature of the sand flowing with the gas Because of the high pressure force being exerted by the gas, the sand will, have a tendency to eat away most surfaces that it may impact against. Therefore, something has to be done to counteract the abrasive effect of the sand.
  • the present invention is intended to be used on wells or fields that produce a combination of gas and sand, but very little oil or other liquids.
  • a self-contained sand separator may be mounted on skids.
  • a cylindrical tank is mounted vertically with the gas from the well coming in at an upper side of the tank.
  • an inner cylinder with a space or annulus being provided between the two cylinders.
  • the combination of gas and sand is injected tangentially into the annulus formed between the two cylinders.
  • a wear plate is provided on the outer cylinder and the inner cylinder to combat the abrasive wear of the sand.
  • an indentation is formed in the inner cylinder at the point of injection.
  • the combination of gas and sand is injected at a downward angle of approximately 10°.
  • the sand has a tendency to continue downward to the bottom of the outside cylinder with the gas rising up the middle of the inner cylinder.
  • An outlet conduit for connecting to the gas line is at the top of the inner cylinder.
  • a valve that connects to the bottom of the tank is opened for a short period of time.
  • the pressurized gas blows the sand out through the open valve.
  • the gas is either discharged to atmosphere or flared off with the sand being deposited in a sand pit .
  • a special motor to drive the valve has been included that opens and closes the valve very rapidly. This decreases the amount of wear on the valve.
  • a lubricant is applied to the valve during the open cycle, which allows the lubricant to be spread over the entire mating surface of the rotating member of the valve.
  • the discharge valve can be periodically opened or closed based upon the amount of time it takes the particular well to produce enough sand to justify a discharge to the sand trap. It is better that the sand be discharged too often than sand flow into the main gas pipeline.
  • the computer also controls the injection of grease on either side of the valve during the time the valve is open to ensure proper lubrication of the discharge valve. To prevent excessive wear as the sand and gas is injected into the tank, wear plates are provided on either side at the point of injection. To allow additional space, an indentation is provided in the inner annulus at the point of injection of the sand and gas. Once it is determined how much sand will be accumulated over a period of time, everything may be programmed into the computer and the system will then operate automatically. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
  • Fig. 1 is a pictorial perspective view of the present invention.
  • Fig. 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the upper half of the tank shown in Fig. 1.
  • Fig. 3 is a sectional view of Fig. 2 taken along section lines 3-3.
  • Fig. 4 is a partial cross-sectional view of Fig. 3 taken along section lines 4-4.
  • Fig. 5 is a pictorial schematic of the system shown in Fig. 1.
  • a sand separator 10 has a generally cylindrical tank 12 arranged in a vertical position.
  • An inlet pipe 14 connects from the wellhead (not shown) to inlet flange fitting 16 for the cylindrical tank 12.
  • Cylindrical tank 12 has an outlet pipe 18 that connects to the gas pipeline (not shown) through gas valve 20.
  • a sand discharge pipe 22 At the bottom of the generally cylindrical tank 12 is a sand discharge pipe 22. Periodically, the sand discharge pipe 22 is opened by opening sand discharge valve 24. When sand discharge valve 24 is open, any sand accumulated inside of the generally cylindrical tank 12 will be discharged to a sand pit. Any gas combined with the sand at the time of discharge will be flared off or discharged to atmosphere.
  • Fig. 2 of the drawings the upper half of the generally cylindrical tank 12 is shown in a vertical cross-sectional view. From the inlet flange fitting 16, a combination of gas and sand may flow through tank inlet conduit 26 into an annulus 28 formed by cylindrical tank 12 and inner cylinder 30. Inner cylinder 30 is held in position by brace bars 32 connecting between the inner cylinder 30 and the cylindrical tank 12. At the point the combination of gas and sand is injected into the annulus 28, there is a downward flare of the tank inlet conduit 26 of approximately 10°.
  • a wear plate 36 is located on the inside of the cylindrical tank 12 to combat the abrasive effect of sand being discharged under high pressure against the cylindrical tank 12.
  • the wear plate 36 prevents wear of the generally cylindrical tank 12 to avoid rupture of the tank 12 under pressure.
  • the wear plate 36 may be made from a wear resistant material, such as Stellite.
  • the inner cylinder 30 has an inward indentation 38 to provide an enlarged annulus 28 at the injection point 34. Also, to prevent the inner cylinder 30 from wearing out due to the abrasive effect of the sand, an inner wear plate 40 covers the surface of the inward indentation 38 adjacent to the injection point 34. Again, inner wear plate 40 is made from an abrasive resistant material, such as
  • the sand and gas are being discharged into annulus 28 at a downward angle, they create a cyclone type of effect with the combination of gas and sand spiralmg downward m the annulus 28.
  • the combination of gas and sand clears the lower end 42 of the inner cylinder 30, it enters on expanded cross-sectional area.
  • the inertia of the sand particles cause the sand particles to continue downward, but the gas slows down much more rapidly than the sand and reverses direction to go upward through the inside 44 of the inner cylinder 30
  • the rising gas flows out through the top of the generally cylindrical tank 12 through outlet connection 46 that connects to outlet pipe 18 through gas valve 20 (see Fig. 1) .
  • FIG. 5 is a top schematic representation of what is shown m Fig. 1.
  • a computer 48 is provided for the operation of the sand separator 10.
  • the computer 48 controls the operation of the various valves, motors and pumps as will be described herembelow.
  • the computer 48 also has a connection 60 to gas valve 20 that controls flow through the outlet pipe 18. By proper signal through connection 60 to gas valve 20, the gas valve 20 may be opened or closed. In normal operation, gas valve 20 is open and remains open unless there is a problem in the sand separator 10.
  • the computer 48 also controls the operation of sand discharge valve 24 by operating a drive motor 62 connected thereto by connection 64.
  • the drive motor 62 (see Fig. 1) has extra power to quickly open or close valve 24. It is important that valve 24 open and close rapidly, because during the period of time the valve 24 is opening and closing, the valve has a tendency to wear excessively especially when there is a small opening so that flow is either (a) just initiated or (b) about to end. By rapidly opening or closing the valve 24, the wear during operation is minimized.
  • valve 24 After valve 24 is fully opened, computer 48 turns ON pump 66 for a predetermined period of time through connection 68.
  • pump 66 When pump 66 is turned on for a short interval of time, pump 66 delivers grease from a grease tank 70, grease pump line 72, to grease lines 74 and 76.
  • grease valves 78 and 80 are opened so that grease may be delivered to both sides of the ball (not shown) inside of sand discharge valve 24 when the ball is in the fully opened position. Operation of the grease valves 78 and 80 are provided by connections 82 and 84, respectively, to the computer 48.
  • a tank pressure monitor 86 is provided at the bleed valve 88 for the cylindrical tank 12.
  • the tank pressure monitor 86 has connection 90 to the computer 48. If there is a large variation between the inlet pressure provided by pressure sensor 54 and the pressure sensed by tank pressure monitor 86, the computer 48 will know the cylindrical tank 12 is beginning to fill with sand. Hopefully, that condition would never occur, but if it does, the gas valve 20 can be shut off to avoid the danger of delivering sand to the production line.
  • the operator when first utilizing the sand separator 10 for a particular well or production field, the operator would cycle the sand discharge valve 24 by pushing the manual override button 92 (see Fig. 1) . By timing how long it takes sand to accumulate inside of the cylindrical tank 12, the operator can tell how long to allow sand to accumulate inside of cylindrical tank 12 before cycling.
  • This can be programmed into the computer 48 by any appropriate means, such as a keypad (not shown) or any other appropriate means.

