[go: up one dir, main page]

US3759324A - Cleaning apparatus for oil well production - Google Patents

Cleaning apparatus for oil well production Download PDF

Info

Publication number
US3759324A
US3759324A US00256871A US3759324DA US3759324A US 3759324 A US3759324 A US 3759324A US 00256871 A US00256871 A US 00256871A US 3759324D A US3759324D A US 3759324DA US 3759324 A US3759324 A US 3759324A
Authority
US
United States
Prior art keywords
outlet
oil
well
production fluid
fluid
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
US00256871A
Inventor
M Mecusker
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Kobe Inc
Original Assignee
Kobe Inc
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Kobe Inc filed Critical Kobe Inc
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US3759324A publication Critical patent/US3759324A/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

Links

Images

Classifications

    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E21—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; MINING
    • E21B—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
    • E21B43/00—Methods or apparatus for obtaining oil, gas, water, soluble or meltable materials or a slurry of minerals from wells
    • E21B43/34—Arrangements for separating materials produced by the well
    • E21B43/35—Arrangements for separating materials produced by the well specially adapted for separating solids
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01D—SEPARATION
    • B01D17/00—Separation of liquids, not provided for elsewhere, e.g. by thermal diffusion
    • B01D17/02—Separation of non-miscible liquids
    • B01D17/0217—Separation of non-miscible liquids by centrifugal force
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B03—SEPARATION OF SOLID MATERIALS USING LIQUIDS OR USING PNEUMATIC TABLES OR JIGS; MAGNETIC OR ELECTROSTATIC SEPARATION OF SOLID MATERIALS FROM SOLID MATERIALS OR FLUIDS; SEPARATION BY HIGH-VOLTAGE ELECTRIC FIELDS
    • B03B—SEPARATING SOLID MATERIALS USING LIQUIDS OR USING PNEUMATIC TABLES OR JIGS
    • B03B7/00—Combinations of wet processes or apparatus with other processes or apparatus, e.g. for dressing ores or garbage
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B04—CENTRIFUGAL APPARATUS OR MACHINES FOR CARRYING-OUT PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES
    • B04C—APPARATUS USING FREE VORTEX FLOW, e.g. CYCLONES
    • B04C9/00—Combinations with other devices, e.g. fans, expansion chambers, diffusors, water locks

