AUTOMATED SAND DETECTION AND HANDLING SYSTEM FOR OIL AND GAS WELL OPERATIONS
A system ( 100 ) includes a separator vessel ( 134 ) that is adapted to separate solids particles ( 192 ) from a flow of a multi-phase fluid ( 190 ), a level sensor ( 154 ) that is coupled to the separator vessel ( 134 ), wherein the level sensor ( 154 ) includes a viscosity sensor that is adapted to measure changes in the viscosity of a fluid mixture that includes the solids particles ( 192 ) that are separated from the flow of multi-phase fluid ( 190 ) by the separator vessel ( 134 ), and a control system ( 160 ) that is adapted to determine a level of the separated solids particles ( 192 ) accumulated in the separator vessel ( 134 ) from the changes in the viscosity of the fluid mixture measured by the viscosity sensor.
1 . A system ( 100 ), comprising:
a separator vessel ( 134 ) that is adapted to separate solids particles ( 192 ) from a flow of a multi-phase fluid ( 190 );
a level sensor ( 154 ) coupled to the separator vessel ( 134 ), the level sensor ( 154 ) comprising a viscosity sensor that is adapted to measure changes in the viscosity of a fluid mixture that comprises the solids particles ( 192 ) separated from the flow of multi-phase fluid ( 190 ) by the separator vessel ( 134 ); and
a control system ( 160 ) that is adapted to determine a level of the separated solids particles ( 192 ) accumulated in the separator vessel ( 134 ) from the changes in the viscosity of the fluid mixture measured by the viscosity sensor.
2 . The system ( 100 ) of claim 1 , wherein the level sensor ( 154 ) is a single level sensor ( 154 ) that is positioned inside of the separator vessel ( 134 ) at a pre-determined maximum level ( 150 e ) of separated solids particles ( 192 ).
3 . The system ( 100 ) of claim 1 , wherein the solids particles ( 192 ) comprise sand.
4 . The system ( 100 ) of claim 1 , further comprising a sand outlet control valve ( 180 ).
5 . The system ( 100 ) of claim 4 , wherein the control system ( 160 ) is adapted to open the sand outlet control valve ( 180 ) to discharge the separated solids particles ( 192 ) from the separator vessel ( 134 ) when the determined level of separated solids particles ( 192 ) is at a pre-determined maximum level ( 150 e ) of separated solids particles ( 192 ).
6 . The system ( 100 ) of claim 1 , wherein the control system ( 160 ) is adapted to determine the amount of solids particles ( 192 ) discharged from the separator vessel ( 134 ) after the sand outlet control valve ( 180 ) is opened.
7 . The system ( 100 ) of claim 1 , wherein the level sensor ( 154 ) further comprises a density sensor that is adapted to measure changes in the density of the fluid mixture.
8 . The system ( 100 ) of claim 7 , wherein the control system ( 160 ) is further adapted to determine the level of the separated solids particles ( 192 ) from the changes in the density of the fluid mixture measured by the density sensor.
9 . The system ( 100 ) of claim 1 , wherein the level sensor ( 154 ) further comprises a second sensor that is adapted to measure changes in the damping factor of the fluid mixture.
10 . The system ( 100 ) of claim 9 , wherein the control system ( 160 ) is further adapted to determine the level of the separated solids particles ( 192 ) from the changes in the damping factor of the fluid mixture measured by the second sensor.
11 . A method of treating a flow of a multiphase fluid ( 190 ), the method comprising:
separating solids particles ( 192 ) from the flow of multi-phase fluid ( 190 ) in a separator vessel ( 134 );
measuring changes in the viscosity of a fluid mixture comprising the separated solids particles ( 192 ); and
determining a level of the separated solids particles ( 192 ) accumulated in the separator vessel ( 134 ) from the measured changes in the viscosity of the fluid mixture.
12 . The method ( 100 ) of claim 11 , further comprising discharging the separated solids particles ( 192 ) from the separator vessel ( 134 ) when the determined level of separated solids particles ( 192 ) is at a pre-determined maximum level ( 150 e ).
13 . The method of claim 12 , further comprising determining the amount of solids particles ( 192 ) discharged from the separator vessel ( 134 ).
14 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising measuring changes in the density of the fluid mixture.
15 . The method of claim 14 , further comprising determining a level of the separated solids particles ( 192 ) accumulated in the separator vessel ( 134 ) from the measured changes in the density of the fluid mixture.
16 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising measuring changes in the damping factor of the fluid mixture.
17 . The method of claim 16 , further comprising determining a level of the separated solids particles ( 192 ) accumulated in the separator vessel ( 134 ) from the measured changes in the damping factor of the fluid mixture.
18 . A method of detecting if a bottom outlet of a hydrocyclone ( 147 ) in a sand separator ( 134 ) is plugged, the method comprising:
determining a first pressure in a flux line ( 179 ) that provides fluid communication between a sand accumulator section ( 134 b ) of the sand separator ( 134 ) and a water/hydrocarbon outlet line ( 177 ) exiting the sand separator ( 134 ), the flux line ( 179 ) having one of a control valve ( 172 ) or orifice positioned between the sand accumulator section ( 134 b ) and the water/hydrocarbon outlet line ( 177 );
determining a second pressure in the water/hydrocarbon outlet line ( 177 ); and
comparing the first pressure to the second pressure.
19 . The method of claim 18 , wherein the bottom outlet of the hydrocyclone ( 147 ) is not plugged when the second pressure is greater than the first pressure.
20 . The method of claim 18 , wherein the bottom outlet of the hydrocyclone ( 147 ) is plugged when the second pressure is substantially equal to the first pressure.