US 8,945,399 B2 · Systems and methods for separating sand from oil

Abstract

Systems and methods for separating sand and other solids from oil and other fluids produced from a well. The present systems and methods introduce the fluids at relatively high speed into a generally cylindrical separation chamber. The fluids flow in a generally circular path within the chamber, causing the solids and higher density fluid/media to be urged outward from the axis of the chamber as the fluids flow from the upper portion of the chamber. Because the solids become concentrated at the outer wall of the chamber, the fluid in a central portion of the chamber is substantially free of the solids, and can be removed from the chamber via a fluid outlet. The solids concentrated at the outer wall of the chamber continue to move downward into an accumulation chamber in which the fluid speed is reduced, allowing the solids to settle out of the fluid.

Claims20

Dependent claims

An apparatus for separating sand or other solids from oil or other fluids that are produced from a well, the apparatus comprising:

a generally cylindrical separation chamber having a vertically oriented axis;
an inlet to the separation chamber, wherein the inlet is oriented tangentially with respect to the separation chamber, wherein fluid entering the separation chamber through the inlet is caused to flow in a generally circular path within the separation chamber, and wherein the inlet receives fluid from a feed pipe having a first cross-sectional area and the inlet has a second cross-sectional area which is less than the first cross-sectional area, thereby accelerating the fluid entering the separation chamber;
and
an outlet from the separation chamber, wherein an opening of the outlet within the separation chamber is positioned in a central portion of the separation chamber.

1 more element

A system for separating sand or other solids from oil or other fluids that are produced from a well, the system comprising:

a head assembly having
a generally cylindrical separation chamber having a vertically oriented axis,
an inlet to the separation chamber, wherein the inlet is oriented tangentially with respect to the separation chamber, wherein fluid entering the separation chamber through the inlet is caused to flow in a generally circular path within the separation chamber, and wherein the inlet receives fluid from a feed pipe having a first cross-sectional area and the inlet has a second cross-sectional area which is less than the first cross-sectional area, thereby accelerating the fluid entering the separation chamber, and
an outlet from the separation chamber, wherein an opening of the outlet within the separation chamber is positioned in a central portion of the separation chamber;
and
a shell assembly having an accumulation chamber configured to accumulate solids that settle out of the fluid.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Systems and methods for separating sand from oil

Life of this patent

Systems and methods for separating sand from oil

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20