Definitions

  • ABSTRACT An apparatus for processing production fluid from an oil well in the field to obtain clean power oil for a fluid operated pump in the well.
  • the apparatus is intended to service a single well, or at most a few wells, and includes components for removing solids, gas and water from the production fluid to obtain the clean power oil, which is pressurized by a triplex pump and delivered to the fluid operated pump in the well.
  • the apparatus also includes a storage tank containing a sufficient reserve of clean power oil for circulating the fluid operated pump into and out of the well.
  • a circulating pump having a capacity about twice that of the triplex pump continuously circulates the clean oil in the storage tank through parallel cyclones which remove any residual solids.
  • the present invention relates in general to an apparatus for cleaning crude oil and, more particularly, to an apparatus for processing production fluid from an oil well in the field to obtain clean power oil for a fluid operated pump in the well.
  • the primary object of the present invention is to provide a self contained apparatus which may be installed at or adjacent the well head to obtain the necessary clean power oil from the production fluid as the latter is produced.
  • Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus having components for removing solids, gas and water from the production fluid to obtain clean power oil for the fluid operated pump in the well, the clean power oil being pressurized for delivery to the fluid operated pump by a triplex pump forming part of the unit.
  • Another object is to provide a storage tank for clean power oil having a capacity sufi'icient for such related operations as circulating the fluid operated pump into and out of the well.
  • a further object is to continuously circulate clean power oil from the storage tank through a cyclone or cyclones to remove any residual solids.
  • the invention may be summarized as including, and an important object is to provide an apparatus which includes: a production fluid inlet for production fluid from the well; a production fluid outlet connectible to a point of production fluid disposal; a power oil outlet connectible to the fluid operated pump in the well; a primary cyclone having an inlet connected to the production fluid inlet, having a gas outlet and a solids outlet connected to the production fluid outlet, and having a clean fluid outlet; a three phase separator connected to the clean fluid outlet of the primary cyclone, the separator having gas and water outlets connected to the production fluid outlet and having a clean oil outlet; a storage tank connected to the clean oil outlet of the separator; a secondary cyclone having an oil inlet, an oil outlet and a solids outlet, the latter being connected to the production fluid outlet; a circulating pump having an inlet connected to the storage tank, and having an outlet connected to the oil inlet of the secondary cyclone; and a triplex pump having an inlet connected to the oil outlet of the secondary cyclone, and having
  • a further object is to provide an apparatus of the foregoing nature wherein the circulating pump has a capacity considerably in excess of that of the triplex, and wherein there is a bypass from the oil outlet of the secondary cyclone back to the storage tank.
  • the clean power oil in the storage tank is continuously circulated through the secondary cyclone for further solids removal.
  • FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a crude oil cleaning apparatus which embodies the invention
  • FIG. 2 is a sectional perspective view illustrating a primary cyclone incorporated in the apparatus of FIG.
  • FIG. 3 is a horizontal sectional view taken as indicated by the arrowed line 33 of FIG. 2;
  • FIG. 4 is a sectional perspective view of a secondary cyclone incorporated in the apparatus of FIG. 1 of the drawings.
  • FIG. 1 of the drawings the oil well production fluid cleaning apparatus of the invention is illustrated therein diagrammatically and is composed of components which, for the most part, are entirely conventional so that detailed descriptions of the components are not necessary, the invention residing in the combination of these components and the relationship between them.
  • FIG. 1 there are legends indicating such things as flow rates in barrels per day, pressures in pounds per square inch, and the like. These are illustrative only and serve to indicate flow rates and pressures which will provide an operative system. It will be understood, of course, that other flow rates and pressures maybe substituted. Also, throughout FIG. 1 there are various conventional components which are identified by the legends BPR (pressure reducing valve) and RV (relief valve). It is thought that the functions of these conventional components will be apparent so that descriptions thereof are not necessary.
  • BPR pressure reducing valve
  • RV relievef valve
  • the cleaning apparatus generally, it includes a production fluid inlet 12 which receives the production fluid pumped from an oil well, not shown, by a conventional fluid operated pump, not shown.
  • the production fluid may include native well fluid and spent power oil discharged by the pump.
  • the cleaning apparatus also includes a production fluid outlet 14 which is shown as comprising a lease line leading to a suitable point of disposal for the production fluid, such as processing equipment, storage tanks, and the like.
  • the apparatus also includes a power oil outlet 16 which is connectible to the fluid-operated pump in the well and from which the fluid operated pump is supplied with clean power oil furnished by the apparatus.
  • the production fluid from the well entering the cleaning apparatus at the production fluid inlet 12 may contain oil, water, gas, solids, and the like.
  • the function of the apparatus is to remove substantially all of the gas, water, solids, and other contaminants, from the crude oil so as to provide the desired clean operating fluid for the pump in the well.
  • the contaminants, i.e., the gas, water, solids, and the like, are discharged from the apparatus at the vproduction fluid outlet 14.
  • the production fluid flowing into the cleaning apparatus at the inlet 12 enters the inlet 18 of a primary cyclone 20 which is illustrated diagrammatically in FIGS. 2 and 3.
  • the primary cyclone 20 is provided with a gas outlet 22 and a solids and dirty liquid outlet 24 which are connected to the production fluid outlet 14 by lines 26 and 28 and a line 30.
  • the primary cyclone 20 differs from the usual cyclone in that it is provided at the top with an extra cylindrical section 32 connected to the lower section by a central duct 34. Liquid is discharged from the cylindrical section 32 tangentially through a clean liquid outlet 36.
  • the clean fluid from the outlet 36 enters the inlet 38 of a conventional three phase separator 30.
  • the flow into the separator 40 is controlled by a float actuated valve 42 the float of which is in a storage tank 56 to be described.
  • the separator 40 is provided with gas and water outlets 44 and 46 connected to a line 48 leading to the production fluid outlet 14.
  • the water level in the separator 40 is controlled by a float actuated valve 50 controlling flow through the water outlet 46, the float of the valve 50 being in the separator.
  • the oil phase leaves the separator 40 through a clean oil outlet 52 connected to the inlet 54 of a clean oil storage tank 56, the liquid level in the storage tank being controlled by the float actuated valve 42.
  • the oil level in the separator 40 is controlled by a float actuated valve 58 the float of which is in the separator.
  • the foregoing combination of the primary cyclone 20 and the three phase separator 40 is one of the important features of the invention.
  • the primary cyclone 20 disposes of most of the dirty liquid and the gas, discharging only relatively clean liquid into the separator 40.
  • the primary cyclone 20 achieves some degree of oil and water separation so that the water content of the oil entering the separator 40 is reduced. This results in a substantial reduction in the load on the separator 40, which means that the separator can operate much more effectively for a given capacity.
  • the storage tank 56 provides a reserve of clean power oil whenever the separator 40 runs out of oil due to a gas head from the well, or such well servicing operations as pumping the fluid operated pump in or out.
  • the storage tank 56 has a power oil outlet 60 which is connected to the inlet of a circulating pump 62 having an outlet connected to the inlets 64 of three parallel connected, secondary cyclones 66. One of these is shown in some detail in FIG. 4, which also illustrates its characteristic mode of operation.
  • the secondary cyclones 66 are provided at their lower ends with solids outlets 68 connected by a line 71 to the line 30 leading to the production fluid outlet 14.
  • the secondary cyclones 66 are provided at their upper ends with clean power oil outlets 70 connected to a line 72 leading to the inlet of a conventional triplex pump 74.
  • the clean power oil outlets 70 of the secondary cyclones 66 are also connected to a bypass line 76 leading back to the storage tank inlet 54.
  • the outlet of the triplex 76 leads to' a pressure controller 78 which determines the power oil pressure delivered to the power oil outlet 16 leading to the fluid operated pump in the well. Any excess power oil from the pressure controller 78 is returned to the storage tank 56 by a line 80 connected to the bypass line 76.
  • the capacity of the circulating pump 62 and the combined capacities of the secondary cyclones 66 are considerably greater than, and preferably about twice,
  • the capacity of the triplex 74 Consequently, assuming, for example, a flow of 5,000 barrels per day through the secondary cyclones 66 and an output of 2,500 barrels per day by the triplex 74, 2,500 barrels of oil are returned to the storage tank 56 daily for further processing in the secondary cyclones.
  • This constant recirculation of part of the clean power oil in the storage tank 56 through the secondary cyclones 66 results in the removal of further foreign matter from the power oil, thereby minimizing any residual foreign matter in the power oil delivered to the triplex 74, and ultimately to the fluid operated pump in the well.
  • the storage tank 56 serves the additional function of permitting recirculation of the power oil through the secondary cyclones 66 for further cleaning, which is an important feature.
  • Another feature resides in the use of the parallel connected secondary cyclones 66, instead of a single larger cyclone.
  • the smaller cyclones permit developing higher centrifugal forces, and thus better separation of contaminants.
  • An apparatus for processing production fluid from an oil well in the field to obtain clean power oil for a fluid operated pump in the well including:
  • a primary cyclone having an inlet connected to said production fluid inlet, having a gas outlet and a solids outlet connected to said production fluid outlet, and having a clean fluid outlet;
  • a three phase separator connected to said clean fluid outlet of said primary cyclone, said separator having gas and water outlets connected to said production fluid outlet and having a clean oil outlet;
  • a secondary cyclone having an oil inlet, an oil outlet and a solids outlet, the latter being connected to said production fluid outlet;
  • a circulating pump having an inlet connected to said storage tank, and having an outlet connected to said oil inlet of said secondary cyclone;
  • a triplex pump having an inlet connected to said oil outlet of said secondary cyclone, and having an aera e

