CA1251403A

CA1251403A - Well effluent separator

Info

Publication number: CA1251403A
Application number: CA000552835A
Authority: CA
Inventors: Ross Smith; Roy Jensen
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1987-11-26
Filing date: 1987-11-26
Publication date: 1989-03-21

Abstract

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE

A device for separating well effluents comprises an enclosed storage tank having a conduit which is substantially parallel to the bottom of the tank but spaced well above it. The conduit has first and second ends, a plug closing the latter. Well effluent is introduced into the first end of the conduit and flows to the second end where the closed end thereof effects a reversal in the flow of the well effluents back towards the first end of the conduit. The conduit has upwardly directed apertures which allow gases from the well effluents to escape into the upper section of the storage tank and also provides downwardly directed apertures which allow a slurry of solid particles and fluids to escape into the lower section of the storage tank. Means for removing the gases from the upper section of the tank are provided.

Description

Field of the Invention The invention relates to a separa~ing device and specifically to a separator for use in separating gases from effluent from an oil or gas well.
~
In order to separate the gaseous components of well effluent from the non-gaseous components thereof, conven~ional procedures have usually involved pumping the well effluent into a tank which is open to the atmosphere. However, such a procedure cannot be used in all environmental situations. If, for example, a well is sour, the escape of sour gases into the atmosphere i5 most undeaireable. Furthermore, the escape of gases into the atmosphere is not without some danger as there is the possibility of a risk of fire from such gases~ In addition to the above-mantioned problems, where the well eEfluent contains sand, the sand will cause a rapicl abrasion of the tank structure.
Summary of the Invention The present invention addresses the above-mentioned problems of conventional practice by providing a device for separating well effluent into its gaseous, and non-gaseous components. The device comprises in combination an enclosed storage tank, effluent inlet means in said tank; an effluent separating conduit located in said tank substantially parallel to the bottom wall thereof, one end of the conduit being in communication with the inlet means. The conduit has a first series of upwardly directed apertures for the escape of gases therefro~ into the upper portion of the storage tank and a second series of downwardly directed apertures to allow the passage of non-gaseous effluent into the lower portion of the storage tank. The device comprises means for reversing the flow of the effluent entering the conduit to effect separation of the effluent and means are provided to exhaust gases from the upper portion of the tank.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a separator of simple construction.
It is another object of the invention to provide a separator adapted to separate solids and liquids from gases.
Brief Description of the Dra~in s The invention is illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings in which:
FIGURE 1 is a side view, partly in section of the separator of the present invention; and FIGURE 2 is a side view, partly cut away, of a portion of the conduit.
Description of the Preferred Embodiment _ Referring to Figure 1, the separator indicated generally as 10 comprises a storage tank 12 of generally cylindrical configuration and a conduit 14. The storage tank 12 comprises a side wall 16, an arcuate top wall 18 ; and a bottom wall 20. An outlet means 22 for gases is fixed to the center o the top wall 18.
The conduit 14 is secured inside the storage tank 12 in a position such as to be below said top wall 18 and well above said bottom wall 20. The tank 12 as shown in Figure 1 has an upper portion 24 for receiving the gases escaping from the conduit and a lower portion 26 for receiving the slurry. The conduit 14 is parallel to the bottom wall 20 and extends through an opening 28 in the side wall 16 of the storage tank 12. The conduit 14 has a first end 30 to which a well effluent inlet means 32 is connected and a second end 34 secured to the side wall 16 of the tank 12 by means of a retainer ring 36.
An abrasion resistant plug 38 blocks the second end 34 of the conduit 14. In view of the abrasion properties of sand containing well effluent, in order to minimize the wear of the conduit, it is preferable to manufacture the plug 38 of abrasion-resistant material such as steel and rubber or in the alternative rubber only.

~5~3 The conduit 14 has upwardly directed apertures 40 and downwardly directed apertures 42 as shown in Figures 1 and 2.
The dia~eter of the conduit 14 and plug 38 and the area of the apertures 40 and 42 will vary depending on the capacity of the storage tank 12, the working pressure to which the separator 10 is subjected and the volume of well effluent. As an example, a separator designed to operate at 100 p.s.i. and to handle 0-12 million cubic feet of well elfluents at a rate of 0-14 barrels per minute would comprise an 8 1/2 feet long pipe having a 7 inch ~iameter, seven upwardly directed apertures 40 being 1/2" by 6" and 19 downwardly directed apertures being 2"
by 6".
In operation, well effluent is pumped from the well into the conduit 14 via the inlet means 32. The well eEfluent comprises yases, liquids and solids, including sand. The well effluent travels at a high velocity as it is pumped into the conduit 14 and therefore flows from the first end 30 of the conduit 14 to the plug 38. As the effluent contacts the plug 38, the direction of the flow is reversed and the effluent travels back towards the first end 30 of the conduit 14 against the incoming flow of effluent creating a section where the velocity of the effluent is decreased allowing the fluids and solids such as sand to fall through the downwardly directed apertures 42 into the lower section 26 of the storage tank and, at the same time allowing the gases to rise out through the upwardly directed apertures 40 into the upper section 24 of the storage tank 12. The plug 38 is abrasion resistant so as not to be worn down by the sand particles in the effluents. The upper compartment 24 is vented by means of a valve therein (not shown) allowing any gas to exit through outlet means 22 into an exhaust pipe 44. The sand slurry can be stored in ~he lower compartment 26 of the storage tank 12 until one is ready to dispose of it.

~Z.5~ ~3 While the present invention has been described in connection with a specific embodiment thereof and in a specific use, various modifications will occur to those skilled in the art. I therefore wish to embody within the scope of the patent which may be granted hereon all such embodiments as reasonably and properly come within the scope of my contribution to the art.

Claims

THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION IN WHICH AN
EXCLUSIVE PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS
FOLLOWS:

1. A device for separating well effluent into gaseous and non-gaseous portions comprising, in combination, an enclosed storage tank; effluent inlet means in said tank; an effluent separating conduit located in said tank substantially parallel to the bottom thereof;
one end of said conduit being in communication with said inlet means; a plurality of upwardly directed apertures in said conduit for the escape of gases therefrom into the upper portion of said tank; a plurality of downwardly directed apertures to allow the passage of the non-gaseous portion of the effluent therefrom into the lower portion of said tank: means in said conduit for reversing the flow of effluents entering the conduit under pressure and to thereby promote separation of said effluents; and means in the upper portion of said storage tank to exhaust gases therefrom.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein the means for reversing the flow of effluents is fixed to the end of the conduit remote from the inlet means.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein the means for reversing the flow of effluents is abrasion-resistant.

4. The device of claim 3 wherein the means for reversing the flow of effluents is made of rubber and steel.

5. The device of claim 3 wherein the means for reversing the flow of effluents is made of rubber.