Method and apparatus for controlling production of fluids from a well
AssigneeAmoco Corporation
InventorClifton R. Russell
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Method and apparatus for controlling production of fluids from a well. A transfer vessel receives fluids produced from an oil and gas well which separate into liquid and gas phases in the vessel. A gas pipeline and a liquid pipeline are provided for transporting produced gas and liquid, respectively, from the vessel. A gas pressure control valve is provided in the gas pipeline. A bypass conduit having a bypass valve therein forms a shunt around the pressure control valve in the gas pipeline. In the event of an abnormal rise of liquid in the vessel, the bypass valve closes thereby increasing gas pressure in the vessel to a pressure sufficient to boost liquid therefrom into an emergency vessel drain.
Claims18
A method for controlling production of fluids from a well of the type having produced fluids introduced into a vessel in which the fluids separate into gas and liquid phases, said vessel having a gas conduit for transporting gas therefrom and a liquid conduit for transporting liquid therefrom, said gas conduit having a pressure control valve therein for controlling gas pressure in said vessel, said method comprising the steps of:
- providing a bypass conduit having a first end connected upstream from said pressure control valve and a second end connected downstream from said pressure control valve, said bypass conduit having a bypass valve therein;
- monitoring the level of liquid in said vessel;
- maintaining said bypass valve in an open condition for so long as said liquid is below a preselected level;
- and
- closing said bypass valve when said liquid rises above said preselected level.
A method for controlling production of fluids from a well of the type having produced fluids introduced into a vessel in which the fluids separate into liquid and gas phases, said vessel having a gas conduit for transporting gas therefrom and a liquid conduit for transporting fluid therefrom, said method comprising the steps of:
- maintaining the gas pressure in said vessel at substantially the same level as the pressure in said gas conduit;
- monitoring the level of liquid in said vessel;
- increasing the gas pressure in said vessel when said liquid rises above a preselected level;
- and
- providing fluid communication between said vessel and an emergency conduit when said liquid rises above a preselected level as when said liquid conduit is unable to provide liquid transportation.
An apparatus for controlling production of fluids from a well of the type having produced fluids introduced into a vessel in which the fluids separate into liquid and gas phases, said vessel having a gas conduit for transporting gas therefrom and a liquid conduit for transporting fluid therefrom, said apparatus comprising:
- means for maintaining the gas pressure in said vessel at substantially the same level as the pressure in said gas conduit;
- means for monitoring the level of liquid in said vessel;
- means for increasing the gas pressure in said vessel responsive to said liquid rising above a preselected level, said increasing means being operatively connected to said monitoring means;
- and
- means for providing fluid communication between said vessel and an emergency conduit when said liquid rises above a preselected level, said providing means being operatively connected to said monitoring means.
Apparatus for controlling production of fluids from a well of the type having produced fluids introduced into a vessel in which the fluids separate into gas and liquid phases, said vessel having a gas conduit for transporting gas therefrom, an emergency conduit for transporting liquid from said vessel, and a liquid conduit for transporting liquid therefrom, said gas conduit having a pressure control valve therein for controlling gas pressure in said vessel, said apparatus comprising:
- a bypass conduit having a first end connected upstream from said pressure control valve and a second end connected downstream from said pressure control valve;
- a bypass valve received in said bypass conduit for selectively permitting or prohibiting flow in said bypass conduit;
- an emergency valve received in said emergency conduit for selectively permitting or prohibiting flow in said emergency conduit;
- means for monitoring the level of liquid in said vessel;
- and
- control means for substantially simultaneously closing said bypass valve and opening said emergency valve responsive to a rise of liquid in said vessel above a preselected level, said control means being operatively connected to said monitoring means.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.