Landscapes

  • Geology (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Mining & Mineral Resources (AREA)
  • Environmental & Geological Engineering (AREA)
  • Fluid Mechanics (AREA)
  • General Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Geochemistry & Mineralogy (AREA)
  • Thermal Sciences (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
  • Cyclones (AREA)

Abstract

An apparatus for processing production fluid from an oil well in the field to obtain clean power oil for a fluid operated pump in the well. The apparatus is intended to service a single well, or at most a few wells, and includes components for removing solids, gas and water from the production fluid to obtain the clean power oil, which is pressurized by a triplex pump and delivered to the fluid operated pump in the well. The apparatus also includes a storage tank containing a sufficient reserve of clean power oil for circulating the fluid operated pump into and out of the well. A circulating pump having a capacity about twice that of the triplex pump continuously circulates the clean oil in the storage tank through parallel cyclones which remove any residual solids.

Description

United States Patent 1 Mecusker Sept. 18, 1973 1 CLEANING APPARATUS FOR OIL WELL [73] Assignee: Kobe, 1nc., Huntington Park, Calif.
[22] Filed: May 25, 1972 211 App]. No.: 256,871
2,588,296 3/1952 Russell, Jr 166/75 3,319,199 3/1967 Marx et al. 166/75 3,709,292 l/1973 Palmour ..166/68 Primary Exiiiriiner]ames A. Leppink Attorney-Ford W. Harris, Jr. et a1.
[57] ABSTRACT An apparatus for processing production fluid from an oil well in the field to obtain clean power oil for a fluid operated pump in the well. The apparatus is intended to service a single well, or at most a few wells, and includes components for removing solids, gas and water from the production fluid to obtain the clean power oil, which is pressurized by a triplex pump and delivered to the fluid operated pump in the well. The apparatus also includes a storage tank containing a sufficient reserve of clean power oil for circulating the fluid operated pump into and out of the well. A circulating pump having a capacity about twice that of the triplex pump continuously circulates the clean oil in the storage tank through parallel cyclones which remove any residual solids.
4 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures JTOE RGE TEN/ f0 WELL Patented Sept. 18, 1973 2 SheetsSheet 1 I Patented Sept. 18, 1973 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 CLEANING APPARATUS FOR OIL WELL PRODUCTION BACKGROUND OF INVENTION The present invention relates in general to an apparatus for cleaning crude oil and, more particularly, to an apparatus for processing production fluid from an oil well in the field to obtain clean power oil for a fluid operated pump in the well.
SUMMARY AND OBJECTS OF INVENTION The primary object of the present invention is to provide a self contained apparatus which may be installed at or adjacent the well head to obtain the necessary clean power oil from the production fluid as the latter is produced.
Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus having components for removing solids, gas and water from the production fluid to obtain clean power oil for the fluid operated pump in the well, the clean power oil being pressurized for delivery to the fluid operated pump by a triplex pump forming part of the unit.
Another object is to provide a storage tank for clean power oil having a capacity sufi'icient for such related operations as circulating the fluid operated pump into and out of the well.
A further object is to continuously circulate clean power oil from the storage tank through a cyclone or cyclones to remove any residual solids.
The invention may be summarized as including, and an important object is to provide an apparatus which includes: a production fluid inlet for production fluid from the well; a production fluid outlet connectible to a point of production fluid disposal; a power oil outlet connectible to the fluid operated pump in the well; a primary cyclone having an inlet connected to the production fluid inlet, having a gas outlet and a solids outlet connected to the production fluid outlet, and having a clean fluid outlet; a three phase separator connected to the clean fluid outlet of the primary cyclone, the separator having gas and water outlets connected to the production fluid outlet and having a clean oil outlet; a storage tank connected to the clean oil outlet of the separator; a secondary cyclone having an oil inlet, an oil outlet and a solids outlet, the latter being connected to the production fluid outlet; a circulating pump having an inlet connected to the storage tank, and having an outlet connected to the oil inlet of the secondary cyclone; and a triplex pump having an inlet connected to the oil outlet of the secondary cyclone, and having an outlet connected to the power oil outlet.
A further object is to provide an apparatus of the foregoing nature wherein the circulating pump has a capacity considerably in excess of that of the triplex, and wherein there is a bypass from the oil outlet of the secondary cyclone back to the storage tank. With this construction, the clean power oil in the storage tank is continuously circulated through the secondary cyclone for further solids removal.
The foregoing objects, advantages, features and results of the present invention, together with variousv other objects, advantages, features and results which will be evident to those skilled in the crude oil cleaning art in the light of this disclosure, may be achieved with the exemplary embodiment of the invention illustrated in the accompanying drawings and described in detail hereinaften.
DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS In the drawings:
FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a crude oil cleaning apparatus which embodies the invention;
FIG. 2 is a sectional perspective view illustrating a primary cyclone incorporated in the apparatus of FIG.
FIG. 3 is a horizontal sectional view taken as indicated by the arrowed line 33 of FIG. 2; and
FIG. 4 is a sectional perspective view of a secondary cyclone incorporated in the apparatus of FIG. 1 of the drawings.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENT OF INVENTION Referring initially to FIG. 1 of the drawings, the oil well production fluid cleaning apparatus of the invention is illustrated therein diagrammatically and is composed of components which, for the most part, are entirely conventional so that detailed descriptions of the components are not necessary, the invention residing in the combination of these components and the relationship between them.
Throughout FIG. 1 there are legends indicating such things as flow rates in barrels per day, pressures in pounds per square inch, and the like. These are illustrative only and serve to indicate flow rates and pressures which will provide an operative system. It will be understood, of course, that other flow rates and pressures maybe substituted. Also, throughout FIG. 1 there are various conventional components which are identified by the legends BPR (pressure reducing valve) and RV (relief valve). It is thought that the functions of these conventional components will be apparent so that descriptions thereof are not necessary.
