Particle trap apparatus and method

A method of trapping particulate matter disposed in a fluid, comprising:

• providing a particle trap having a longitudinal axis, wherein the particle trap allows a fluid to flow along the longitudinal axis in a first direction or separately in a second direction, wherein the second direction comprises a direction which is a reverse of the first direction;
• flowing a fluid including particulate matter through the particle trap at an initial rate of fluid flow, wherein the flowing comprises the fluid flowing through the particle trap in the first direction;
• directing the fluid at least partially through one or more cavities disposed along the longitudinal axis of the particle trap,
• wherein each of the one or more cavities comprises a cavity surface comprising one or more apertures and one or more check valves;
• trapping at least a portion of the particulate matter in at least one of the one or more cavities when the rate of fluid flow slows or becomes suspended, or the flowing reverses such that the flowing comprises the fluid flowing in the second direction;
• and
• cleaning the one or more cavities as the rate of fluid flow is restored to the initial rate of flow or as the flowing returns to comprising the fluid flowing through the particle trap in the first direction.

A system for trapping particulate matter disposed in a fluid produced from a wellbore, comprising:

• production tubing disposed in a wellbore, the production tubing configured to flow a fluid produced from the wellbore;
• a particle trap apparatus connected to the production tubing, the particle trap apparatus comprising:
• a housing,
• a first connection component disposed at a first end of the housing,
• a second connection component disposed at a second end of the housing, and
• a plurality of cavities disposed longitudinally in the housing,
• wherein each of the plurality of cavities comprises a cavity surface comprising one or more apertures and one or more check valves;
• a lifting device connected to the particle trap apparatus, the lifting device configured to flow the fluid at a rate of flow into the production tubing through the particle trap apparatus;
• wherein the particle trap apparatus collects particulate matter disposed in the fluid when the rate of flow slows, becomes suspended, or reverses.