Actuated sand dump system and methods
AssigneeSm Energy Company
InventorsSean Sayers, Nathan Gerber, Ryan Davis, Robert Balcer
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An apparatus, system and related methods for controlling a pressurized flow from a high or low pressure system. An actuated sand dump system and related methods include a first valve positioned downstream of a high or low pressure system, a second valve positioned downstream of the first valve, a choke positioned between in the first and second valves, a plurality of pressure gauges, and a control unit operable to automatically open and close the first and second valves and the choke in a predetermined sequence, upon initiating the predetermined sequence, and in response to pressure measurements from the plurality of pressure gauges.
Claims22
An actuated sand dump system comprising:
- a choke;
- a first valve positioned upstream of the choke;
- a second valve positioned downstream of the choke;
- a plurality of pressure gauges;
- and
- a control unit configured to:
- automatically open the first and second valves and the choke in a predetermined sequence, upon initiating the predetermined sequence, and in response to pressure measurements from the plurality of pressure gauges;
- and
- automatically close at least one of the first and second valves upon detecting, via the pressure measurements, a pressure condition above or below a predetermined level.
A control system to operate a sand dump system, the sand dump system being configured to receive an output from a high or low pressure vessel and including first and second valves, a choke, and a plurality of pressure sensors, the control system operable to:
- receive instructions to initiate an opening sequence;
- automatically open the first valve, choke, and second valve based on the opening sequence, the first valve, choke and second valve being opened upon determining pressure conditions detected by the plurality of pressure sensors are within predetermined ranges;
- and
- automatically close at least one of the first and second valves and the choke when a pressure condition is detected that is above or below a predetermined level.
A method of controlling a sand dump system, the method comprising:
- providing first and second valves, a choke, and a plurality of pressure sensors downstream of a sand separator;
- receiving instructions to initiate an opening sequence for the sand dump system;
- automatically checking pressure conditions in the sand dump system with the plurality of pressure sensors and opening the first and second valves and choke upon determining pressure conditions detected by the plurality of pressure sensors are within predetermined ranges;
- and
- closing at least one of the first and second valves and the choke when a pressure condition is detected that is above or below a predetermined level.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.