Considering the cleaning apparatus generally, it includes a production fluid inlet 12 which receives the production fluid pumped from an oil well, not shown, by a conventional fluid operated pump, not shown. The production fluid may include native well fluid and spent power oil discharged by the pump. The cleaning apparatus also includes a production fluid outlet 14 which is shown as comprising a lease line leading to a suitable point of disposal for the production fluid, such as processing equipment, storage tanks, and the like. The apparatus also includes a power oil outlet 16 which is connectible to the fluid-operated pump in the well and from which the fluid operated pump is supplied with clean power oil furnished by the apparatus.
As is well known, the production fluid from the well entering the cleaning apparatus at the production fluid inlet 12 may contain oil, water, gas, solids, and the like. The function of the apparatus is to remove substantially all of the gas, water, solids, and other contaminants, from the crude oil so as to provide the desired clean operating fluid for the pump in the well. The contaminants, i.e., the gas, water, solids, and the like, are discharged from the apparatus at the vproduction fluid outlet 14.
The production fluid flowing into the cleaning apparatus at the inlet 12 enters the inlet 18 of a primary cyclone 20 which is illustrated diagrammatically in FIGS. 2 and 3. The primary cyclone 20 is provided with a gas outlet 22 and a solids and dirty liquid outlet 24 which are connected to the production fluid outlet 14 by lines 26 and 28 and a line 30. The primary cyclone 20 differs from the usual cyclone in that it is provided at the top with an extra cylindrical section 32 connected to the lower section by a central duct 34. Liquid is discharged from the cylindrical section 32 tangentially through a clean liquid outlet 36.
With the foregoing construction, major portions of the gas and solids are removed so that the fluid discharged through the outlet 36 of the primary cyclone 20 consists of oil and water which are relatively gas and solids free. i
The clean fluid from the outlet 36 enters the inlet 38 of a conventional three phase separator 30. The flow into the separator 40 is controlled by a float actuated valve 42 the float of which is in a storage tank 56 to be described. The separator 40 is provided with gas and water outlets 44 and 46 connected to a line 48 leading to the production fluid outlet 14. The water level in the separator 40 is controlled by a float actuated valve 50 controlling flow through the water outlet 46, the float of the valve 50 being in the separator. The oil phase leaves the separator 40 through a clean oil outlet 52 connected to the inlet 54 of a clean oil storage tank 56, the liquid level in the storage tank being controlled by the float actuated valve 42. The oil level in the separator 40 is controlled by a float actuated valve 58 the float of which is in the separator.
The foregoing combination of the primary cyclone 20 and the three phase separator 40 is one of the important features of the invention. The primary cyclone 20 disposes of most of the dirty liquid and the gas, discharging only relatively clean liquid into the separator 40. Also, the primary cyclone 20 achieves some degree of oil and water separation so that the water content of the oil entering the separator 40 is reduced. This results in a substantial reduction in the load on the separator 40, which means that the separator can operate much more effectively for a given capacity.
The storage tank 56 provides a reserve of clean power oil whenever the separator 40 runs out of oil due to a gas head from the well, or such well servicing operations as pumping the fluid operated pump in or out. The storage tank 56 has a power oil outlet 60 which is connected to the inlet of a circulating pump 62 having an outlet connected to the inlets 64 of three parallel connected, secondary cyclones 66. One of these is shown in some detail in FIG. 4, which also illustrates its characteristic mode of operation. The secondary cyclones 66 are provided at their lower ends with solids outlets 68 connected by a line 71 to the line 30 leading to the production fluid outlet 14.
The secondary cyclones 66 are provided at their upper ends with clean power oil outlets 70 connected to a line 72 leading to the inlet of a conventional triplex pump 74. The clean power oil outlets 70 of the secondary cyclones 66 are also connected to a bypass line 76 leading back to the storage tank inlet 54.
The outlet of the triplex 76 leads to' a pressure controller 78 which determines the power oil pressure delivered to the power oil outlet 16 leading to the fluid operated pump in the well. Any excess power oil from the pressure controller 78 is returned to the storage tank 56 by a line 80 connected to the bypass line 76.
The capacity of the circulating pump 62 and the combined capacities of the secondary cyclones 66 are considerably greater than, and preferably about twice,
the capacity of the triplex 74. Consequently, assuming, for example, a flow of 5,000 barrels per day through the secondary cyclones 66 and an output of 2,500 barrels per day by the triplex 74, 2,500 barrels of oil are returned to the storage tank 56 daily for further processing in the secondary cyclones. This constant recirculation of part of the clean power oil in the storage tank 56 through the secondary cyclones 66 results in the removal of further foreign matter from the power oil, thereby minimizing any residual foreign matter in the power oil delivered to the triplex 74, and ultimately to the fluid operated pump in the well. Thus, the storage tank 56 serves the additional function of permitting recirculation of the power oil through the secondary cyclones 66 for further cleaning, which is an important feature.
Another feature resides in the use of the parallel connected secondary cyclones 66, instead of a single larger cyclone. The smaller cyclones permit developing higher centrifugal forces, and thus better separation of contaminants.
Although an exemplary embodiment of the invention has been disclosed for purposes of illustration, it will be understood that various changes, modifications and substitutions may be incorporated in such embodiment without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined by the claims appearing hereinafter.
I claim as my invention:
I. An apparatus for processing production fluid from an oil well in the field to obtain clean power oil for a fluid operated pump in the well, including:
a. a production fluid inlet for production fluid from the well;
b. a production fluid outlet connectible to a point of production fluid disposal;
c. a power oil outlet connectible to the fluid operated pump in the well;
d. a primary cyclone having an inlet connected to said production fluid inlet, having a gas outlet and a solids outlet connected to said production fluid outlet, and having a clean fluid outlet;
f. a three phase separator connected to said clean fluid outlet of said primary cyclone, said separator having gas and water outlets connected to said production fluid outlet and having a clean oil outlet;
g. a storage tank connected to said clean oil outlet of said separator;
h. a secondary cyclone having an oil inlet, an oil outlet and a solids outlet, the latter being connected to said production fluid outlet;
i. a circulating pump having an inlet connected to said storage tank, and having an outlet connected to said oil inlet of said secondary cyclone; and
j. a triplex pump having an inlet connected to said oil outlet of said secondary cyclone, and having an aera e

