Vapor recovery system
AssigneeElectronic Design for Industry, Inc.
InventorRichard L. Wynn
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A vapor recovery apparatus for oil and gas well production that is used in combination with a liquid separator, a sales line and a holding tank includes a compressor, which is drivingly linked to an engine. A first conduit extends from fluid communication with the holding tank to a compressor inlet, while a second conduit extends from a compressor outlet to fluid communication with the sales line. The vapor recovery apparatus also has an electronic controller that is connected to the engine and to a pressure sensor, which is in fluid communication with the gas in the tank.
Claims5
A method for recovering vapors from oil and gas well equipment in fluid communication with a well, the equipment including a natural gas sales line, a holding tank that stores liquid removed from the well, and a liquid separator interposed between the well and the holding tank, the method comprising:
- (a) interposing a compressor, which is drivingly linked to an engine, between the holding tank and the sales line;
- (b) extending a first conduit in fluid communication with the holding tank to a compressor inlet;
- (c) extending a second conduit from a compressor outlet to fluid communication with the sales line;
- (d) connecting a controller to the engine;
- (e) connecting a pressure sensor in fluid communication with the controller and an interior chamber of the holding tank for measuring the pressure within the interior chamber;
- (f) monitoring the pressure of a gas in the interior chamber of the holding tank;
- (g) signaling the controller when the gas in the holding tank reaches a predetermined pressure;
- (h) starting the engine when the predetermined pressure is reached;
- (i) drawing the gas from the holding tank through said first conduit and the compressor inlet, and compressing the gas in the compressor;
- and
- (j) forcing the compressed gas from the outlet of the compressor through the second conduit into the sales line.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.