System and method for bleeding off pressure following servicing a well
AssigneeSchlumber Technology Corporation
InventorMark Alexander Day
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A technique facilitates release of pressure from a well, and/or surface treating lines, via a bleed-off mechanism. The bleed-off mechanism is in fluid communication with a flow path extending from a wellhead valve or wellbore and designed for connection with a vacuum truck. The bleed-off mechanism can be opened to enable venting of trapped pressure from the wellbore and/or flow path. The bleed-off mechanism is also designed to contain any liquid that escapes during release of the trapped pressure. Once the pressure is relieved, the vacuum truck can be used to clean out fluid from the wellbore and/or surface treating lines without exposure to excess pressure.
Claims26
A system to bleed off pressure, comprising:
- a tubing deployed in a wellbore;
- a vacuum truck to remove fluid from the wellbore during cleaning of the wellbore following a well treatment;
- a fluid transfer conduit to transfer fluid from the tubing in the wellbore to the vacuum truck;
- and
- a bleed-off mechanism coupled to the fluid transfer conduit, the bleed-off mechanism comprising a vent open to atmosphere to relieve pressure and a separator body able to prevent loss of liquid during venting of pressure from the fluid transfer conduit.
A method of bleeding off pressure, comprising:
- mounting a bleed-off mechanism in fluid communication with the flow path between a wellhead and a vacuum truck;
- applying suction with the vacuum truck;
- opening a valve of the bleed-off mechanism to enable venting of fluid under excess pressure through the bleed-off mechanism;
- containing any liquid escaping to the bleed-off mechanism;
- and
- cleaning out fluid from the flow path via the vacuum truck.
A method, comprising:
- connecting a vacuum truck to a well via a bleed-off mechanism;
- removing excess pressure from the well via the bleed-off mechanism connected in line with a fluid flow path from the well to the vacuum truck;
- and
- drawing fluid from the well into the vacuum truck without exposing the vacuum truck to the excess pressure.
A system, comprising:
- a well having a wellhead valve;
- a fluid transfer conduit located at a surface location and coupled in fluid communication with the wellhead valve;
- a manifold connected to the fluid transfer conduit;
- and
- a bleed-off mechanism coupled to the manifold to relieve excess pressure from the fluid transfer conduit prior to cleanout of fluid with a vacuum truck.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.