Choke Assembly
AssigneeCameron International Corporation
InventorsHANS PAUL HOPPER, DEREK MEEK
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A choke assembly comprises an inlet (48) for a multiphase fluid stream, the stream comprising a first relatively heavy fluid phase and a second relatively light fluid phase; a first fluid outlet (116); a choke element (22) disposed between the inlet and the first fluid outlet operable to control the flow of fluid between the inlet and the first fluid outlet; a separation chamber (40, 114) disposed to provide separation of phases in the fluid stream upstream of the choke element; and a second outlet (118) for removing fluid from the separation cavity. The choke assembly is of particular use in the control of fluid streams produced from a subterranean well, in particular oil and gas produced from a subsea well.
Claims32
A method of controlling and separating the flow of multiphase fluid streams, the method comprising:
- introducing a first fluid stream rich in lighter fluid phases into a separation zone;
- introducing a second fluid stream rich in heavier fluid phases into a separation zone to form a combined fluid stream in which the first fluid stream and the second fluid stream are in contact;
- allowing separation of the fluid phases in the combined fluid stream to occur in the separation zone;
- causing lighter fluid phases separated in the separation zone to flow through a choke element to a first outlet;
- controlling the flow of fluid phases through the choke element by adjusting the choke element;
- and
- causing the remaining fluid phases to flow to a second outlet.
A choke assembly comprising:
- a choke element for controlling the flow of fluid therethrough;
- a first inlet for a lighter fluid stream;
- a second inlet for a heavier fluid stream;
- and
- at least one outlet for fluid.
A choke assembly comprising:
- a choke element comprising a moveable choke component;
- a stem connected to the moveable choke component;
- wherein the stem has a bore therethrough to provide an outlet for fluid from within the choke element;
- and
- wherein the choke element comprises a cage having a plurality of openings therein and a plug, the plug being moveable longitudinally with respect to the cage.
A method for controlling and separating a multiphase fluid stream, the method comprising:
- passing the fluid stream through a choke element and controlling the flow of fluid using the choke element;
- introducing the fluid stream into a separation zone and causing phases of the fluid stream to separate;
- and
- removing a lighter fluid phase from the separation zone through an actuation stem extending from the choke element.
A choke assembly comprising a choke element comprising:
- a cage having a plurality of openings therethrough for the passage of fluid;
- a plug moveable with respect to the cage to open and close the openings in the cage;
- and
- wherein the openings in the cage extend tangentially to the cage, each opening comprising an outer portion extending from the outer surface of the cage having a first cross-sectional area and an inner portion extending from the inner surface of the cage having a second cross-sectional area, the first cross-sectional area being greater than the second cross-sectional area.
A choke assembly comprising a choke element comprising:
- a cage having a plurality of openings therethrough for the passage of fluid;
- a plug moveable with respect to the cage to open and close the openings in the cage;
- wherein the openings in the cage extend tangentially to the cage, the cage comprising openings arranged in a plurality of bands extending circumferentially around the cage, the cross-sectional area of the openings of the bands increasing in the upstream direction of the cage.
A method of controlling the flow of a fluid, the method comprising:
- introducing the fluid into a flow control zone having a general downstream direction in which the fluid is required to flow, the fluid being introduced into the flow control zone through a plurality of openings;
- wherein fluid introduced through a first group of openings, downstream of a second group of openings, establishes a generally toroidal flow pattern within the flow control zone, whereby the effective cross-sectional area available for the flow of fluid introduced through the second group of openings in the downstream direction is reduced.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.