Landscapes

  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
  • Cyclones (AREA)

Abstract

La présente invention concerne un séparateur de sable utilisable dans des puits de gaz produisant également du sable, lequel séparateur élimine le sable du gaz avant l'acheminement du gaz vers la chaîne de production. Le séparateur de sable comporte un réservoir vertical avec un cylindre interne formant un espace annulaire entre les deux. Le sable est injecté à un angle vers le bas dans l'espace annulaire afin de produire un effet de cyclone. Au niveau des sites d'usure, il est prévu des plaques d'usure. Le gaz s'échappe par le haut du réservoir tandis que le sable s'accumule dans la partie basse de celui-ci. Un ordinateur est prévu pour ouvrir automatiquement la soupape de refoulement et lubrifie simultanément la soupape lorsque la soupape de refoulement est en position complètement ouverte. La soupape de refoulement possède une source d'énergie additionnelle dans le moteur d'entraînement permettant d'ouvrir et de refermer la soupape rapidement afin de minimiser l'usure.
PCT/US2000/041371 1999-10-19 2000-10-19 Procede et appareil pour l'elimination de sable d'un puits produisant du gaz WO2001028659A1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US16028399P 1999-10-19 1999-10-19
US60/160,283 1999-10-19

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2001028659A1 true WO2001028659A1 (fr) 2001-04-26

Family

ID=22576257

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/US2000/041371 WO2001028659A1 (fr) 1999-10-19 2000-10-19 Procede et appareil pour l'elimination de sable d'un puits produisant du gaz

Country Status (1)

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WO (1) WO2001028659A1 (fr)

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2013103305A1 (fr) 2012-01-03 2013-07-11 Dwc As Séparateur dynamique de particules
US11173427B2 (en) 2017-09-25 2021-11-16 Sand Separation Technologies Inc. Device for separating solids from a fluid stream
US11839884B2 (en) 2018-09-06 2023-12-12 Sand Separation Technologies Inc. Counterflow vortex breaker

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR810815A (fr) * 1936-08-09 1937-03-31 Prep Ind Combustibles Cyclone pour séparation de poussières de leur air d'entraînement
US3771295A (en) * 1969-07-31 1973-11-13 H Wheeler Separater apparatus for handling compressed air
US5120335A (en) * 1990-05-15 1992-06-09 Messer Griesheim Separator to separate products finely ground in a mill from a gas current
US5800579A (en) * 1996-12-11 1998-09-01 Precision Cutters, Inc. Pressure balanced cyclone separator

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR810815A (fr) * 1936-08-09 1937-03-31 Prep Ind Combustibles Cyclone pour séparation de poussières de leur air d'entraînement
US3771295A (en) * 1969-07-31 1973-11-13 H Wheeler Separater apparatus for handling compressed air
US5120335A (en) * 1990-05-15 1992-06-09 Messer Griesheim Separator to separate products finely ground in a mill from a gas current
US5800579A (en) * 1996-12-11 1998-09-01 Precision Cutters, Inc. Pressure balanced cyclone separator

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2013103305A1 (fr) 2012-01-03 2013-07-11 Dwc As Séparateur dynamique de particules
US9821257B2 (en) 2012-01-03 2017-11-21 Anders Mathias Arefjord Dynamic particle separator
US11173427B2 (en) 2017-09-25 2021-11-16 Sand Separation Technologies Inc. Device for separating solids from a fluid stream
US11839884B2 (en) 2018-09-06 2023-12-12 Sand Separation Technologies Inc. Counterflow vortex breaker

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