Settling vessel and method of use
A vessel for use in settling particulate matter from a fluid stream is provided. Fluid is introduced to the vessel through an angled inlet, with flow into the vessel both disrupted and deflected by an inlet baffle, to redirect the fluid stream parallel to a horizontal axis of the vessel. The velocity of the fluid stream is reduced within the vessel, allowing the particulate matter to settle along the bottom of the vessel.
1. A vessel for use in separation of particulate matter from a fluid stream, the vessel comprising;
a horizontally elongated separation chamber comprising first and second ends, the chamber comprising walls defining a chamber volume;
a chamber inlet and outlet, each providing an angular flowpath with respect to the elongated axis of the chamber, the inlet proximal to the first end of the chamber to define an inflow pathway for delivery of a fluid stream into the first end of the chamber, the outlet proximal to the second end of the chamber to define an fluid outflow pathway from the second end of the chamber, the chamber thereby providing a separation flowpath along the elongated axis of the chamber from the chamber inlet to the chamber outlet;
one or more separation baffles depending from a bottom surface of the chamber between the inlet and the outlet to facilitate collection of particulate matter from the fluid stream along the bottom surface of the chamber; and
an inlet baffle disposed within the chamber and aligned with the inflow pathway to disrupt flow of the fluid stream entering the separation chamber wherein the inlet baffle is positioned at an angle such that the surface of the baffle is aligned with both the inlet of the vessel and the downstream elongated axis of the vessel, so as to redirect the fluid stream toward the outlet.
2. The vessel as in claim 1 , wherein the chamber is generally cylindrical and wherein the inlet has a cross sectional area that is less than a corresponding cross sectional area of the elongated separation chamber.
3. The vessel as in claim 1 , wherein the inlet and outlet are each oriented perpendicular to the horizontal axis of the vessel.
4. The vessel as in claim 1 , wherein the fluid stream originates from a wellhead.
5. The vessel as in claim 4 , wherein the fluid stream comprises one or more fluids selected from the group consisting of: oil, water, and gas.
6. The vessel as in claim 1 , wherein the fluid stream originates from a wellhead and the fluid stream comprises sand.
7. The vessel as in claim 1 , wherein at least one of said first and second ends of the chamber comprises a valve for use in accessing the interior of the chamber to remove particulate matter therefrom.
8. The vessel as in claim 1 , further comprising an outlet baffle within the chamber, the outlet baffle proximal to the outlet for disrupting flow of fluid from the inlet to the outlet.
9. The vessel as in claim 8 , wherein the inlet baffle or the outlet baffle is positioned at an angle between 30 and 60 degrees from horizontal.
10. The vessel as in claim 9 , wherein the inlet or outlet baffle is positioned at 45 degrees from horizontal.
11. The vessel as in claim 8 , wherein the outlet baffle depends from an inner side wall of the chamber.
12. The vessel as in claim 11 , further comprising additional baffles extending from an inner side wall to the chamber.
13. The vessel as in claim 1 , further comprising a drain in a lower portion of the chamber.
14. The vessel as in claim 1 , wherein the outlet extends from the side of the chamber.
15. A vessel for use in separation of particulate matter from a fluid stream, the vessel comprising;
an elongated, horizontal separation chamber comprising first and second ends and defining a chamber volume and having a cross sectional area;
a chamber inlet and outlet, each providing an angled flowpath with respect to the elongated axis of the chamber, the inlet proximal to the first end of the chamber to define an inflow pathway for delivery of a fluid stream into the first end of the chamber, the outlet proximal to the second end of the chamber to define an fluid outflow pathway from the second end of the chamber, the chamber thereby providing a separation flowpath along the elongated axis of the chamber from the chamber inlet to the chamber outlet;
an inlet baffle disposed within the chamber and aligned with the inflow pathway to disrupt flow of the fluid stream entering the separation chamber wherein the inlet baffle is positioned at an angle such that the surface of the baffle is aligned with both the inlet of the vessel and the downstream elongated axis of the vessel, so as to redirect the fluid stream toward the outlet; and
an outlet baffle within the chamber, the outlet baffle proximal to the outlet for disrupting flow of fluid from the inlet to the outlet.
16. The vessel as in claim 15 , wherein the inlet has a cross sectional area that is less than the cross sectional area of the chamber.
17. The vessel as in claim 15 , wherein the inlet and outlet each provide a generally perpendicular flow pathway into or out of the vessel.
18. The vessel as in claim 15 , wherein the fluid stream originates from a wellhead.
19. The vessel as in claim 18 , wherein the fluid stream comprises oil or gas.
20. The vessel as in claim 15 , wherein the fluid stream originates from a wellhead and the fluid stream comprises sand.
21. The vessel as in claim 15 , wherein at least one of said first and second ends of the chamber comprises a valve for use in accessing the interior of the chamber to remove particulate matter therefrom.