Claims (4)

1. An apparatus for processing production fluid from an oil well in the field to obtain clean power oil for a fluid operated pump in the well, including: a. a production fluid inlet for production fluid from the well; b. a production fluid outlet connectible to a point of production fluid disposal; c. a power oil outlet connectible to the fluid operated pump in the well; d. a primary cyclone having an inlet connected to said production fluid inlet, having a gas outlet and a solids outlet connected to said production fluid outlet, and having a clean fluid outlet; f. a three phase separator connected to said clean fluid outlet of said primary cyclone, said separator having gas and water outlets connected to said production fluid outlet and having a clean oil outlet; g. a storage tank connected to said clean oil outlet of said separator; h. a secondary cyclone having an oil inlet, an oil outlet and a solids outlet, the latter being connected to said production fluid outlet; i. a circulating pump having an inlet connected to said storage tank, and having an outlet connected to said oil inlet of said secondary cyclone; and j. a triplex pump having an inlet connected to said oil outlet of said secondary cyclone, and having an outlet connected to said power oil outlet.
2. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said circulating pump has a capacity in excess of that of said triplex pump, and wherein there is a bypass from said oil outlet of said secondary cyclone back to said storage tank.
3. An apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the capacity of said circulating pump is of the order of twice that of said triplex pump.
4. An apparatus according to claim 3 wherein there are two or more of said secondary cyclones connected in parallel.
US00256871A 1972-05-25 1972-05-25 Cleaning apparatus for oil well production Expired - Lifetime US3759324A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US25687172A 1972-05-25 1972-05-25
US00372533A US3802501A (en) 1972-05-25 1973-06-22 Cleaning apparatus for oil well production

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US3759324A true US3759324A (en) 1973-09-18

Family

ID=26945635

Family Applications (2)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US00256871A Expired - Lifetime US3759324A (en) 1972-05-25 1972-05-25 Cleaning apparatus for oil well production
US00372533A Expired - Lifetime US3802501A (en) 1972-05-25 1973-06-22 Cleaning apparatus for oil well production

Family Applications After (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US00372533A Expired - Lifetime US3802501A (en) 1972-05-25 1973-06-22 Cleaning apparatus for oil well production

Country Status (1)

Country Link
US (2) US3759324A (en)

