Modular appartus for production testing
View Patent ↗An apparatus for production testing. According to one aspect, the apparatus is modular and suitable for transport and assembly in the field. The apparatus comprises a platform and one or more pressure vessels. The platform includes a mounting bracket for the pressure vessel and the mounting bracket includes a guide mechanism. The guide mechanism allows the pressure vessel to be lowered into the mounting bracket and coupled to the platform for example using a load sling on a helicopter. According to another aspect, the pressure vessels comprise spherical containers and the spherical containers are configured to be heliportable to a field site.
1. A field transportable modular apparatus for production testing at a field site, said apparatus comprising:
a platform, said platform including one or more mounting brackets;
one or more pressure vessels, each of said one or more pressure vessels including a longitudinal support member configured for said one or more mounting brackets; and
each of said one or more mounting brackets including a longitudinal support base and a self-aligning guide configure to guide said support member into position onto said longitudinal support base from an elevated position; and
wherein said longitudinal support base comprises a lower section having a generally longitudinal support surface configured to seat at least a portion of said longitudinal support member, and each of said one or more mounting brackets having an upper section wider than said lower section, and said self-aligning guide comprising an outwardly sloping surface connecting at least a portion of said lower section and said upper section.
2. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said one or more pressure vessels comprise a substantially spherical shaped vessel.
3. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said platform and each of said one or more pressure vessels include a plurality of attachment points, each of said attachment points being adapted for attaching a sling for lifting.
4. The apparatus as claimed in claim 3 , wherein said sling comprises a load sling for a helicopter and said platform and each of said one or more pressure vessels having a weight suitable for transport by helicopter.
5. A field transportable production testing apparatus comprising:
a transportable platform and said platform including one or more mounting brackets, and each of said one or more mounting brackets including a generally longitudinal support surface and a self-aligning guide;
one or more spherical pressure vessels, each of said one or more spherical pressure vessels including a mounting member; and
wherein said self-aligning guides are configured to guide said one or more spherical pressure vessels into a seated position on said longitudinal support surface from a position above said transportable platform; and
wherein said mounting brackets have an upper section and a lower section, said upper section being wider than, and said self-aligning guide comprising an outwardly sloping surface connecting at least a portion of said lower section and said upper section.
6. The production testing apparatus as claimed in claim 5 , wherein said platform and said one or more spherical pressure vessels include a plurality of attachment points for attaching a helicopter sling.
7. The production testing apparatus as claimed in claim 5 , wherein said platform and each of said one or more spherical pressure vessels are configured to be heliportable.
8. The production testing apparatus as claimed in claim 7 , wherein said one or more spherical pressure vessels comprise three spherical pressure vessels, and each of said spherical pressure vessels is configured to be connected together to form a 740 psi apparatus.