22. The vessel as in claim 15 , wherein the inlet baffle or the outlet baffle is positioned at an angle between 30 and 60 degrees from horizontal.
23. The vessel as in claim 22 , wherein the inlet or outlet baffle is positioned at 45 degrees from horizontal.
24. The vessel as in claim 15 , further comprising a particulate outlet in a lower portion of the chamber.
25. A method for use in settling particulate matter from a fluid stream, the method comprising the steps of:
receiving a fluid stream from a fluid stream conduit, the fluid stream comprising fluid and particulate matter at a first pressure;
introducing said fluid stream to a horizontally elongated vessel through a substantially vertically oriented inlet of the vessel, the horizontally elongated vessel further comprising a fluid outlet distal to the vertically oriented inlet of the vessel;
operating the vessel contents at a second pressure, the second pressure lower than the first pressure to facilitate settling of particulate matter within the vessel;
contacting the fluid stream with an inlet baffle, the baffle proximal to the inlet and oriented so as to redirect the vertical flow of the fluid stream from the inlet along the horizontal axis of the vessel;
collecting fluid from the fluid outlet of the vessel;
collecting settled particulate matter from the vessel by releasing the pressure inside the vessel through the use of a pressure releasing valve; and
by opening a valve proximate the inlet or by opening a valve proximate the outlet and removing said particulate matter.
26. The method as in claim 25 , wherein the fluid stream comprises gas.
27. The method as in claim 25 , wherein the fluid stream comprises a liquid.
28. The method as in claim 25 , wherein the particulate matter is sand.
29. The method as in claim 25 , wherein the particulate matter is proppant.
30. The method as in claim 25 , wherein the fluid stream comprises wellbore production fluid.
31. The method as in claim 25 , wherein the conduit is a pipeline.
32. The method as in claim 25 , wherein the fluid outlet is oriented substantially parallel to the fluid inlet.
33. The method as in claim 25 , wherein the fluid outlet discharges fluid vertically from the vessel.
34. The method as in claim 25 , wherein the fluid inlet comprises a substantially vertically oriented conduit extending from the vessel.
35. The method as in claim 25 , wherein the fluid outlet comprises a substantially vertically oriented conduit extending from the vessel.
36. The method as in claim 25 , wherein the fluid is delivered to and collected from opposing horizontal ends of the vessel.
37. The method as in claim 25 , wherein the step of operating the vessel contents at a second pressure comprises providing a vessel having a cross sectional area greater than the cross sectional area of the conduit from which the fluid stream is received.
38. The method as in claim 25 , wherein the step of contacting the fluid stream with an inlet baffle comprises installing the inlet baffle within the vessel proximal to, and aligned with, the inlet.
39. The method as in claim 38 , wherein the inlet baffle is installed within the vessel at an angle between 30 and 60 degrees from horizontal.
40. The method as in claim 25 , wherein the step of removing settled particulate matter from the vessel comprises closing a valve to terminate fluid communication between the conduit and the vessel.
41. The method as in claim 25 , wherein the step of removing settled particulate matter from the vessel comprises opening a valve at an end of the vessel.
42. The method as in claim 25 , wherein the step of removing settled particulate matter from the vessel comprises collecting particulate matter from a solids discharge port in the vessel.
43. The method as in claim 25 , further comprising the step of contacting the horizontally redirected fluid stream within the vessel with a separation baffle along a bottom surface of the vessel.
44. The method as in claim 25 , further comprising the step of contacting the horizontally redirected fluid stream within the vessel with an outlet baffle, the outlet baffle positioned within the vessel to interrupt flow of the fluid stream to the outlet.
45. A method for separating particulate matter from a fluid stream, the method comprising the steps of:
providing a separation vessel comprising: a horizontally elongated separation chamber, an inlet defining an inflow pathway substantially perpendicular to the elongated axis of the vessel, and a fluid outlet distal to the inlet, the outlet for discharging fluid from the vessel;
introducing an inflow stream comprising fluid and particulate matter to the inlet;
providing a baffle within the vessel, the baffle positioned within the inflow pathway and oriented to deflect a fluid stream from the inlet toward the outlet;
providing one or more separation baffles extending from a bottom surface of the vessel, the baffle oriented substantially perpendicular to the elongated axis of the vessel;
providing an outlet baffle within the vessel, the outlet baffle positioned so as to impede laminar flow of the fluid stream from the inlet to the outlet;
discharging fluid from the outlet of the vessel;
removing settled particulate matter from the vessel by releasing the pressure inside the vessel through the use of a pressure releasing valve; and
by opening a valve proximate the inlet or by opening a valve proximate the outlet and removing said particulate matter.
46. The method as in claim 45 , wherein the step of removing settled particulate matter comprises opening a valve at one end of the vessel to access settled particulate matter within the vessel.
47. The method as in claim 45 , further comprising the steps of connecting the inlet with a pipeline system continuous with a fluid stream.