Methods and systems for sand removal
AssigneeSaudi Arabian Oil Company
InventorsMutlaq Alazmi, Ahmad Aldhafeeri, Abdullaziz Alghanim, Naser Alsubaiei
Life of this patent
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Abstract
In methods, systems, and devices involving sand removal from an offshore facility, a scraper device includes a scraper body comprising a scraper flange configured to clean an inner wall of a pipeline. The scraper device includes a sand collection chamber disposed within the scraper body and configured to receive a quantity of sand. The scraper device includes a chamber door operatively connected to the scraper body and configured to enclose the sand collection chamber. The scraper device is configured to be loaded via a sand loading system with a quantity of sand from a desanding system, loaded into the pipeline, and transported through the pipeline from the offshore facility.
Claims19
A scraper device for removal of sand from an offshore facility having a pipeline, the scraper device comprising:
- a scraper body comprising a scraper flange configured to clean an inner wall of the pipeline;
- a sand collection chamber disposed within the scraper body and configured to receive a quantity of sand;
- and
- a chamber door operatively connected to the scraper body within a body cavity formed in an inner wall of the scraper body, the chamber door configured to slidably pivot circumferentially around the scraper body into an open position or a closed position, thereby opening or sealing the sand collection chamber,
- wherein the scraper device is configured to be transported through the pipeline.
A system for sand removal from an offshore facility having a pipeline, the system comprising:
- a desanding system configured to discharge a quantity of sand;
- a scraper device comprising:
- a scraper body comprising a scraper flange configured to scrape an inner wall of the pipeline,
- a sand collection chamber disposed within the scraper body and configured to receive the quantity of sand discharged from the desanding system, and
- a chamber door operatively connected to the scraper body and configured to enclose the sand collection chamber,
- wherein the scraper device is configured to be transported through the pipeline;
- and
- a sand loading system operatively connected to the desanding system and configured to:
- load the scraper device into a scraper loading chamber,
- translate the scraper device from the scraper loading chamber into a sand loading chamber through a separation gate;
- position the scraper device to receive the quantity of sand from the desanding system using the separation gate and the sand loading chamber;
- receive the quantity of sand from the desanding system into the sand collection chamber of the scraper device;
- pressurize the sand loading chamber;
- translate the scraper device into the pipeline from the sand loading chamber;
- and
- transport the scraper device from the offshore facility through the pipeline.
A method for sand removal from an offshore facility having a pipeline, the method comprising:
- loading a scraper device into a scraper loading chamber,
- wherein the scraper device comprises a sand collection chamber;
- translating the scraper device from the scraper loading chamber into a sand loading chamber through a separation gate;
- positioning the scraper device to receive a quantity of sand from a desanding system using the separation gate and the sand loading chamber;
- opening a chamber door of the scraper device;
- receiving the quantity of sand into the sand collection chamber from the desanding system;
- closing the chamber door to enclose the sand collection chamber;
- pressurizing the sand loading chamber;
- translating the scraper device into the pipeline from the sand loading chamber;
- and
- transporting the scraper device from the offshore facility through the pipeline.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.