Sand and solids bypass separator
AssigneeWellWorx Energy Solutions LLC
InventorJohn M. Raglin
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A sand bypass separator is provided for separating particulate matter from a fluid mixture in a production well and directing the separated particulate matter away from a pump intake. The separator includes an outer tube, an inner tube positioned within the outer tube. The outer tube has a plurality of slots to allow the fluid mixture to enter the separator between the outer tube and the inner tube. As the fluid mixture moves downward, the fluid mixture reaches a downward velocity sufficient to allow the particulate matter in the fluid mixture to continue downward as the fluid is drawn into the inner tube through the pump intake. A bypass that extends from above the pump intake to below the pump intake to collect and direct the separated particulate matter separated below the pump intake may also be included.
Claims17
A particulate separator for use with a production well producing a fluid mixture including particulate matter, the separator comprising:
- an outer tube comprising a closed top end, an open bottom end, and a conduit extending therethrough, wherein the outer tube comprises a plurality of slots extending from an exterior surface of the outer tube to the conduit;
- an inner tube positioned within the conduit of the outer tube, wherein the inner tube comprises a pump intake at a bottom end of the inner tube positioned below the plurality of slots of the outer tube, the plurality of slots allowing the fluid mixture to enter a channel between the outer tube and the inner tube and to flow downward toward the pump intake, wherein the fluid mixture reaches a downward velocity such that the particulate matter in the fluid mixture continues downward as the fluid is drawn into the inner tube through the pump intake;
- and
- a bypass extending from above the pump intake to below the pump intake, wherein the bypass is configured to direct the particulate matter separated from the fluid mixture downward from above the pump intake to below the pump intake to thereby inhibit the particulate matter separated from the fluid mixture from entering the pump intake.
A method for separating particulate matter from a fluid mixture for use with a production well, the method comprising the steps of:
- drawing a fluid mixture into a separator having an outer tube and an inner tube, the outer tube including slots positioned above a pump intake at a bottom end of the inner tube, the slots allowing the fluid mixture to enter a channel between the outer tube and the inner tube;
- causing the fluid mixture to flow downward toward the pump intake at a downward velocity that causes the particulate matter in the fluid mixture to separate from the fluid mixture as the fluid mixture is drawn into the inner tube through the pump intake;
- and
- directing the separated particulate matter to travel downward from above the pump intake to below the pump intake and further directing the particulate matter into a bypass through an opening in a fin extending outwardly from the inner tube above the pump intake.
A sand separator for removing particulate matter from a fluid in a production well, the sand separator comprising:
- an outer tube comprising a closed top end, an open bottom end, and a conduit extending therethrough, wherein the outer tube comprises a plurality of slots extending from an exterior surface of the outer tube to the conduit, wherein the plurality of slots are configured to allow the fluid within a wellbore to enter the outer tube;
- and
- an inner tube positioned within a top portion of the conduit of the outer tube, wherein the inner tube comprises a fin extending outwardly and downwardly about the inner tube below the plurality of slots of the outer tube, wherein the fin is configured to direct the fluid radially downward to aid in the removal of particulate matter from the fluid, wherein the inner tube comprises a pump intake at a bottom end of the inner tube positioned below the fin, wherein the fluid is drawn into the inner tube through the pump intake;
- and
- a bypass extending from above the fin to below the pump intake, wherein the bypass is configured to direct the separated particulate matter from a bypass intake above the pump intake to a bypass discharge below the pump intake to thereby inhibit the particulate matter separated from the fluid mixture from entering the pump intake.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.