Cited By (35)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3982589A (en) * 1975-05-16 1976-09-28 Kobe, Inc. Cleaning and pumping apparatus for oil well production
US4042025A (en) * 1976-09-17 1977-08-16 Standard Oil Company (Indiana) Hydraulic control system underflow valve control method and apparatus
US4066123A (en) * 1976-12-23 1978-01-03 Standard Oil Company (Indiana) Hydraulic pumping unit with a variable speed triplex pump
US4159036A (en) * 1978-06-08 1979-06-26 Kobe, Inc. High pressure cleaning and pumping method and apparatus for oil well production
US4233154A (en) * 1978-12-29 1980-11-11 Kobe, Inc. Method for treating petroleum well pumping power fluid
US4376676A (en) * 1981-10-19 1983-03-15 Gill Carl L In-line separator for crude oil
WO1985000851A1 (en) * 1983-08-04 1985-02-28 Noel Carroll Oil recovery systems
WO1986003143A1 (en) * 1984-11-28 1986-06-05 Noel Carroll Cyclone separator
AU579583B2 (en) * 1983-08-04 1988-12-01 Conoco Specialty Products Inc. Oil recovery system
US4948393A (en) * 1989-07-07 1990-08-14 Chevron Research Company Method of separating oil, water, sand, and gas from produced fluids
US5199997A (en) * 1991-06-13 1993-04-06 Clnzall Corporation Treatment of hydrocarbon-contaminated particulate materials
US5293351A (en) * 1990-04-05 1994-03-08 Transducer Valley, Inc. Acoustic search device
US5298167A (en) * 1992-12-10 1994-03-29 Arnold Kenneth E Method for separating immiscible liquid
US5980737A (en) * 1998-01-22 1999-11-09 Tornado Flare Systems, Inc. Positive pressure oil well production package
US6197095B1 (en) * 1999-02-16 2001-03-06 John C. Ditria Subsea multiphase fluid separating system and method
WO2001079657A1 (en) * 2000-04-12 2001-10-25 Wood Group Pressure Control Limited Debris catcher
US20030217956A1 (en) * 2000-10-13 2003-11-27 Abdul Hameed Mohsen Methods and apparatus for separating fluids
US20040011748A1 (en) * 2000-05-03 2004-01-22 Jul Amado Method and an installation for separating out multiphase effluents
US20040011745A1 (en) * 2000-11-21 2004-01-22 Oserod Stein Egil Combined degassing and flotation tank
WO2005005012A1 (en) * 2003-07-04 2005-01-20 Kcc Group Limited Separator
US20060260807A1 (en) * 2005-05-18 2006-11-23 Blue Marble Engineering, L.L.C. Fluid-flow system, device and method
WO2007105086A1 (en) * 2006-03-15 2007-09-20 Aibel As A fluid treatment tank and a well fluid porcessing system comprising such a tank
US20090050326A1 (en) * 2005-07-05 2009-02-26 Aker Kvaerner Subsea As Device and Method for Cleaning a Compressor
WO2010007349A1 (en) * 2008-07-14 2010-01-21 Caltec Limited Cyclonic separation system comprising gas injection means and method for separating a fluid mixture
US20120211445A1 (en) * 2009-10-23 2012-08-23 Groetheim Jens Terje Method for Continuous Use of a Vacuum-Set Water Knock-Out Circuit Integrated with a Hydraulic Oil Reservoir
US8439999B2 (en) 2010-10-04 2013-05-14 David A. Simpson Device for capturing gas from a produced water stream
US8597402B2 (en) 2011-09-23 2013-12-03 David A. Simpson and Janet K. Simpson Device for capturing gas from a produced water stream
US20140209176A1 (en) * 2013-01-29 2014-07-31 Cameron International Corporation Use Of Pressure Reduction Devices For Improving Downstream Oil-And-Water Separation
US20160271522A1 (en) * 2015-03-20 2016-09-22 Ypf Sociedad Anonima Separation device for three-phase fluid, method for making thereof, and method for separating a three-phase fluid
US20160341024A1 (en) * 2013-12-20 2016-11-24 Onesubsea Ip Uk Limited Systems and methods for subsea fluid phase separation
US9662597B1 (en) 2016-03-09 2017-05-30 NANA WorleyParsons LLC Methods and systems for handling raw oil and structures related thereto
US20170312654A1 (en) * 2014-11-13 2017-11-02 Sulzer Chemtech Ag A Continuous Through-Flow Settling Vessel, and a Method of Adaptive Separation of a Mixture from Gas and/or Oil Exploration
US11473415B2 (en) * 2017-06-23 2022-10-18 Fmc Technologies, Inc. Separation system
US11639656B1 (en) * 2022-08-19 2023-05-02 Total Gas Resource Recovery, Llc Natural gas capture from a well stream
US20240050882A1 (en) * 2020-12-28 2024-02-15 Usui Co., Ltd. Gas-liquid separator

Families Citing this family (10)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4243528A (en) * 1979-06-25 1981-01-06 Kobe, Inc. Treater for mechanically breaking oil and water emulsions of a production fluid from a petroleum well
US4597437A (en) * 1984-04-16 1986-07-01 Mcnabb Stephen L Portable production package for oil and gas wells
CA2086320A1 (en) * 1991-05-02 1992-11-03 Reimer Z. Hansen Oil/water separation system
WO1992019348A1 (en) * 1991-05-02 1992-11-12 Conoco Specialty Products Inc. Oil/water separation system
US5302294A (en) * 1991-05-02 1994-04-12 Conoco Specialty Products, Inc. Separation system employing degassing separators and hydroglyclones
MY111234A (en) * 1993-09-06 1999-09-30 Merpro Tortek Ltd Liquid / solid separation.
US6299672B1 (en) * 1999-10-15 2001-10-09 Camco International, Inc. Subsurface integrated production systems
US7731037B2 (en) * 2007-12-12 2010-06-08 Occidental Oil And Gas Holding Corporation Separating sand from fluids produced by a well
US11293240B2 (en) * 2018-09-04 2022-04-05 Enercorp Engineered Solutions Inc. Integrated multi-stage sand separation system
US11065559B2 (en) * 2018-12-21 2021-07-20 EnXL LLC Cyclonic inlet diverter

Citations (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1433956A (en) * 1919-05-15 1922-10-31 Erskine D Warren Process for the recovery and refining of light hydrocarbon oils and gases from oil wells
US1602190A (en) * 1926-01-04 1926-10-05 Petroleum Rectifying Co Method of dehydrating petroleum emulsions
US2039330A (en) * 1930-07-08 1936-05-05 Ralph H Mckee Purification of carbon dioxide
US2588296A (en) * 1946-02-15 1952-03-04 Aluminum Co Of America Gas treatment and apparatus therefor
US2765850A (en) * 1953-05-22 1956-10-09 Texas Co Production of formation-clogging liquid hydrocarbons
US3254711A (en) * 1963-08-29 1966-06-07 Phillips Petroleum Co Natural gasoline conservation during in situ combustion
US3310109A (en) * 1964-11-06 1967-03-21 Phillips Petroleum Co Process and apparatus for combination upgrading of oil in situ and refining thereof
US3709292A (en) * 1971-04-08 1973-01-09 Armco Steel Corp Power fluid conditioning unit

Patent Citations (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1433956A (en) * 1919-05-15 1922-10-31 Erskine D Warren Process for the recovery and refining of light hydrocarbon oils and gases from oil wells
US1602190A (en) * 1926-01-04 1926-10-05 Petroleum Rectifying Co Method of dehydrating petroleum emulsions
US2039330A (en) * 1930-07-08 1936-05-05 Ralph H Mckee Purification of carbon dioxide
US2588296A (en) * 1946-02-15 1952-03-04 Aluminum Co Of America Gas treatment and apparatus therefor
US2765850A (en) * 1953-05-22 1956-10-09 Texas Co Production of formation-clogging liquid hydrocarbons
US3254711A (en) * 1963-08-29 1966-06-07 Phillips Petroleum Co Natural gasoline conservation during in situ combustion
US3310109A (en) * 1964-11-06 1967-03-21 Phillips Petroleum Co Process and apparatus for combination upgrading of oil in situ and refining thereof
US3709292A (en) * 1971-04-08 1973-01-09 Armco Steel Corp Power fluid conditioning unit

