Method of collecting crude oil and crude oil collection header apparatus

A crude oil collection header apparatus, comprising:

• a collection reservoir;
• a plurality of fluid conduits connected to feed crude oil to the collection reservoir;
• the fluid conduits joining with the collection reservoir along a straight line;
• the fluid conduits respectively comprising a collection reservoir feed valve, a bypass valve, and a crude oil feed inlet received between the collection reservoir feed and bypass valves;
• a bypass conduit to which the fluid conduits connect downstream of the respective bypass valves, the bypass conduit extending along a straight line that is substantially parallel to the straight line along which the fluid conduits join with the collection reservoir;
• a flow meter conduit connected with the collection reservoir and the bypass conduit, a flow meter operably connected with the flow meter conduit between the collection reservoir and the bypass conduit;
• and
• a crude oil outlet associated with the collection reservoir.

A crude oil collection header apparatus, comprising:

• an elongated and substantially vertically oriented collection reservoir having an upper end and a lower end;
• at least four series of a plurality of fluid conduits connected to feed crude oil to the collection reservoir;
• the plurality of fluid conduits within individual of the series being substantially horizontally oriented and joining with the collection reservoir along a vertical line;
• the fluid conduits respectively comprising a collection reservoir feed valve, a bypass valve, and a crude oil feed inlet received between the collection reservoir feed and bypass valves;
• a bypass conduit associated with individual of the series and to which the fluid conduits connect downstream of the respective bypass valves, the bypass conduit being substantially vertically oriented;
• first and second flow meter conduits, the first flow meter conduit being connected with the collection reservoir proximate its upper end and with the bypass conduits of a first two of the at least four series of the plurality of fluid conduits, the second flow meter conduit being connected with the collection reservoir proximate its upper end and with the bypass conduits of a second two of the at least four series of the plurality of fluid conduits, a flow meter operably connected with each of the first and second flow meter conduits between the collection reservoir and the respective bypass conduit;
• and
• a crude oil outlet proximate the lower end of the collection reservoir.

A method of collecting crude oil, comprising:

• positioning a collection header apparatus within the earth lower than a crude oil-bearing strata, the collection header apparatus comprising a collection reservoir;
• connecting a plurality of well lines in fluid communication with the crude oil-bearing strata to the collection header apparatus;
• flowing crude oil at least in part by gravity from the crude oil-bearing strata through the well lines to the collection reservoir of the collection header apparatus;
• withdrawing crude oil from the collection reservoir;
• and
• periodically separately routing at least some of said flowing crude oil in individual of the well lines through a flow meter to monitor therefrom flow of crude oil in said individual well lines.