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US 12,729,591 B2Granted
Method and apparatus for automatic drill out
AssigneeTetra Technologies, Inc.
InventorsVirgilio Garcia Soule, James Matthew Watson, Brandon Scott Mitchell, Travis Martin Bahrt
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An improved debris catcher and choke system for receiving a pressurized fluid stream from wellbore operations where a controller can selectively place a plurality of debris catchers in debris catching or flushing modes, and the cleaned fluids from one of the debris catchers can be used to flush one of the other debris catchers. One or more embodiments relate to systems and methods for utilizing debris catchers and choke valves.
Claims17
A debris catcher and choke system for receiving a pressurized fluid stream from wellbore operations comprising:
- (a) a first debris catcher having:
- (i) a first tubular housing having first and second ends and an interior bore spanning between the first and second ends of the first tubular housing,
- (i) an inlet at the first end of the first tubular housing,
- (ii) a first outlet located between the first and second ends of the first tubular housing,
- (iii) a second outlet at the second end of the first tubular housing,
- (iv) a first strainer located inside the interior bore of the first tubular housing, the first strainer having a first cylindrical shell and a shell interior bore, the first strainer shell creating a first annular space between the first strainer shell and the first cylindrical shell;
- (b) a second debris catcher having:
- (i) a second tubular housing having first and second ends and an interior bore spanning between the first and second ends of the second tubular housing,
- (i) an inlet at the first end of the second tubular housing,
- (ii) a first outlet located between the first and second ends of the second tubular housing,
- (iii) a second outlet at the second end of the second tubular housing,
- (iv) a second strainer located inside the interior bore of the second tubular housing, the second strainer having a second cylindrical shell with first and second ends and a shell interior bore, the second strainer shell creating a second annular space between the second strainer shell and the second cylindrical shell;
- (c) a first choke valve selectively connectable by a controller to the first and second debris catchers in each of the following operable states regarding the received fluid stream:
- (i) downstream of the first outlet of the first tubular housing
- without being upstream of the first inlet of the first tubular housing, and further
- without being upstream of the first inlet of the second tubular housing,
- (ii) downstream of the first outlet of the second tubular housing
- without being upstream of the first inlet of the first tubular housing, and further
- without being upstream of the first inlet of the second tubular housing,
- (iii) downstream of the first outlet of first tubular housing and
- upstream of the first inlet of the second tubular housing,
- without being upstream of the first inlet of the first tubular housing, and
- (iv) downstream of the first outlet of second tubular housing and
- upstream of the first inlet of the first tubular housing,
- without being upstream of the first inlet of the second tubular housing;
- (d) wherein, the first debris catcher, second debris catcher, and first choke valve are mounted on a skid, and wherein the pressurized fluid stream is the sole source of flow for each of the operable states.
23 more elements
A method of cleaning an oilfield fluid stream comprising the steps of:
- (a) providing an automated debris catching system, the debris catching system having:
- (1) a first debris catcher having:
- (i) a first tubular housing having first and second ends and an interior bore spanning between the first and second ends of the first tubular housing,
- (i) an inlet at the first end of the first tubular housing,
- (ii) a first outlet located between the first and second ends of the first tubular housing,
- (iii) a second outlet at the second end of the first tubular housing,
- (iv) a first strainer located inside the interior bore of the first tubular housing, the first strainer having a first cylindrical shell with first and second ends and a shell interior bore, the first strainer shell creating a first annular space between the first strainer shell and the first cylindrical shell;
- (2) a selectably operable second debris catcher having:
- (i) a second tubular housing having first and second ends and an interior bore spanning between the first and second ends of the second tubular housing,
- (i) an inlet at the first end of the second tubular housing,
- (ii) a first outlet located between the first and second ends of the second tubular housing,
- (iii) a second outlet at the second end of the second tubular housing,
- (iv) a second strainer located inside the interior bore of the second tubular housing, the second strainer having a second cylindrical shell with first and second ends and a shell interior bore spanning, the second strainer shell creating a second annular space between the second strainer shell and the second cylindrical shell;
- (3) a first choke valve selectively connectable by a controller to the first and second debris catchers in each of the following operable states regarding the received fluid stream:
- (i) downstream of the first outlet of the first tubular housing
- without being upstream of the first inlet of the first tubular housing, and further
- without being upstream of the first inlet of the second tubular housing,
- (ii) downstream of the first outlet of second tubular housing
- without being upstream of the first inlet of the first tubular housing, and further
- without being upstream of the first inlet of the second tubular housing,
- (iii) downstream of the first outlet of first tubular housing and
- upstream of the first inlet of the second tubular housing,
- without being upstream of the first inlet of the first tubular housing, and
- (iv) downstream of the first outlet of second tubular housing and
- upstream of the first inlet of the first tubular housing,
- without being upstream of the first inlet of the second tubular housing;
- (4) wherein, the first debris catcher, second debris catcher, and first choke are mounted on a skid, and wherein a the pressurized fluid stream is the sole source of flow for each of the operable states;
- (b) the first debris catcher being in a stream cleaning mode, wherein it receives the oilfield stream in the inlet of the first tubular housing and the stream leaving the first outlet of the first tubular housing has solids removed, and wherein the choke valve is operably connected to the controller regulating a backpressure to the first outlet of the first tubular housing;
- (c) after step “b” the oilfield stream leaving the automated debris catching system for use in wellbore operations;
- (d) during step “b” the controller monitoring a first physical parameter regarding the oilfield stream and, if the first physical parameter satisfies a predetermined value, the controller placing:
- (i) the second debris catcher in a stream cleaning mode, wherein, the second debris catcher receives the oilfield stream in the inlet of the second tubular housing and the oilfield stream leaving the first outlet of the second tubular housing has solids removed, and wherein the choke valve is operably connected to the controller regulating a backpressure to the first outlet of the second tubular housing;
- and further
- (ii) the first debris catcher in a flushing mode, wherein at least part of the stream leaving the first outlet of the second tubular housing is directed into the first inlet of the first tubular housing and then exiting the second outlet of the first tubular housing along with accumulated solids from the first debris catcher thereby flushing the first debris catcher.
30 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.