Cited By (68)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3982589A (en) * 1975-05-16 1976-09-28 Kobe, Inc. Cleaning and pumping apparatus for oil well production
US4042025A (en) * 1976-09-17 1977-08-16 Standard Oil Company (Indiana) Hydraulic control system underflow valve control method and apparatus
US4066123A (en) * 1976-12-23 1978-01-03 Standard Oil Company (Indiana) Hydraulic pumping unit with a variable speed triplex pump
US4159036A (en) * 1978-06-08 1979-06-26 Kobe, Inc. High pressure cleaning and pumping method and apparatus for oil well production
US4233154A (en) * 1978-12-29 1980-11-11 Kobe, Inc. Method for treating petroleum well pumping power fluid
US4376676A (en) * 1981-10-19 1983-03-15 Gill Carl L In-line separator for crude oil
AU579583B2 (en) * 1983-08-04 1988-12-01 Conoco Specialty Products Inc. Oil recovery system
WO1985000851A1 (en) * 1983-08-04 1985-02-28 Noel Carroll Oil recovery systems
GB2153249A (en) * 1983-08-04 1985-08-21 Noel Carroll Oil recovery systems
WO1986003143A1 (en) * 1984-11-28 1986-06-05 Noel Carroll Cyclone separator
US4738779A (en) * 1984-11-28 1988-04-19 Noel Carroll Cyclone separator
GB2191120A (en) * 1984-11-28 1987-12-09 Noel Carroll Cyclone separator
AU593228B2 (en) * 1984-11-28 1990-02-08 Conoco Specialty Products Inc. Oil processing cyclone separator
US4948393A (en) * 1989-07-07 1990-08-14 Chevron Research Company Method of separating oil, water, sand, and gas from produced fluids
US5293351A (en) * 1990-04-05 1994-03-08 Transducer Valley, Inc. Acoustic search device
US5199997A (en) * 1991-06-13 1993-04-06 Clnzall Corporation Treatment of hydrocarbon-contaminated particulate materials
US5298167A (en) * 1992-12-10 1994-03-29 Arnold Kenneth E Method for separating immiscible liquid
US5980737A (en) * 1998-01-22 1999-11-09 Tornado Flare Systems, Inc. Positive pressure oil well production package
US6197095B1 (en) * 1999-02-16 2001-03-06 John C. Ditria Subsea multiphase fluid separating system and method
WO2001079657A1 (en) * 2000-04-12 2001-10-25 Wood Group Pressure Control Limited Debris catcher
GB2377467A (en) * 2000-04-12 2003-01-15 Wood Group Pressure Control Lt Debris catcher
US7347945B2 (en) * 2000-05-03 2008-03-25 Schlumberger Technology Corporation Method and an installation for separating out multiphase effluents
US20040011748A1 (en) * 2000-05-03 2004-01-22 Jul Amado Method and an installation for separating out multiphase effluents
US6989103B2 (en) * 2000-10-13 2006-01-24 Schlumberger Technology Corporation Method for separating fluids
US20030217956A1 (en) * 2000-10-13 2003-11-27 Abdul Hameed Mohsen Methods and apparatus for separating fluids
US20040011745A1 (en) * 2000-11-21 2004-01-22 Oserod Stein Egil Combined degassing and flotation tank
US8440077B2 (en) 2000-11-21 2013-05-14 Schlumberger Norge As Combined degassing and flotation tank
US7144503B2 (en) * 2000-11-21 2006-12-05 M-I Epcon As Combined degassing and flotation tank
US20060283804A1 (en) * 2000-11-21 2006-12-21 Epcon Norge As Combined degassing and flotation tank
US8119000B2 (en) 2000-11-21 2012-02-21 Schlumberger Norge As Combined degassing and floatation tank
US20090289002A1 (en) * 2000-11-21 2009-11-26 Epcon Norge As Combined degassing and floatation tank
US7534354B2 (en) 2000-11-21 2009-05-19 M-I Epcon As Combined degassing and flotation tank
WO2005005012A1 (en) * 2003-07-04 2005-01-20 Kcc Group Limited Separator
US20080236833A1 (en) * 2005-05-18 2008-10-02 Blue Marble Engineering, L.L.C. Fluid-flow system, device and method
EA012677B1 (en) * 2005-05-18 2009-12-30 Блю Марбл Инжиниринг, Л.Л.С. Gear machine for combining two fluid streams and associated method
US20080245526A1 (en) * 2005-05-18 2008-10-09 Blue Marble Engineering, L.L.C. Fluid-flow system, device and method
US20080202593A1 (en) * 2005-05-18 2008-08-28 Blue Marble Engineering, L.L.C. Fluid-flow system, device and method
WO2006132769A3 (en) * 2005-05-18 2007-05-10 Blue Marble Engineering L L C Gear machine for combining two fluid streams and associated method
US20080202589A1 (en) * 2005-05-18 2008-08-28 Blue Marble Engineering Llc Fluid-Flow System, Device and Method
US20060260807A1 (en) * 2005-05-18 2006-11-23 Blue Marble Engineering, L.L.C. Fluid-flow system, device and method
US7597145B2 (en) 2005-05-18 2009-10-06 Blue Marble Engineering, L.L.C. Fluid-flow system, device and method
US20090050326A1 (en) * 2005-07-05 2009-02-26 Aker Kvaerner Subsea As Device and Method for Cleaning a Compressor
WO2007105086A1 (en) * 2006-03-15 2007-09-20 Aibel As A fluid treatment tank and a well fluid porcessing system comprising such a tank
US20090211960A1 (en) * 2006-03-15 2009-08-27 Aibel As Fluid treatment tank and a well fluid processing system comprising such a tank
GB2449028B (en) * 2006-03-15 2010-12-01 Aibel As A fluid treatment tank and a well fluid processing system comprising such a tank
US8137547B2 (en) 2006-03-15 2012-03-20 Hamworthy Plc Fluid treatment tank and a well fluid processing system comprising such a tank
GB2449028A (en) * 2006-03-15 2008-11-05 Aibel As A fluid treatment tank amd a well fluid porcessing system comprising such a tank
WO2010007349A1 (en) * 2008-07-14 2010-01-21 Caltec Limited Cyclonic separation system comprising gas injection means and method for separating a fluid mixture
US20110174741A1 (en) * 2008-07-14 2011-07-21 Mir Mahmood Sarshar Cyclonic separation system comprising gas injection means and method for separating a fluid mixture
US9073064B2 (en) 2008-07-14 2015-07-07 Caltec Limited Cyclonic separation system comprising gas injection means and method for separating a fluid mixture
GB2461874B (en) * 2008-07-14 2012-11-21 Caltec Ltd Separation system and method
US8372294B2 (en) * 2009-10-23 2013-02-12 Future Engineering As Method for continuous use of a vacuum-set water knock-out circuit integrated with a hydraulic oil reservoir
US20120211445A1 (en) * 2009-10-23 2012-08-23 Groetheim Jens Terje Method for Continuous Use of a Vacuum-Set Water Knock-Out Circuit Integrated with a Hydraulic Oil Reservoir
US8439999B2 (en) 2010-10-04 2013-05-14 David A. Simpson Device for capturing gas from a produced water stream
US8597402B2 (en) 2011-09-23 2013-12-03 David A. Simpson and Janet K. Simpson Device for capturing gas from a produced water stream
US20140209176A1 (en) * 2013-01-29 2014-07-31 Cameron International Corporation Use Of Pressure Reduction Devices For Improving Downstream Oil-And-Water Separation
US9328856B2 (en) * 2013-01-29 2016-05-03 Cameron International Corporation Use of pressure reduction devices for improving downstream oil-and-water separation
US20160341024A1 (en) * 2013-12-20 2016-11-24 Onesubsea Ip Uk Limited Systems and methods for subsea fluid phase separation
US10648314B2 (en) * 2013-12-20 2020-05-12 Onesubsea Ip Uk Limited Systems and methods for subsea fluid phase separation
US20170312654A1 (en) * 2014-11-13 2017-11-02 Sulzer Chemtech Ag A Continuous Through-Flow Settling Vessel, and a Method of Adaptive Separation of a Mixture from Gas and/or Oil Exploration
US10967297B2 (en) * 2014-11-13 2021-04-06 Sulzer Management Ag Continuous through-flow settling vessel, and a method of adaptive separation of a mixture from gas and/or oil exploration
US9737830B2 (en) * 2015-03-20 2017-08-22 Ypf Sociadad Anonima Separation device for three-phase fluid, method for making thereof, and method for separating a three-phase fluid
US20160271522A1 (en) * 2015-03-20 2016-09-22 Ypf Sociedad Anonima Separation device for three-phase fluid, method for making thereof, and method for separating a three-phase fluid
US9662597B1 (en) 2016-03-09 2017-05-30 NANA WorleyParsons LLC Methods and systems for handling raw oil and structures related thereto
US11473415B2 (en) * 2017-06-23 2022-10-18 Fmc Technologies, Inc. Separation system
US20230013295A1 (en) * 2017-06-23 2023-01-19 Fmc Technologies, Inc. Separation System
US20240050882A1 (en) * 2020-12-28 2024-02-15 Usui Co., Ltd. Gas-liquid separator
US11639656B1 (en) * 2022-08-19 2023-05-02 Total Gas Resource Recovery, Llc Natural gas capture from a well stream

