Automatic liquid sampling system and method of use thereof
AssigneeProcess Instruments, Inc.
InventorPaul Wade
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An automatic fluid sampler works in conjunction with a conventional oil well test system. The sampler utilizes a rotating platter which aligns the mouth of a sampling container with a conduit for delivery of a composite sample which is provided in incremental volumes over the duration of a well test event. Upon completion of the well test, a fresh container is rotated to be in position to receive a composite sample for a new well test event.
Claims20
An automatic liquid sampling system utilized in conjunction with an oil well test system, the oil well test system of the type comprising a fluid separation vessel, a flow meter, and a well test controller, the well test controller configured to route a fluid flow from an oil well to the fluid separation vessel, wherein the fluid separation vessel separates the fluid flow into a liquid phase and a gas phase, the automatic liquid sampling system comprising:
- a carousel unit, the carousel unit comprising a housing, an inner cylinder disposed within the housing, a platter attached to an upward facing surface of the inner cylinder, and a motor configured to rotate the inner cylinder a fixed angular displacement upon receipt of an electrical current, wherein the platter comprises a plurality of open mouth containers;
- a conduit connected to the fluid separation vessel, wherein the conduit delivers a portion of the liquid phase into an open mouth container of the plurality of open mouth containers upon alignment of the open mouth container with the conduit;
- and
- a controller which activates a switch to provide the electrical current to the motor.
A method of obtaining a composite sample from an oil well during a well test comprising the steps of:
- directing a flow of fluid from an oil well to a test separator over a well test period, wherein the test separator separates the fluid flow delivered into the test separator into a liquid phase and a gas phase;
- directing a portion of the liquid phase through a flow meter to a conduit connected to an automatic liquid sampling system, the automatic liquid sampling system comprising a plurality of open mouth containers, the automatic liquid sampling system further comprising a motor which positions a single open mouth container of the plurality of open mouth containers to receive the portion of the liquid phase in a plurality of increments over the well test period to provide a composite liquid sample into the single open mouth container;
- and
- analyzing the composite liquid sample to ascertain a percentage of total water contained in the composite liquid sample.
An automatic liquid sampling system utilized in conjunction with an oil well test unit, the oil well test unit of the type comprising a fluid separation vessel, a flow meter, and a well test controller, the well test controller configured to route a fluid flow from an oil well to the fluid separation vessel, wherein the fluid separation vessel separates the fluid flow into a liquid phase and a gas phase, the automatic liquid sampling system comprising:
- a conduit which receives a portion of the liquid phase;
- a platter connected to a motor, the motor configured to rotate the platter a fixed angular displacement upon receipt of an electrical current;
- a plurality of open mouth containers disposed upon the platter, wherein an open mouth container is positioned beneath the conduit when the platter is rotated the fixed angular displacement;
- and
- a controller which activates a switch to provide the electrical current to the motor.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.