Device for capturing gas from a produced water stream

A well site comprising:

• a well head having a tubing line extending therefrom;
• a device having an inner vessel having a sidewall, an upper end and a lower end;
• a gas/liquid separator receiving said lower end of said inner vessel, said gas/liquid separator having an inlet line in communication with said tubing line for admitting a combined stream into said gas/liquid separator;
• a liquid line passing through said sidewall of said inner vessel and down through said inner vessel into said gas/liquid separator, said liquid line forming a stinger that extends below said inlet line of said gas/liquid separator so that liquid separated from said combined stream will flow up said liquid line, said liquid line having an exit end;
• a liquid line motor valve in said liquid line;
• a gas line extending from said upper end of said inner vessel, said gas line in communication with a gas collection system for conveying gas from said upper end of said inner vessel to said gas collection system;
• a gas line motor valve in said gas line;
• a top float in said inner vessel for activating said gas line motor valve;
• a bottom float in said inner vessel for activating said liquid line motor valve;
• a bypass line communicating said liquid line and said inlet line;
• a bypass valve located on said bypass line for selective closing of said bypass line;
• a backflow passageway in communication with said inlet line;
• wherein said bypass valve is selectively opened to permit backflow from the well to pass through said inlet line, said bypass line and said liquid line for flushing said gas/liquid separator.

In a device for collecting gas and liquid from a well, said device for receiving a combined stream of liquid and gas in an outer vessel, separating gas and liquid from said combined stream in said outer vessel, collecting said gas in an upper portion of an inner vessel to a location above a gas/liquid interface, locating a top float in said inner vessel for responding to a level of said gas/liquid interface, locating a bottom float in said inner vessel for responding to a level of said gas/liquid interface, a method for flushing the device comprises the steps of:

• closing a gas vent valve;
• opening a water outlet line;
• opening a bypass line that communicates said water outlet line and a liquid inlet line;
• flushing water into the outer vessel through said water outlet line to flush said outer vessel.