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
US3802501A (en) 1974-04-09

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US3759324A (en) Cleaning apparatus for oil well production
EP0238491B1 (en) Cyclone separator
US4233154A (en) Method for treating petroleum well pumping power fluid
US4840732A (en) Fuel tank cleaning system
US2900079A (en) Submersible pump filter-skimmer for swimming pools
US3253711A (en) Fluid separation
NO167931B (en) VACUUM DRAINAGE SYSTEM
US6391198B1 (en) Method and apparatus for sludge and oil separation from aqueous solutions/emulsions
US2215505A (en) Variable capacity pumping apparatus
KR102134047B1 (en) System and method for reprocessing bilge water and sludge
US3982589A (en) Cleaning and pumping apparatus for oil well production
US4159036A (en) High pressure cleaning and pumping method and apparatus for oil well production
US20120171051A1 (en) Bilge pump and method
US3944489A (en) Apparatus for pumping oil-water mixture from a collection vessel of a floating oil collector into settling tanks
US2986308A (en) Submersible pump mounting apparatus
US4966693A (en) Apparatus for processing coolant
CN211310938U (en) Multistage oil-water separation system of air compressor
US3485362A (en) Device for filtering,separating or agitating a liquid mixture composed of two phases having different specific gravities
US2517518A (en) Hydraulic apparatus
US4203842A (en) System for oil and water separation
WO1984001138A1 (en) Stripping system for a cargo tank
US1318086A (en) And keclaimistg system
RU2111334C1 (en) Cleaning system of drilling mud
KR20130071740A (en) Skimmer tank to separate drilling mud
US3302574A (en) Pressure responsive pump control